The chair slides back, making that horrible scratching noise I’ve heard too many times since we arrived. I tuck my phone into my pocket.

“After the Hamilton show he started calling looking to set-up a meeting,” I say, referring to Ralph from Fink and Deed, because I believe in telling the truth.

“And you’re going to indulge him?” Teegan seethes.

I run my fingers through my hair, my blood already red hot. It’s all I can do to keep my cool in front of my parents and everyone else at this damn restaurant. Now she’s going to second-guess my commitment to her? “Of course you’d assume that.”

“You obviously didn’t decline the meeting if he’s still calling you.” She places her arms across her chest.

No, I want to scream. The guy just doesn’t take no for an answer. But I don’t say that because that isn’t really what this is about.

“Don’t try to turn this around on me, because you’re not going to like it when I turn it back on you.”

“Leo, darling, I think you both should talk this out another time.” My mom’s hand lands on my arm.

“No, I think this is the perfect time,” I say, shrugging her off.

Sophie walks around the iron fencing and into the restaurant, a united front at Teegan’s side.

“Were you going to fire me?” Teegan asks. “The least you could do was tell me since I was your girlfriend.”

“Was?” A hollow laugh escapes my throat. “So we broke up?”

“No.” Her teeth clench. “I just meant—”

“It’s okay, I’m used to you having one foot out the door, now you can put both feet out.” I shake my head at her, disappointment like a hot poker in my chest. “You were never in this.”

“That’s not true,” she insists, one lone tear slipping down her cheek.

“This isn’t the place, Leo.” My dad steps up, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“You went from casual to the Indy 500 in a split second,” Teegan says. “What did you expect? I don’t shift that fast.”

“Shift at all, you mean?” I cross my arms and my parents’ hands leave my body.

“Screw you!” Teegan yells. “You’re the one who’s going to fire me and hire that asshole. That asshole who screwed me out of a job, who stole clients off me and got promoted all because he has a dick and I don’t.”

“Check!” the guy behind us says. His wife and kids are already walking away and he digs some cash out of his wallet and tosses it on the table.

“You two will have to take this somewhere else,” the manager says, approaching us.

“No need. She wants to end up alone just like…” I shake my head.

“Say it.” She steps up to me, chest-to-chest, her eyes flashing, her lips set in a firm line.

I stand in defiance. “Do you really think I would do that to you?” Does she even know me at all?

The hatred in her eyes dims, but she says nothing.

“And that’s the problem. You’ll never trust me. You’ll never believe I’m in this.” I dig my wallet out of my back pocket, grabbing cash of my own to pay for our drinks. “I was, Teegan. You were the one. I saw you walking toward me in a white dress, your belly swollen with our child, a chaotic household with kids and dogs and the fucking happily ever after.” I toss the cash in the middle of the table. “But all you saw was the image of my back walking away. I can’t win, so I quit.”

I walk away, not wanting to hear her excuses.

“It was nice meeting you. Sometimes he just needs to cool down. Don’t take anything he said to heart. He always had a little bit of temper,” my mom rambles as I make my way through the tables.

“I’ll get her home,” Sophie says as I round the iron fence.

I wait for my parents on the sidewalk near my car, Cooper standing at my feet.

Sophie and Teegan leave the patio first, walking toward me, my parents not far behind. I lock eyes with Teegan one last time. She’s a minute away from crying, her cheeks red, and she might be sorry, but not apologetic enough to change the way she thinks and give us a real chance—to push past what she thinks she knows and live her life.

They walk past me and Cooper follows along beside Teegan.

“Cooper!” I scold. He’s going to pick now to be a traitor?

Teegan and Sophie slow, turning to face me. Cooper stays put at Teegan’s feet, his nose flipping her hand up to pet him.

“Cooper!” I say again as my parents come up alongside me.

He doesn’t move and my mom grips my forearm. “It’s a sign,” she murmurs.

“It’s not. Cooper!” I yell again.

Teegan bends down, wrapping her arms around his neck, petting down his back. “Bye, Coop,” she whispers. She nudges him with her hand to come to me and he listens, slowly, taking his time to reach me.

Teegan’s head tips down and she swipes a tear from under her eye until Sophie turns her around and the two walk away.

“Leo, I don’t think I need to tell you how wrong that situation was.” I love my mom, but I cannot listen to any motherly advice right now.

“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s over.” I unlock my Bronco and walk around to get in the driver’s seat, slamming the door behind me.

* * *

For two days, my parents have tried to stay upbeat. My mom’s been prying for more information about Teegan. Suggesting that it’s hard for some people to be vulnerable, that not everyone came from such a wonderful household as I did. For the first time, I’m ready for my parents to get back to Chicago so I can continue my life.

Jagger and I wait by the airport for my parents to check in for their flight.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Teegan?” he asks, pretending to be checking emails on his phone.

My mom has a big fucking mouth.

“We broke up. It’s not a big deal.” I shrug.

Jagger glances at me from the corner of his eye, but says nothing. “Yeah, you don’t need to be chained down. You’re still young.”

“Exactly.” I people-watch and I wish I could hop on a plane and disappear for a while.

“We should go out tonight, find you some new pussy to forget about her.”

“I’m in.” I nod, shoving my hands in my pockets.

“Maybe go see some strippers and get shitfaced.”

“Perfect.”

“Or we could just go to Teegan’s and you can air this shit out.”

My head shoots to him, a smirk on his lips.

“Fuck you,” I say.

He smacks my back. “You’re being an asshole. I mean I get it, she’s scared. You know how many jerks are scared of commitment? Maybe she’s learned her lesson.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I crack my neck.

“But you want to obsessively think about it? You want to end up eating ice cream and junk food in your condo like Vance when he and Layla broke up?”

I laugh. “I’m not a pussy like him.”

“Speaks the man who makes dog clothes for a living.”

I shoot him a look of warning from the side of my eye.

“I’m kidding. See, where’s my fun-loving friend?”

“He’s still here, I just need to work her out of my system. I will and one day I’ll be good as new.”

He purses his lips, rocking back on his heels. “You going to forget the way she smells? Or how her skin felt under your hands? How about the way she writhed underneath you when she came? Or the way her ass was made to fit in your lap? The sound of her laugh? You’re going to forget all that?”

I glance over when I hear the melancholy note to his voice and I could swear he’s not in this conversation with me—he seems more like he’s reliving something from his own memory. “You speaking from experience?”

He startles and then a deep laugh rumbles out of him. “Of course not.”

I eye him for a few seconds. His movements are antsy and he seems uncomfortable. The son of a bitch has been in love before. “Jagg—”

“Here come your parents.” He nods in front of us.

My parents reach us seconds later, my mom hugging Jagger, my dad hugging me.

“Thank you for having us,” my dad softly says in my ear. “I’d go get that girl if I were you.”

“Good thing you aren’t me.”

He shakes his head. “Always were a stubborn one.” He places my head in both of his hands, bending me down to kiss my forehead. “Sometimes you have to fight for the things that matter. Believe me, no one has a long-term relationship without a little forgiveness on both sides.”

“Dad.” I sigh.

“I know, I know. I pick now to talk to you about this, but I thought you’d come to your senses already. You’ve fought for everything your entire life, Leo, yet, you’re letting her slip away. I’m struggling to understand.”

“Why should I give my all when she doesn’t? I’ll be the one left with a broken—”

My dad smiles. “Maybe she’s not the only one who’s worried.”

I shake my head and my parents switch spots, my mom squeezing me hard around my middle. “I love you. Come home soon to visit, okay?”

She mentions nothing about Teegan and I’m happy that at least one of my parents can let the topic go.

“Bring your fiancée.” She winks and pulls away.

I release a big breath of frustration. Suppose I spoke too soon.

Saying nothing else, the two turn around, my dad linking hands with my mom, and they walk to the security area.

“Time to get shitfaced. I’ll call Vance.” Jagger steps away from me, his phone already in his hands.

I’m not going to argue. I could do with a few hours of forgetting about her.