Page 102 of Out Of A Fix

“Fine,” I rasped, grinning at Luke.

We went downstairs with Griff leading the way, and when we all reached the dining room, the three people sitting at the table stood up.

“Mom, Dad, Quinn,” Luke said, hand on the small of my back as he steered me forward, “this is Nash Miller, who takes care of us.”

Luke’s father, John, had a strong handshake, and his mother, Viola, gave me a hug. When Quinn took my hand, I noted her narrowed eyes. She was not missing how close Luke was standing, his hand on my bicep, or how, when we all took seats at the table, he was right there to my left, leaning against me.

“So, Nash,” John began, leaning forward in his chair, regarding me. “Who are you, exactly? I heard a lot about you from my granddaughter as we were shopping.”

Which meant Quinn had probably been strolling the aisles with Luke.

I leaned forward as well, meeting John’s gaze. “I’m a fixer, sir, and I was hired by Abel Roarke, Caitlyn’s brother, to watch over your son and the kids as she prepares to testify.”

“You’re in danger because of that woman?” John barked at his son.

“Dad, we don’t know what exact⁠—”

“What does that woman mean?” Griff asked his grandfather.

Silence at the table.

John cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have phrased it that way. I was just surprised. Your mother has made some very poor choices and⁠—”

“That’s fine,” Griff said with a lifted hand. “And I get that you’d be mad about how she treated Dad, but please never call her that again. She’s my mom, and I really hope to see her again someday.”

It was quiet then, and when Griff turned to Luke, Luke smiled at him.

“Was that okay?”

“Yes,” he assured his son. “You advocated for yourself without being combative. Good job. Dr. Marlowe will be pleased when you tell her.”

“Thanks,” he said softly, then got up, and when he reached me, leaned down into my arms, squeezing me. “Thanks for making it okay to talk about her.”

I could hear the wobble in his voice, so I hugged him tight. “It was an easy change.”

“No,” he said, easing back to look at me. “It wasn’t.”

“Well, it’s all good now,” I said, hands on his face, using my thumbs to wipe away his tears. “You especially.”

He nodded, and when I let him go, I noticed Quinn. Her chin was in the palm of her hand, her fingers curled against her cheek, and was regarding me with a bemused expression.

“Quinn?”

“Nash,” she murmured, smiling at me.

“You all right?”

“Just fine,” she said, her eyes flicking to Luke and then back to me. “I’m good.”

I had no idea what that meant.

“You talk about your mother now?” Viola asked Griff.

“Yeah. We’ve normalized it.”

“Had to be done,” Tatum assured her grandmother, bumping Griff’s shoulder. “Plus, we have a therapist now, Dr. Marlowe, as you heard, so we’re all getting better.”

John and Viola were visibly stunned.