Rebound (Seattle Steelheads #1)(60)

“To be fair,” I said, “I didn’t want to date anyone for a while. But then I met Asher, and… I don’t know. We just clicked.”

My kids stared at me, odd looks of disbelief on their faces.

“What?” I asked.

“Just…” Claire laughed softly. A little sadly. “For one thing, you never smiled like that when you talked abut Marcus.”

Was I smiling? Oh, yeah, apparently I was.

David shifted, pressing his elbow into the couch’s armrest. “Didn’t he just break up with someone too?”

“Yeah, he did. That night someone got a video of him outside the restaurant.”

“And you.”

“And me, yes.”

Claire’s eyebrows climbed. “So you guys met while he was breaking up with his boyfriend, and you clicked?”

“It wasn’t quite that simple. I saw him a few times after that. Checking up on him when his ex wouldn’t back off. Things like that. We started talking, and once things quieted down… Well, here we are.” Okay, it wasn’t quite that simple either, but close enough. I might not have even explained this much, but given the shaky ground I’d been on with my kids since I’d left Marcus, more communication for a change seemed like the best approach.

I took a deep breath. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you kids about him. Or that I was seeing anyone at all. I just wanted to see if there was anything there before I did.”

David shifted in his seat. “Is there, uh, something there?”

“You mean are things serious with Asher?”

He nodded, uneasiness deepening the crevices between his eyebrows.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I really don’t. It’s still fairly new, and we’re both still coming down from other relationships.”

“Oh,” was all he said.

I studied both kids, trying like hell to get a bead on either of them. “Any thoughts? Questions?”

They avoided my gaze, both fidgeting uncomfortably.

“It’s still weird,” Claire admitted. “I mean it’s cool that you’re dating Asher Crowe.” She shook her head and laughed as if she couldn’t believe she’d said the words out lout, but the amusement faded fast. “But… Marcus.”

I was getting pretty good at not flinching when my kids mentioned my ex. “I know. And I know you’re both still struggling because of how things ended with him.” I paused. “If it helps, I wasn’t looking to meet anyone. We just sort of stumbled into each other.”

That seemed to ease some of the rigidity in my kids’ features and postures. Was that what they needed to hear? That I hadn’t been actively on the prowl and just sort of fell ass-backwards into a relationship? Damn, where was the guidebook for this?

Keeping my tone even, I said, “I know you both said it was too soon and you weren’t sure about me dating. Does it bother you that I’m dating Asher?”

They seemed to consider it for a moment. Finally, David shook his head. “I guess not.”

Claire shrugged. “I mean, it’s still weird. I still miss Marcus. I still think it sucks that he’s gone.” She shifted a little. “But… I guess if you’re happy with Asher…” Another shrug.

She said it in that apathetic way teenagers often said things, but hearing the words at all was a huge relief for me. Maybe we were finally getting somewhere. No, they still weren’t thrilled about me leaving Marcus, but they were slowly, steadily warming up to me dating Asher. It was a start. A damn good one after the way things had gone recently.

“So, we’re all okay with this moving forward?” I asked tentatively.

Both kids thought for a moment then nodded.

“Okay. Okay, good.” I watched them both. “And just so we’re clear—Asher’s not exactly a low-profile person. Once people catch on that we’re dating…”

Claire laughed. “Oh the horrors. Everyone at school talking about how my dad is dating Asher Crowe.”

I laughed too but quickly sobered. “Seriously, I need you two to be careful. Especially if it does come out that I’m dating Asher. Any reporters try to talk to you, you tell them you can’t speak to them without one of your parents present. Anyone gives you any grief—come to me or your mom, talk to the principal, do what—”

“Dad. God. We get it.” Claire rolled her eyes. “We’re not idiots.”

“No, you’re not, but you’ve also never had to deal with fame before. Not even on this level. So I just want to make sure you’re careful. Okay?”

They both nodded and murmured in agreement. They were smart kids, so I knew they’d take it seriously.

Admittedly, I’d questioned a few times—and would probably continue to question—if I should keep dating Asher for this very reason. Did I want my kids potentially in the spotlight?

But was there really that much of a spotlight on Asher? He was a hockey player, not a politician or a rock star or an A-list actor. When this came out, I had no doubt it would get some attention, especially if it fell on a slow news day, but odds were the kids and I were safe. People weren’t that interested in the love life of a pro athlete. Not even a gay one.

I hoped, anyway.