Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

My mom waves her hand at me as my dad says, “We won’t tell a soul, son. But honestly, when she does speak of her past marriage, it’s easy to tell it wasn’t good. Not in a ‘he cheated’ way, but definitely in a ‘he hurt her’ way.”

Mom nods. “Absolutely. She brings him up, and there is such fear in her.”

“I hate him, and I don’t even know him. It annoys me that I can’t kill him and get away with it.”

Dad scoffs. “Stupid laws.” He shakes his head as he sits down beside me. “Being with someone who has been abused is tough, son. You know that, right?”

I nod. “She had a little over a year to heal from what he did, and then I came along. I don’t know. She has moments where the memories get to be too much and it hurts her, but I’m there, and I think I’ve helped.”

Mom cups my shoulder. “Of course you have. We’re just worried you’ll get hurt.”

My brows come in. “Get hurt? How?”

“What if she freaks out and runs—”

“No, she won’t,” I say sharply. “That won’t happen. We have great communication, and we’re doing well.”

“That’s good,” Dad says slowly. “We’re just worried you’re rushing into this.”

“What? I am not.”

“Chandler, honey, it’s only been a couple months—”

“Four.”

My mom’s eyes narrow a bit, disbelief swirling in them. “Four months and you’re already ready to kill for her.”

“So? I love her. What’s wrong with that?”

“You loved Lana.”

I let my head fall back, groaning loudly. I lift it and glare back at my father. “Amelia is not Lana, and I’m not the guy I was when I was with Lana. Yes, I rushed into that, but it was because I wanted someone to come home to. I was lonely without you guys, but it isn’t like that anymore. I found that I can live without someone. But now, Amelia has happened, and I can’t live without her. She adds to my life. She makes me happy, and I love her.” I swallow hard. I feel like I’m drowning. I don’t understand what is happening here. “I thought you guys liked her.”

“Oh, we do,” Mom says, taking my hand. “I love her. She is wonderful, and I love how happy she makes you.”

“She’s great. But, son, we just don’t want you making that mistake again.”

I shake my head. “She’s different, though. You both said so yourself. When I brought up that I had seen her again, you both went on and on about how you remember me talking about her all the time. I’ve always thought she was special, and now that I have the chance to be with her, I’m not giving that up.”

“We’re not asking you to,” Dad says. “We’re just asking you to be smart and not rush into this.”

I shake my head. “You act like I’m dropping to a knee right now. I’m not.”

Dad lifts a brow. “You haven’t bought a ring?”

Mom smiles, but I glare. “No. Really, I haven’t.”

“That surprises us,” Mom says, and I roll my eyes.

“I mean…it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t marry her right now.”

Dad lets out a long sigh as Mom laughs. “This is what we’re talking about, honey. You’re ready to give yourself to her.”

“I already have!” I yell, getting really pissed off. “I’m hers. Completely. And I’m not sorry. If it’s not okay with you, I don’t care.”

“We didn’t say it wasn’t—”

“Chandler, we just worry—”

I cut them both off, standing up and pushing in my chair with more force than I mean to, but I’m pissed the fuck off. “I was never sure Lana was it. I thought so, and I remember even telling you guys I thought she might be it. I know that should have been a red flag, but I was young and dumb. I’m not saying I’m not still a little dumb, but with Amelia, I can look at you both and tell you she is it. She is the one I am going to marry, have kids with, and love every single day, more and more.”

“We believe you, son,” Dad says softly, holding up his hands. “We just want you to think this through. She’s damaged—”

“She’s fucking perfect,” I snap. I don’t understand the emotion that is taking over. My eyes are watery, and my chest hurts. “Yeah, she’s been hurt. That fucker put some dents in her. But even with those dents, which I know hurt her, I want nothing more than to smooth them out and love her. Be the man she needs and wants. Because I can do that. Want to know why?” They don’t answer me; they are both just looking at me like I’ve grown a few heads along the way. “Because I am loved by two of the greatest people on this earth. Two people who have so much love inside of them that it overflowed, and somehow, I was the one on the receiving end. I want to love her like that, I want to love my kids like that, and when I look at what is in my future, all I see is her by my side.”