Hooked by Love (Bellevue Bullies 3)

Lucy scoffs at that and I laugh. “He is,” Autumn says with a nod. “That’s probably my fault, though. He had to grow up quick when I went through my divorce.”

“Ah, that can do it,” Mom agrees with a nod and I smile. They are getting along. It’s awesome and I can’t stop grinning. I’ve wanted this my whole life. For my parents to love me, and then to love the man I chose and his family. It’s just so great.

Letting out a long breath, my dad squeezes my shoulder. “It’s hard to trust someone with your child, but Jace really showed us we could in the last couple days. This could have gone a whole different way. She could be alone.”

“Jace wouldn’t have done that,” Lucy says, running her hands through her hair. “He’s been wrapped around her finger since the moment he met her.”

That has us all smiling as my dad gives me a sideways hug. Leaning into him, I crave his attention and I try to tell myself not to get attached, that this could all change once they leave. But then, why shouldn’t I enjoy it now? Kissing the top of my head, he says, “Can I talk to you?”

Looking up at him, I nod. “Sure.”

He stands then, looking back at Mom and Autumn. “You guys want anything from concessions?”

Hot chocolate is the consensus, and as we walk down and around the rink, Dad looks up at the clock. “We have about twenty minutes, right?”

The rink door opens and the boys start to warm up. “Yeah, maybe twenty-five.”

“Okay, cool,” he says, passing by the concession stand and leading me out into the lobby. Turning to me once we reach a quiet spot, he smiles. “I wanted to catch you alone, without Jace, to talk to you.”

Dread fills my gut, and damn it, I knew it was all too good to be true. “Okay?”

“So, you’re happy?”

I smile. “Yeah, Dad, I’m happy.”

“Okay, that’s what Jace said. And Avery, honey, he’s so confident, so sure about it all.”

“Yeah, he is.” My grin grows as my heart flutters. “He really is awesome, Dad.”

“You know, I didn’t want to like him. I wanted to hate him, especially with how much Matty hates him. But we all know that’s jealousy.”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“Matty? No.”

He nods, a pained look on his face. “Seth or Laurence?”

“No.”

Shaking his head, he sucks in a deep breath. “That needs to change. You guys are family.”

“I agree.”

He pulls in a breath through his nose. He looks back down at me. “Jace said something at dinner, something that has been bothering me for the last couple days.”

For some reason, that makes my heart race. Did he tell him about Matty being gay? “Yeah?”

“He said he knows the whole story about your…um…”

I wait, and when nothing comes, I shake my head. “Suicide attempt?” I supply and he cringes.

“I hate that word,” he breathes and then looks back at me. “Yes. That.”

“Okay?” I’m confused. What could have Jace told him?

“He told me I don’t know everything I should and that I should ask you.”