I watched as my son took all the information in that I gave him. We’d spent longer than he planned together, but I couldn’t leave him without the full story. I wanted no more doubts or questions in his mind about what happened to me or with his father.

Bryce and I had some rough times, but every marriage goes through it no matter what they’ve been through. It’s a fact of life. It’s whether you decide to push through and remain together or throw in the towel and give up that makes a difference. Bryce and I weren’t ready to give up. We’d never be ready to give up.

I placed my hand on William’s and squeezed. “You’re kind of quiet over there.”

“I’m just processing it. You sound as if you’d be this man’s friend if he were around today.”

I moved my head from side to side. “It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but your father would never go for it.” I laughed and pulled my hand back.

“How can you forgive him so easily?”

“I’ll tell you the same thing I tell your father. That man saved my life more than just stepping in front of the bullet for me. You would not be here today had he not done what he’d done. Your brother and sister wouldn’t be here. I may not even be here today if someone else had taken the job.

“It wasn’t a great thing to do. It wasn’t something he was proud of in the end. He felt enormous guilt for what he’d done, but it’s done. There’s no changing it. I don’t think I would want to even if I could. I have you kids, a man who is crazy about me, and I’m the happiest I think I could ever be in life. I wasn’t happy before Brody, but I couldn’t be happier after. How can I fault him for that?”

He rubbed his neck again and sighed. “You’re right. It all sounds as if it worked out better for you when it was over. I’m grateful you had the opportunity to have me.” He flashed a smile.

I laughed and shook my head. He seemed to be handling all the information I gave him well. “Do you have any questions?”

A football player came to the table and interrupted us before he could answer. “Hey, man.”

William glanced at me and looked back to the guy standing next to us. He was tall with a massive build. Football jerseys usually hung loose on the guys when they didn’t have their pads on, but his was snug like a T-shirt. “How are you, Noah?”

“I’m great.” He stuck out his hand and gripped William’s when their palms met. “I don’t want to interrupt your date.”

“Oh, this isn’t a date.” He motioned to me. “This is my mom.”

I could see Noah’s cheeks when he smiled before he turned his attention to me. “Your mom?” His smile was bright, but it was his green eyes that caught my attention. I’d only ever seen eyes that green once before.

William took my hand and squeezed when I straightened my back. I glanced at him and looked back to the kid who had Brody’s smile and eyes looking down at me with his hand out. My hand had a slight shake to it when I placed it onto his palm. He didn’t squeeze mine as hard as he did William’s.

“It’s very nice to meet you. Your son is teaching me everything I need to know about college football.”

I couldn’t stop staring into his eyes, but when they called his order up behind him and he turned to wave that he heard them, the back of his jersey confirmed he was a Michaels. I looked at William. He shrugged. I understood the urgency of our meeting.

* * *

That goddamn kid of mine had better not be hanging out with his friends. I’m dying of hunger and that little shit is letting everything get cold.

I walked into the pizza place and scanned the room. A kid his size didn’t blend in, so he was easy to spot. I smiled when I saw him holding the hand of a brunette who was seated across the booth from her date. Slick. I didn’t want to cramp his style if he was trying to steal her away from that guy, but I wanted my damn pizza.

I heard them call Noah’s name, so I knew he’d have to leave soon. I wanted to see how hot that girl was. I knew he had no trouble picking up the ladies, but I didn’t know he was willing to risk getting into a fight over it. Although, looking at the guns she had on her with her arm outstretched holding his hand, it was obvious what had attracted him to her.

He was always at the gym his mom and I owned. If we would’ve let him, he would’ve stayed in the apartment above it that Maggie and I first lived in. Maggie had bigger guns than that beauty, but she would’ve been impressed with the toned and sculpted body that woman was rocking.

I walked up and slapped him on the back of the shoulder. “You’re killing your old man. Don’t you see me wasting away?”

I smiled as I looked down to the kid sitting at the booth. I couldn’t decide if it was a look of concern or if it was plain awe at the audacity of my son to hit on his girl, but I kept my smile and ignored him. I saw him stand out of the corner of my eye as I directed my attention to the woman who had Noah’s hand in hers. It would have to be a quick look. I needed to get Noah out before the other young man decided to find his balls and prove himself to his girl.

I opened my mouth to greet her, but when my eyes met with Laney’s, no words came out. She was the last person I expected to see. She stood and placed her hand on the man’s chest who had stepped between her and Noah. Her other arm went around the back of his waist as his arm came around her shoulders. He was protecting her. I wondered if he knew what he was protecting her from.

“I’m okay, William.”

I tore my eyes away from her and looked at the man standing in front of me. He was four when I last saw him. I thought he could’ve been mine, but seeing him as a man proves more than any test could that he was Bryce’s child. “You look exactly like your father.” I shrugged and got a dig in even though Bryce wasn’t there to defend himself. “You’ve filled out more than his scrawny ass did, but your face is all Bryce.”

William seemed to relax for some reason and slid his other hand into his pocket but kept his arm around his mom. “Yeah, Dad doesn’t like to work out like Mom and I do.” He looked down to her and smiled before looking back up to me. “I guess I have you to thank for that.”

“No thanks necessary.”

Noah was looking at all of us. “You know each other? Did you come to our gym?”

I slapped him on the back and shook my head. “It’s a long boring story before the old people became old.” I glanced at Laney but spoke to William. He seemed to know enough. “We’ll get out of your way.”

I looked down when I felt her hand touch my arm. “How are you?”

William squeezed her shoulder before he took his arm back and motioned to the counter. “Come on, Noah. We don’t want them to give your pizzas to someone else.”

Laney motioned with her head for me to take her son’s seat. She took her seat and motioned again. “Sit and talk for a minute. Do you have the time?”

“Yeah.” I looked at Noah who went to get our pizzas. “I have a few minutes.” I squeezed into the booth, causing her to laugh as she pulled the table toward her. “Sweet. Not every table moves.” I smiled, but it was more nervous energy than anything else. I shook my head and placed my forearms on the table. “How did this happen?”

“As it was explained to me right before you walked in, William and Noah met on the football team.”

“William plays?”

“He played. Now he’s a graduate assistant. He’s not ready to give it up, so he’s still part of the team while he gets his master’s.” She laced her fingers together and leaned forward. “It seems he stumbled onto our story in high school through a lovely thing called the Internet and never said anything. I think he figured out Noah was your son and decided to talk to me about it. Probably because he was worried about this exact thing.”

“So, you told him?”

“I filled in some of the blanks. His biggest concern was the timing of it all. Thank you for saying he looks like Bryce.”

I nodded, understanding what his concerns were. “Well, the kid is a spitting image, but he looks better.” I shook my head as I looked at her across the table. “Wow, I never thought I’d see you again.”

She laughed. “Yeah, I think it’s safe to say I thought our paths wouldn’t cross again.”

I sat up and leaned on the table. “I’m glad they did. I’m glad to see just how well things have worked out for you because my life couldn’t be more perfect. I have you to thank for that.

“I used to feel guilt every time I thought about it, but I would do it again if I had to. It doesn’t mean I’m not sorry for some of what I put you through. I was harsh and cruel with a few things, but neither of us would be where we are today if I hadn’t. I love where I am.”

“I agree.” She smiled. “Bryce may not agree, but whether my father didn’t go through with his plan or if he had chosen someone else to execute it, I would not be here today. I’d either be alone with my father or I’d be dead.”

“I’m still so sorry for everything. I wish I had been in a better place to take you to the police the moment I took you just to make your father think you were kidnapped. I wish I had been strong enough to resist the pull I felt toward you so you’d never have those memories of someone who wasn’t Bryce touching you.

“The truth is, I wouldn’t be here today without those things. You showed me true love was possible. You showed me what it was to feel inside my chest for once instead of inside my pants. I wasn’t strong enough to do the right thing back then, but I’m strong enough now to admit how weak I was.”

She smiled and reached across the table to cup my face. “I’m so proud of the man you’ve become. I’m happy I got to see it.”

We didn’t see Noah and William walk up to the table. Noah tossed the pizza boxes, sliding them across the table and almost onto my lap. “I’m sure Mom is wondering where we are.”

I knew his mom would understand when I explained. Noah didn’t know and I never wanted him to. I pulled Laney’s palm to my lips and kissed it. Noah scoffed and stormed out. I wasn’t going to let him rush me, but I did need to make sure he was okay.

“Thank you, Laney. Thank you for giving me my life.” I smiled and let go of her hand. “Thank you for giving me a chance to have a kid pissed off at me. You don’t know how great that is.”

She reached up and took William’s hand. “I could thank you for the same thing. Without you, I never would’ve been free of my father.”

We both stood and hugged. Our lives shifted the moment we met and it was a bond that would never break. I shook William’s hand. “Watch my boy for me when I’m not around.”

“Yes, sir.”

I looked at Laney once more before I grabbed the pizzas and walked out. I had a son to find and calm down. First, I needed to calm myself down. I wasn’t an emotional guy, but those few moments with Laney hit in the center of my chest. She was okay. After everything, we both were.