Who Falls Hardest (Clearwater University)

“Of course I think so,” I gush. “I could tell how much you guys cared about each other. I just… I thought you were broken up. Or taking a break, I mean.”

“We were.” He chuckles. “Things were a little rough there for a while, what with… well, everything. But I had a talk with Trent, actually, a few weeks ago, and it changed my perspective on a few things. I realized I hadn’t given Claire a fair shot to be a part of my life, messiness and all. But that’s all I really want—to have her in my life and be a part of hers. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s not perfect. So when we got back together, I decided it would be stupid to waste any more time. I knew what I wanted, and I didn’t want to wait any longer.”

The tears burning my eyes slip out over my lower lids, and I let out a ragged breath. His words hit me right in the chest, but not as much as the tone of his voice.

He sounds so happy.

Happier than I’ve heard him sound in years.

He deserves every bit of this, and so does Claire. They’ve both been through a lot, and even though I didn’t know they were together for most of these past couple years, now that I have the full picture, his proposal does seem like it’s right on time.

They love each other, and I’m so thrilled for both of them.

“Congratulations, Dad. This is the best news I’ve heard all day. You guys are great for each other, I’m so happy for you.”

I’m smiling through my happy tears, and my lips stretch wider as Dad tells me the story of how he got down on one knee and popped the question.

It’s only as we say our goodbyes and hang up a while later that a new thought pops into my mind, stealing the grin from my lips.

Does Trent know yet?

What will this mean for us?

17

Trent

“That’s fucking amazing, Mom. I knew things would work out for the two of you.”

“Oh, like you didn’t have anything to do with it?” My mom chuckles. She sounds almost giddy, same as she did when she called twenty minutes ago to tell me the news—she and Paul are getting hitched. “You don’t think he told me about your little visit to his office? I have to say, of all the people who I ever thought would play matchmaker in my life, my son was never one of them.”

“I didn’t do anything.” I brush off her words with a shake of my head, even though she can’t see me. “We talked for a few minutes, and it wasn’t even about you. It was about Emma.”

“Sure. Sure, Trent.” The tone of her voice makes it clear she doesn’t believe me, but she’s willing to go along with whatever lie I want to tell. “Well, whatever you talked about, I’m glad you did. I’m so happy. I can’t get over it. And this ring!”

“I can’t wait to see it, Mom,” I tell her with an indulgent grin. “I’m sure it’s beautiful.”

“It is,” she gushes. “It’s nothing too extravagant. We’re old folks, we don’t need all of that. But it’s gorgeous, and it’s just so me. He knows me. He gets me. And that’s the best part.”

Yeah. It is.

There was a time when I wouldn’t really have understood what she was saying. But now, I get it completely.

I think on some level I’ve been in love with Emma Holloway since the first fucking day I met her. But the way I feel about her now? It’s so far beyond that it’s not even in the same dimension. I know her. She knows me. We’ve seen each other at our absolute worsts, and yet somehow, through it all, we came back to each other.

If I ever proposed to her, I would know exactly what kind of ring to get. It wouldn’t even be a question. Because I know her, inside and out.

Of course, I have no idea where marriage stands in our future. This thing we’re doing isn’t exactly conventional, so maybe certain things will never be in the cards for us.

“Anyway,” Mom continues, breaking into my wandering thoughts. “I just wanted to let you know the big news. I would’ve called earlier, but I was sure you were in class.”

“Yeah, I was. I just got home, actually.”

“Well, I’ll let you go. But I’m so glad you approve, honey. I know it was a bit of a rocky start between you two, but he makes me deliriously happy. And I want my two best guys to get along.”

“We do, Mom. We will.”

An all-too-familiar pang of guilt squeezes my chest at the memory of what a fucking asshole I was the night she and Paul took me and Emma out to tell us about their relationship. They meant for it to be a fun, pleasant dinner, but as soon as I realized Paul was the guy my mom had been seeing, I made it my mission to torpedo the entire evening. Did a pretty damn good job of it too.