Page 92 of Letting Go at 40

“He’d be proud.”

“Not of that.” Calvin tips his head at Bryce.

“We all have slip ups in life.”

With my hand still on Calvin’s face, he looks at me with candid eyes. “Don’t let Mason be a slip up.”

“I won’t.”

Or at least, I’ll try my hardest not to.

Chapter 33

8 Months Ago

January

A New Beginning

[Mason]

The next morning, I hear about Bryce’s incident. Anna is beside herself with worry, but I talk her down, reminding her he’s a kid. He’s going to test limits and cross boundaries.

Thank God Calvin was there, she’d said.

The day ahead of us is planned with board games and football watching. At one point, I observe Anna with Lynlee. They stand behind the kitchen island, heads bent close together as Anna shows Lynlee where to place finger foods on a giant charcuterie board. Lynlee giggles at something Anna says and Anna’s grin is wide in response. The moment is picture perfect. Anna wraps her arm around Lynlee, tugging her into her side, perfectly symbolizing how she’s embraced my child into her family. My heart is almost full with the image. The only tweak I’d add is me on Anna’s other side, engulfing both my girls in a giant hug.

Anna’s house fills with our friends, but it is nearly two in the afternoon before Bryce shows his face, looking a little worse for wear.

“Want a drink, Tito?” Logan teases and Bryce looks like he might puke on the spot. He takes one glance at the spread of food his mom has prepared and turns a sickly shade of green.

Holding his head as high as he might be able to, Bryce asks to speak to his mom for a second. To my surprise, he asks if I can join them.

For some reason, I glance at Calvin. He tips his head, suggesting I follow.

“What am I missing?” I mutter as I pass the eldest Kulis child.

“He owes you this,” Calvin states, sounding strangely like his father in tone while looking more and more like his Uncle Archer.

Following Anna and Bryce into the dining room, I pause, feeling a little out of my element and a lot confused why I’m present.

“I’m sorry, Mom.” Bryce hangs his head, eyes averted.

As Anna stands before me, her shoulders fall. A tightness about her melts away.

“Calvin told me I said some things that I shouldn’t have said.” Bryce quickly glances at me and looks away. “And I didn’t mean them.”

“What am I missing?” I ask again, this time to Bryce.

Bryce studies his toes. “I was drunk, and I said some things about you and Mom,” he says weakly.

Instantly, I’m on edge on Anna’s behalf. “Like what?” He can insult me all he wants, and I’d still love the fuck out of this kid, but disrespecting his mom is another story.

“I said . . .” Bryce swallows hard, looking up at me once and then turning his head. “I said I thought you had a crush on Mom. And how you wanted to take her to bed.”

Hands coming to my hips, I tell him, “Not cool, Bryce.” My teeth grit. If her kids don’t approve, Anna is going to slam the door in my face. She’ll deny her own happiness for them. It’s just who she is.

Nothing has happened between us, though. Nothing more than hot kisses and an occasional orgasm which isn’t a seventeen-year-old’s business. Still, I want him to understand, sometimes you love who you love.