I jerked back like he’d hit me. I knew it was a taunt, but I already felt uncomfortable that he’d given me money for upholding my end of the bargain.
“That’s not what I meant.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Sorry. I can be a prick when I’m fighting with my emotions.”
“I don’t know if I could go even if you wanted me to.”
“I do, though. If I’m honest, I really want to have you there. It’s going to be hard to see him and know it’s the last time.”
“When are you planning to go?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you, hen. I mean it.”
Instead of heading toward Ethan’s house, Taylor turned to take us back to the ferry.
“Where are you going?”
“I just want tonight to be us. Is that all right?”
“If you’re sure.” But a big part of me was thrilled he’d rather spend time with me.
“We can have our own celebration at home. We could order in. Make some dessert?”
I grinned. Thinking of the congratulatory cupcakes I baked for him, complete with his number and mini hockey sticks decorating them. “I might have already put something together.”
“Are you serious?”
I shrugged. “I like a special occasion. Sue me.”
“Now I know you really do care.”
“Don’t get too cocky. One of the cupcakes has cardamom in it.”
That was a lie, but he didn’t need to know that.
TAYLOR
“Do you have something you need to tell me, son?” My mum’s voice was sharp and knowing.
I’d been on this end of her anger more than my fair share growing up. The real kicker was, she knew the answer to her question. She just didn’t want to come out and say it.
No, that opportunity was reserved solely for me. The perpetrator. “What have you heard?”
“Oh, you know exactly what I’ve heard. Now out with it.”
I sighed. “All right. Two months ago, I got married.”
“My only son got married without telling me. How do you think that makes me feel? How do you think that makes the entire family feel? Taylor, this is a major change in your life, and you weren’t even going to tell us.”
She was right. I was trying to keep it under wraps as much as I could. Because I wanted to avoid this scene. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? Yes, it is. This is the biggest moment of your life. This is a woman who’s going to have your children, who’s going to give me wee grandbabies. Oh, Taylor. I had to find out about it from Penny Patmore. Down at the butcher’s... Penny Patmore. Do you ken what she said? She said, ‘Oh, look, there’s your wee lad all grown up. And married to such a pretty little girl. Even if she is American.’”
She wasn’t wrong. Becca was incredibly pretty. “Mum. It was a surprise. It happened out of the blue. I wasn’t sure how to tell you.”
“It’s simple. I’ll tell you exactly how you’re supposed to do it. You ring up your mum. And then you tell her, Mum, I got married. This is my wife’s name. Here’s her picture. And then I can say, congratulations. When do I get to meet her?”