Tears streamed down my cheeks. My eyes burned, and my gut twisted into knots. I had never spoken to my mother this way. Never. But the words had come pouring out, and I couldn't take them back. Did I want to?
Ollie returned from the bathroom.
He stopped at his chair, laying one hand on it while his gaze flicked back and forth between me and my mom.
"The ladies had a little argument," Dad said. "Why don't you take Mara out on the balcony for some fresh air?"
"Sure," Ollie said.
I got up, and he clasped my hand, leading me across the dance floor and out onto the empty balcony.
Then he pulled me into his arms.
With my head on his chest, pressed against his warm body, I felt all the anxiety sluice out of me.
"You don't have to tell me what happened," he said. "But I'm here to listen if you need it."
I sucked in a deep breath, exhaled it in a rush, and told him everything.
There was something about this man that made me feel free and whole and like the best version of myself.
But could we work out in the long run?
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ollie
We hung out on the balcony for a while, with Mara cuddled up to me and the music from inside drifting out here to us. The balcony overlooked the river that wound through town, but we couldn't see it in the dark, except for the pale glow of the moon shimmering on its surface, like a ghost hovering below us.
Mara's argument with her mom had really upset her. I couldn't imagine arguing with either of my parents that way. I'd never needed to, because my parents trusted me to make my own decisions and my own mistakes. Mara's dad seemed like a cool guy, but it was obvious he'd let his wife run the show for a long time. Now Mara wanted to take control, and Sheryl couldn't deal with it.
I actually kind of liked Sheryl. Maybe that was weird, considering she wanted Mara to get back together with Nico, but Sheryl Kanda Severins seemed like a smart lady who loved her daughter---but who went overboard trying to protect her from the world.
Mara lifted her head off my shoulder. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Being so sweet and understanding. It's been a crazy week, and that's all my fault."
I cradled her cheek in one hand. "None of it's your fault. Your mom and your ex-husband threw you for a loop, and I think you're doing amazingly well under the circumstances."
"See? I was right. You are sweet and understanding."
"Just don't call me your gay best friend. Not sure I can handle that right now."
"I will never call you that." She kissed me, her lips lingering on mine as softly as a feather teasing my skin. "I've had sex with you. Lots. So trust me, I know exactly how straight you are."
"Glad to hear it." I linked my arms around her waist, tugging her closer to me. "Want to make out for a few minutes before we go back inside?"
She smiled, the expression brightening her from the inside out. "Yes, please."
For several minutes, we kissed. And kissed. And kissed. Her lips were soft and warm and tasted like steak sauce. Maybe that should've been gross, but the savory flavor of it just made me want her even more. Since we were in a restaurant, I couldn't do what I really wanted to do. I settled for making love to her mouth since I couldn't make love to her the right way.
When we finally went back inside, Mara's lips no longer had any lipstick on them. Luckily, I'd brought a handkerchief, so I wiped her lipstick off my mouth before we headed back to the table where her parents waited for us.
Sheryl seemed surprised when I pulled Mara's chair out for her and waited for her to sit down before I took my seat.
Yeah, I seriously doubted Nico ever held a chair for a woman or held a door for a woman or any other polite things nice guys did. Were all the guys in the Severins family's "level of society" as dickish as Nico? Nah, they couldn't all be like him. I'd met nice rich people. Maybe the Severins family liked hanging out with asshats. It was more likely Sheryl insisted they hang out with those people so they could be a part of that kind of society.
Whatever kind it was, I didn't want to go there.
I glanced at Mara. Could I stay with her and not join her world? She said she hated her life, but it was all she knew. I couldn't ask her to give that up for me. We'd known each other for such a short time. I already knew I wanted to be with her for the long haul, but maybe she didn't want that.
Sheryl cleared her throat. "Mara, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten short with you, and it's none of my business how you live your life."
Mara's eyes widened. "Mom---"
Her mother raised a hand. "Let me finish, please. I have a lot to say."
"Okay."
I laid my hand over Mara's on her lap, giving it a quick squeeze.
She flashed me a grateful look.
"Your father and I had a long talk," Sheryl said, "while you and Ollie were out on the balcony. I don't mean to make you feel unworthy. It's time I told you why I've been so hard on you and pushed you to be a proper lady, or what I thought was a proper lady."
Sheryl had her hands clasped tightly on the table.
Peter closed his hand over hers, giving her an encouraging smile.
"When I started dating your father," Sheryl said, "my mother
