Page 5 of Sticks and Stones
Chapter Two
Gunnar knew he shouldn’t ask, but he couldn’t help himself. “So, what do you know about this guy your mom’s out with tonight?”
“Not much,” Keegan said, reaching into the popcorn container her sister held between them. “I think Mom said he’s a photographer or something. They met at work.”
“Does she go out a lot?” Gunnar asked, snagging his soft drink. “You know, on dates.”
“She’s been on a few,” Ramsey said, staring at the TV screen.
They’d talked him into some romantic comedy that hadn’t held his interest beyond the first few minutes. “A few? With the same guy?” Gunnar knew from experience that his ex didn’t subscribe to the three date rule, but that didn’t make him feel any better about her dating again.
“No.” Ramsey frowned, glancing at him. “She’s been out with a few different guys. Why do you care so much all of a sudden? Kitty Morgan said her dad asked Mom outwhileyou guys were living together and you didn’t object.”
Gunnar clenched his teeth as he remembered the argument he had with Gi over that. They’d been at a fundraiser for their daughters’ fancy private school when one of the divorced fathers started flirting with Gianna. She brushed him off, but when he asked Gunnar whether he’d mind if they went out for a coffee sometime, he claimed Gianna was a free agent. He didn’t own her.
That was the last straw in their relationship apparently. She’d heard him say that one too many times, and according to her, she was done wasting her time with a man who could care less about her.
“I didn’t think I had the right.”
Gunnar was trying to be fair to Gi. He didn’t want to be one of those guys who refused to get married, but expected all of the perks that went with it. Like fidelity. Sure, they lived together and co-parented their children. They slept together and he’d never messed around on her, but he’d never asked the same of her.
Truth be told, he didn’t want to know if she slept with other men.
“Because you weren’t married?” Keegan asked, giving him a side-long glance that unnerved him.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“So, why didn’t you marry her?” Ramsey asked. “You didn’t love her… or you just didn’t want to be tied down?”
He found the courage to admit to them something he’s never even said to Gianna. “I loved her,” he said quietly, staring at the screen. “I never stopped loving her.”
“Then how could you be okay with her going out with other guys while you two were living together?” Keegan asked, shaking her head. “It doesn’t make any sense, Dad.”
“It made sense to me.”
His bandmates agreed with his daughters. Every time they heard him tell Gianna she was free to do what she wanted, with whomever she wanted, they told him he was just asking for trouble. Gianna was the sexiest woman any of them had ever laid eyes on and they told him it was just a matter of time before she dumped his sorry ass for not being more invested in her and their relationship. He was invested. Too invested. That was the problem.
“Yet you’re jealous that she’s out with someone else tonight,” Keegan said.
Gunnar scowled as he reached into the popcorn bucket and shoved a handful in his mouth. “I am not jealous.”
“God, you’re such a liar,” Ramsey said, rolling her eyes. The sisters shared a look before she asked, “Um, can we ask you something?”
“Sure,” he said, knowing instinctively it would be a question he’d rather not answer.
“Did you give Mom permission to mess around so you wouldn’t feel guilty about doing it?”
Gunnar sputtered and coughed, prompting Keegan to slap him on the back while he reached for his soft drink. “What kind of question is that?”
“It’s legit,” Keegan said. “No guy is going to be okay with his girlfriend messing around on him unless he’s doing the same.”
Gunnar jumped up and started pacing. “We’re not having this conversation.”
The girls shared a look of disappointment before sinking lower in the deep cushions. “Then it’s true. You did mess around on her.”
“What? No! I didn’t say that!” Gunnar didn’t know where his daughters got the impression he was a lying, cheating asshole, but clearly that was their opinion of him. “What the hell, guys? Can’t you give me a little credit? I loved your mom. What makes you think I’d cheat on her?”
“Dad,” Ramsey said, rolling her eyes, “you were okay with her cheating on you. That kind of says it all.”
