That Second Chance (Getting Lucky #1)(83)

I wouldn’t trade that in for anything.

She’s so strong, confident, in us . . . in me. It makes me want to be the man she deserves, the man who doesn’t worry, who can live freely and give her my whole heart.

The man I want to be.

Her mom looks between us. “I don’t like that you didn’t tell me about the accident. What if something seriously happened to you?”

“Then I would have told you, Mom, but honestly . . .” Ren takes a deep breath. “You need to learn to let go. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself, and I did after the accident. I love that you care about me so much, that you’re the loving parents any child deserves, and I’m so lucky to have you. But there also comes a time when you need to let go and let me live my life.” She leans forward and puts her hand on mine. “Let me be the one who takes care of someone now.”

Tears well up in her mom’s eyes, but the understanding is there as Gloria slowly nods her head, Harry’s hand wrapping around his wife’s shoulder. “I don’t want you hiding things from me, but I will tell you the fact that you’ve been so open and honest about Griffin makes me think I can learn to slowly let go.” She brushes a tear off her cheek. “You have never looked happier, Ren, which is all I want as a mother: for you to be happy.”

“I am, Mom.” Ren looks at me. “So happy.”



I walk along the harbor and into my parents’ backyard to a round of applause, accompanied by obnoxious cheering from Reid and Brig.

Word spreads fast. When my mom called us all to dinner, I should have known that she had one goal in mind: to talk about the new development in my life.

It looks like an intervention, with my family sitting around in a circle on the back deck, waiting for my arrival. Earlier today, we all received an emergency group text from my mom calling for all Knightlys to show up at the house at seven on the dot.

But instead of worried and concerned faces greeting me, there is a CONGRATULATIONS banner hung up behind them, a plate of cookies on the table, and beers all around—my favorite local brew—and are those IT’S A GIRL napkins?

“There he is, the man of the hour. Have a seat,” Reid says, offering me a chair and reaching to place a construction paper crown on my head.

I toss the crown at Reid. “I’m not wearing that.” I flop on the chair, relenting to whatever ridiculous shit is about to go down, and take the beer in front of me.

“That crown was made by your nephew, and you hurt his feelings.”

“That crown was made by you. I saw you in the back of the shop trying to staple it together earlier. Nice try, dickhead.” I slouch in my seat and get comfortable, scanning everyone’s gleeful faces. Well, besides Rogan. I’m not sure he knows what a gleeful face is. “And what’s with the ‘It’s a Girl’ napkins?”

“Because it’s a giiiiiirl you finally started dating,” Reid coos.

“There is something seriously wrong with you.”

“Settle down, you two,” my mom says. “We’re expecting company, and I don’t want any bickering to distract from what we’re celebrating.”

Company? Celebrating?

Oh hell.

“Mom . . .” I swallow hard. “What are we celebrating?”

“Your new relationship, of course! This is a special day, and we need to make it known.”

I shake my head and sit up in my chair. “We don’t need to make anything known. Can we for the love of Christ just act normal and—”

The doorbell rings from inside the house, and my mom starts clapping her hands while my dad abruptly leaves to answer it. “Oooh, they’re here.”

“Who?” I look over my shoulder. “Who’s here?” I turn to Jen, who gives me a pitying “I’m sorry” look. “Mom, who’s here?”

No one answers me. Instead, I hear the cheerful voice of Mrs. Winters being greeted by my dad.

Jesus Christ.

“Right out here.” The sliding glass door opens, and I turn to find Ren, a nervous smile on her face, her parents trailing behind her.

I could seriously die right now.

This very moment.

Die of utter embarrassment as, once again, everyone starts clapping.

Ren was nervous about me meeting her parents. Well, she had no idea what was in store for her when it came to my family.

I stand awkwardly as Ren shifts on her feet, hands clasped in front of her. We stare at each other as silence falls on the deck.

Do I kiss her?

Do I shake her hand?

Do I jump off the deck into the harbor to end my misery?

From the corner of my eye, I catch Rogan smirking and taking a sip of his beer. I know exactly what that look is. It’s the “I’m glad I’m not you right now” look.

Out of all my family members, he’s the one I’m most mad at; he could have tried to stop this, or at least taken down the godforsaken CONGRATULATIONS sign.

Finally my mom steps up and starts introducing everyone, going around in a circle while I stare at the ground, so humiliated that I can’t even begin to face Ren. Does she want to kill me? Does she want to run for the hills? I wouldn’t blame her.

The IT’S A GIRL napkins would get my ass moving immediately.

“Well, are you two just going to stand there and act like you don’t know each other?” my mom says after all introductions are over with.