Page 210 of In at the Deep End

“I did exactly what he was afraid I’d do,” Owen said quietly. “I started thinking about every possible way I could fail you.”

“That wasn’t his decision to make.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Owen laced their fingers. “He was wrong to interfere. I told him so. Eventually.”

Matt arched his eyebrows. “‘Eventually’?”

Owen gave him a rueful smile. “I wasn’t exactly at my most rational.”

He huffed. “You broke up with me without actually breaking up with me.”

“I know.”

“You made me think I’d imagined the whole thing.”

“I know.”

“You were very rational about that.”

Owen winced. “Fair point.”

“What else? Is there more?”

He was quiet for a moment. “He said he was protecting the version of your life he’d already decided was right for you.”

Matt swallowed. “That sounds like Dad.”

Owen squeezed his hand. “He loves you, but he was scared. Not to mention wrong.” He looked Matt in the eye. “Like I said, I don’t want you to think I’m trying to excuse him because I’m not. He had no right to tell me what I should do with your life. He had no right to make that decision for you.”

Matt was quiet.

“But I understand why he was frightened.” Owen pulled Matt down into a tender kiss. “Your dad loves you enough to be afraid of you getting hurt. He just forgot that loving you also means trusting you to decide what you’re willing to risk.”

Matt gazed at him for a long moment. “And you forgot the same thing.”

Owen nodded.

He shifted closer until his head rested against Owen’s shoulder. “Okay. So Dad knows everything.” He sighed. “Which means I still have to talk to Mum.”

Owen coughed. “Yeah, about that…”

He was upright in a heartbeat. “What?”

“She overheard me talking to your dad. So did Cyn.” He paused. “And Callum knows too, but only because he came around the back of the house when we were… kind of, occupied.”

Heat flooded his face. “Oh God.” Then it hit him. “So everybody knows?” Matt groaned and buried his face against Owen’s chest.

Owen was shaking as though he was trying not to laugh. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Not particularly.”

Matt gave up and started laughing too.

Then he settled back into Owen’s arms. “They’re going to have questions.”

“Probably.”