My parents, who were dressed in a tux and a purple sheath dress （you guess who wore what）， both shook their heads, perplexed.
“But why would you mind? You two were thick as thieves growing up,” Mom groused, licking her thumb to wipe imaginary dirt from my cheek.
Add it to the never-ending list of things I hated about being a full-sized, hunky teddy bear who held the Favorite Child title.
“He’s still thick and a thief.”
“Oh, Cruzy, I wish you wouldn’t be so surly. You’ve changed since the cruise.”
I pushed away from my family, trying to find Tennessee so I could warn her.
I found her standing with her family on a lush patch of green lawn by the dining area. The Turners were all talking animatedly.
At first, I thought maybe Trinity was having second thoughts, what with Wyatt almost scooping up someone else’s tonsils with his tongue the other day.
Who knew what could have happened if Rob and I hadn’t decided to reenact every bad teen movie ever made and pick a fight over a girl at the bar?
Wyatt could have slept with that woman.
But as I got closer, I realized that no, Trinity wasn’t upset over Wyatt at all. Tennessee and Bear were standing as a united front on one end of the lawn, while Trinity, Donna, and Bryan occupied the other side.
“Nothing is in my control anymore. Gabriella has bailed on me. I can’t believe she’s not here because of another headache.”
“I can,” Tennessee mumbled. “I’d believe it if she skipped the event due to a split nail.”
Her sister threw her a frosty gaze.
“Not only is my best friend not here, but my sister’s baby daddy is. Can I just have one day where it’s about me and not her?” Trinity wailed.
“Honey, the day’s all yours, but Rob has the right to see his son.” Donna rubbed at her favorite daughter’s back.
So Donna was the one responsible for Rob showing up. Bet she didn’t bother asking her elder daughter what she thought about the arrangement.
Tennessee’s face looked tight and resigned, her posture stiff.
Yup.
She definitely didn’t have anything to do with this.
I approached them, placing a hand over Tennessee’s back as I flashed them a good-natured smile.
“I see someone’s got your trousers in a twist. Anything I can do to help?”
The sight of my hand resting against Tennessee’s back sent Donna reeling. She went into a coughing fit while Bryan looked at me like I’d just landed back from Mars sporting a brand new green latex body suit.
Trinity grimaced, probably realizing she should’ve toned down her bitchiness toward her boss’ girlfriend.
Fuck it. The secret was already out in the open. It was better not to Band-Aid the situation.
It didn’t hurt that Robert was here to witness this with his own eyes.
To my surprise, Tennessee leaned a little into me, seeking my touch. Warm, pathetic liquid spread inside my chest, and I rested my chin atop of her head casually.
“It’s all under control. Sorry Rob’s here.” Tennessee cleared her throat.
“I’m not sorry,” Donna said defiantly, sticking her nose up in the air. “Bear needs a father.”
“You could’ve consulted us.” Trinity sighed. “What if Bear’s not ready?”
“Bear’s a child. He should do whatever he is told to do,” Donna pointed out.
Interesting take on parenting.
Effective one, too.
If you were a tyrant.
“You should’ve asked Mom.” Bear leaned into Tennessee, which made us look like a family of our own.
“Don’t talk to your mamaw like that,” Bryan tried to convey some authority, but his heart wasn’t in it.
His eyes were roaming the golf course across the lawn.
“Bear?” I heard a voice behind me.
We all turned around.
Rob was standing there, right in front of us. He didn’t look at me, even though the bruises from our fight had barely faded from both our faces. He didn’t look at Tennessee, either.
Just his son.
Bear’s face looked pained. A mix of dismay and longing I hadn’t seen on anyone before.
He’d seen him before, I knew, but only when Rob was about to get the boot and be kicked out of the vicinity.
And just like that, I realized I hadn’t taken into consideration the one leverage Rob had over me in this situation—bloodline.
“Rob,” Bear squeaked, separating himself from the group and pulling his shoulders back, extending to his full height to show his dad how big and strong he was.