Chapter Nineteen
My parents and I stood outside of Billy’s house, and my heart was racing. He’d left a few minutes before they’d arrived so he could get ready for tonight’s dinner. Plus, he wanted to give my parents and me some time alone to visit and catch up.
It was so wonderful to have my parents here. I missed having them live close, but between my sister in Utah and me in Washington, I couldn’t exactly expect them to uproot everything they had in Oregon to come live near me.
Billy swung open the door with Lady tucked under his arm and my heart betrayed me, completely swooning over the man in front of us.
“Hey, Billy.” I gave him a quick hug, careful not to squish Lady, and introduced my parents.
“Nice to meet you in person, Pam, Sean.” Billy motioned for us to come in.
“You’ve been so generous with our daughter and helping her get situated on the island,” my mom nearly burbled, and I wondered how much she’d spoken to Billy. “I still can’t believe the poor thing broke her leg.”
We walked into the foyer with vaulted ceilings and an oversized rustic chandelier. A large circular rug centered the room and a long hall led into a great room. He walked us along where several different art pieces hung, but I noticed no family photographs or photographs of any type. My childhood home was covered in photos and the room I rented from a friend in Seattle was plastered with some of my favorites.
A mammoth stone fireplace separated the great room and dining room. The oversized dining room table was artfully arranged with a large floral centerpiece and plaid placemats. As we walked into the great room, I noticed the same plaid material on a couple of throws and pillows he had on his sectional.
Everything in this house screamed Billy and once we walked into the kitchen, I knew how important cooking was to him. An industrial size stove was the centerpiece of the kitchen. A stainless-steel hood hung over the burners and a stainless fridge twice the size of most people’s took up most of the interior wall.
“When I found this place, everything was perfect except for the kitchen.”
“Makes sense for a chef,” my dad said, looking around the grand space. “Hot dogs have done well for you, haven’t they, son?”
Billy laughed and nodded. “I never expected all this from a simple café and hot dog truck.”
“All success takes hard work, sacrifice, and determination to see your goals through when no one else can.” My dad slapped Billy’s back and my chest tightened.
I’d never seen my dad warm up to someone so quickly and it really concerned me, considering where Billy and I were at in terms of our non relationship. It also told me if Billy offered up his idea of having my parents stay here, my father would probably accept.
“I love the plaid pillows and blankets,” I told him, and he grinned a grin I recognized from the first time I met him, one of pride. “You didn’t make them, did you?”
Billy bit his lip and glanced at my parents. “I did.”
“Do you ever sleep?” I asked, leaning on my crutches and trying not to let myself get too impressed.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to doing on the trip,” he confessed. “It’s been pretty nonstop for the last several years.”
“So you decided to pick up sewing in your free time?”
He shrugged and laughed. “It relaxed me. What can I say?”
“That’s really something.” My mom pressed her lips into an impressed smile, and I knew Billy had stolen the hearts of my parents.
Great.
So when the relationship didn’t go anywhere, my parents could turn to me and wonder what I did to screw it up. The handwriting was already on the wall.
“Is there anything I can help with?” I asked.
“The table is set, the meat is about ready to come out of the oven.” Billy came over and gave me a quick squeeze. “I think I’ve got it all set, but you should sit so you don’t aggravate your wrist.”
“He’s right,” my mom agreed and walked me into the great room while my father stayed with Billy.
I heard laughter behind us, but I couldn’t actually hear what they were saying, which made me nervous.
“Billy’s such a nice young man,” my mom whispered and patted my knee.
I loved how everyone under forty turned into young people to my parents.
“He’s a great guy.” I nodded. “Really, everyone on Hound Island is amazing. It makes it hard to want to leave, but I don’t think my business would do very well with so few clients.”
My mom’s expression softened. “You really like it here?”
“I love it.” I nodded.
“And it’s not just about him?” she asked and my cheeks blushed.
“Mom, there’s nothing between us. He’s not looking for a relationship. He’s told me that several times.”
“Doesn’t mean things can’t change.”
“But that’s exactly how I got stuck in so many terrible relationships before. I promised myself things that the men never did.” I let out a sigh, hearing my dad and Billy continue to laugh and chat behind us. “And Billy’s been as clear as day. He’s not fit for relationships.”
My mom sank back into the couch and looked around the great room. The fireplace was throwing off enough heat to warm the entire home.
“I don’t believe that.” She shook her head.
I dropped my voice even lower. “Whether or not you believe it is irrelevant. That’s what he’s told me several times.”
“This house has family written all over it. He wants something more.”
“Mom, you can’t judge a man’s intentions based on the house he lives in.”
My mom shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
I laughed and kicked my leg out.
“Don’t you see how he looks at you?”
My eyes flashed to my mom’s and I pushed down a swallow.
“What do you mean?” My eyes narrowed on hers.
“He’s fond of you.” She squeezed my knee. “Just take that into consideration.”
“I think you’re fond of him,” I teased.
“Well, come on. Look at that ink.” My mom’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
“You’re awful.” I swatted at her. “Dad will be sad.”
“He’s got plenty.”
“What?” I sat up straighter. “Dad has tattoos?”
“Several.”
“He does not.”
“Yes, he does. He has two on his back. One on his chest and one on his left upper arm.”
“Come on. I would have seen the upper arm one, at least.”
She shook her head. “That one’s new. Billy’s brother, Stone, introduced your dad to a tattoo artist in Portland.”
“And that happened, how?”
“When Billy was letting us know how you were doing and getting the schedule together for you and Lucky, he mentioned his brother and his connections to a particular artist, and the rest is history.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, not in the slightest. I always thought your dad was hot, but boy. That took it to the next level.”
“After forty years of marriage, tattoos are what did it, huh?” I giggled as Billy and my dad wandered through the room to the dining room with platters of food.
My heart twisted into a tangled, complicated mess. Just like Billy had said. Whatever was going on between us wasn’t getting any easier, but seeing Billy in his own home, his own element, made my entire body warm with something more than just fun for me. I liked him. A lot.
“Are only Billy and I eating in here or what?” my dad called out to us, and I laughed as I grabbed my crutches and began making my way into the dining room with my mom right behind.
“Would you look at that rib roast?” My dad had his hands on his hips and was shaking his head in admiration. I think he was one step away from whistling at the piece of meat.
I had to admit that the presentation of the rib roast was quite something. It was a good thing Billy didn’t decide to open up a fine dining restaurant on Hound Island or Chance would have some stiff competition.
Caramelized sweet potatoes, fried white potatoes, and green beans rounded out the meal, and I was salivating just looking at it.
“That looks incredible, Billy.” I looked over at him and realized he’d already been watching me. My breath caught unexpectedly, and I lowered my gaze back to the food. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten this well.”
“Wait until you try the dessert,” Billy said, pulling out the chair for me to sit next to him.
The way he said dessert put my mind right in the gutter like the word fun did with him, but this time I was going to keep my composure. He literally meant dessert, just like he’d meant fun to be kayaking or hiking.
“Everything looks incredible, Billy. You really didn’t have to do this for us.” My mom took a seat next to me.
“It was the least I could do. Your daughter has kept me on my toes for the last couple weeks.” He smiled and waited until I sat down before he did. “Plus, it’s nice to have an occasion to actually cook for more people than just Lady and me.”
The thought of Billy alone in this big house made my heart tug again, but I slid those worries aside. This was what he chose.
“Medium rare?” he asked, and I nodded as he put a large piece of rib roast on my plate. It smelled so heavenly that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to have just one slice.
As everyone kept busy piling their plates with the amazing food, I thought about how nice this was to share a meal with my parents and Billy. It seemed so natural and there wasn’t a care in the world. Whenever I’d had my parents meet someone I was actually dating, the meal was usually cluttered with misunderstood statements and minutes of complete awkwardness.
But maybe that was the difference. I wasn’t dating Billy.
“Billy,” my dad began. “Do your parents live on Hound Island?”
Famous last words.
My eyes flew to Billy’s and he cleared his throat as he sliced into his meat.
“No, actually.” He glanced at me and drew a breath. “Both of my parents have passed away.”
My mother gasped and my hand quickly slid to Billy’s knee.
“Oh, son. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” My father flashed me a look as if I should have warned him, but I didn’t have a clue either. That was the problem with this entire situation. I knew nothing.
“It’s okay. It happened a lot of years ago.” His eyes fastened on mine, and my stomach twisted into a mess of emotions I wasn’t expecting. I wanted to be there for Billy. I wanted to know his story.
“But as you know, my brother’s in Portland.” He smiled and turned his attention back to my parents. “I’m looking forward to spending some time with him.”
My father nodded as I took a bite of the rib roast and nearly lost it.
“Billy, my God. This is incredible. Like the best thing I’ve ever eaten.” I closed my eyes and took another bite while Billy laughed.
My eyes fluttered opened and Billy turned to my dad.
“Your daughter is really good for my ego.” He smiled and took another bite.
“Do you have any other family?” my dad asked him, and I wanted to melt into the floor. Wasn’t the first bit of information alarming enough?
“I have a few cousins and an aunt and uncle I was going to spend the holidays with. I haven’t seen them in years. Truthfully, when my parents were alive, most of our relatives stayed away from us.”
My mom’s fork froze, and my gaze flipped back to Billy’s.
He was studying me as the words soaked in.
“May I ask why?” my mother asked.
“My parents were drug addicts.” Even though he was talking to my mom, he kept his gaze on mine. “They never tried to get better. Never wanted any help that was offered. They stole from family members, their own parents even. We got taken away from them and shuffled around only to be returned and have the cycle start all over again. My brother and I only got close once we got older.”
“Billy, I’m so sorry,” I said softly.
His eyes stayed locked on mine, and I suddenly wished my parents weren’t here.
“Anyway, I think that’s why I worked so hard to make a success out of something.” He glanced at my dad, but brought his gaze back to mine. “For the longest time, I thought it was my fault that my parents died. That I should have been able to do something for them.”
“You can’t put that blame on yourself,” my father said gently.
“I know that now, but at eighteen you think you’ve got superhuman powers.” He smiled and shook his head. “I’d just started culinary school at a local college before I’d transferred to where I eventually graduated from. I’d thrown myself into the classes and all of the volunteer opportunities I could. After I turned eighteen, I left my foster parents and got a small apartment. My parents moved in with me, but I didn’t have time for their problems. I didn’t want them on the streets and that was the only place that was left for them.” He shook his head. “They’d burned so many bridges.”
With every new revelation, my stomach clenched into a web of understanding and relief that he was finally sharing something with me, but I never expected it to be something like this.
“I’d been so obsessed with schooling and finding something I loved that I didn’t have any time for my parents. I didn’t stop to see that they were in even worse shape than before.” His gaze locked on mine. “So when I came home one day to find that both of them had overdosed, I blamed myself for a long time.”
“There’s nothing you could have done.” My mom shook her head and looked like she wanted to hug him. “Absolutely nothing.”
“If I hadn’t been so self-absorbed in my own goals, I might have at least noticed.” He shrugged. “But I didn’t.”
“I won’t pretend to know much about addiction,” my dad began, “but I know that it’s common for loved ones affected by the disease to think they could have done something or are somehow to blame. You pulled yourself out of a really shitty situation and still tried to help the very people who didn’t try to help you. You did good, son. And it’s not your fault.”
I slowly brought in a deep breath as I watched my dad talk to Billy. I was such a lucky daughter to have two parents who put us first and always wanted what was best for us, still do.
“I completely agree.” Billy smiled. “But it took a lot of time and a bit of therapy.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” My dad wiped his mouth. “In fact, I had to go when Tiff moved out. I wasn’t ready.”
My gaze skipped to my dad’s. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Well, I didn’t want you to feel bad and come back home.”
I laughed. “Dad, between finding out you have tattoos and this, my world is blown.”
Billy laughed and put his hand on my knee under the table. His touch felt more intimate this time, more relaxed, but I promised myself not to read anything into it.
The rest of the evening turned much lighter and festive. It felt like we could talk about anything now, and my parents took that to an entirely new level. Between embarrassing me about past boyfriend mistakes to reliving one of my worst pet sitting experiences I couldn’t have imagined a better evening.
My parents were looking pretty groggy though and since they were driving, I knew it was time to head back home. They had to drop me off before they could drive back to Hildie’s.
Just the thought of leaving Billy made my insides ache. Spending tonight with him made me fall for him even more and understand him that much better.
But when we’d filed to the front door and I realized he wasn’t asking my parents to stay at the house, the words I spoke this morning in the shower had resonated. And we really were done. He wasn’t trying to drag this out longer or make it hard on me. He just happened to be a natural-born flirt.
My parents wished Billy good luck on his trip and told me they’d meet me in the car. I attempted to go after them, but Billy held me back.
“I hope I didn’t freak your parents out.” He cupped my face in his hands and everything slipped from my mind. All I wanted was one more kiss. “Or you.”
“Billy, I actually feel honored you told me. I was beginning to think I’d never know anything about you.”
His gaze fell to my lips and his hands slid through my hair. “I don’t generally tell anyone that.” He let out a slow breath. “But your parents—you—are so easy to talk to and that scares me.”
“It shouldn’t scare you.” I breathed in.
“But it does.”
I leaned into him as my lashes fluttered closed and I hoped for one last kiss.
And as if he read my mind, his mouth crashed to mine, and I was quickly reminded how insanely amazing he was at kissing.
I wrapped my arm around his neck and he let out a soft moan as my tongue eagerly begged for more. His hands slid down my waist, and he pulled me in tighter, allowing me to feel his response to me. I soaked up everything about this moment with Billy because I knew it would be our last.
Our kisses slowed and he stepped back, his eyes stirring with heated desire.
“I’m going to miss that,” I whispered, unable to move.
“I am too, Tiff.” He brought in a deep breath. “I am too.”