Page 112 of Stealing Home

“Why?” His father spoke carefully.

“Because if there was a chance for Lucia to have a family with her mother and father, I didn’t want to be the reason he didn’t take it.”

“What did he say to that?”

Gavin closed his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose before he answered his mother’s question. “He said he loved me too and the only family he wanted to build was with me.”

“And you left,” his father said. It wasn’t really a question, but Gavin nodded anyway. “I see.”

He turned from the window to look at them and crossed his arms. “I know how it sounds.”

His mother smiled softly at him. “We’re just trying to understand⁠—”

“I can’t do it again,” Gavin interrupted. His throat tightened, and he swallowed hard. “I can’t be told I’m not enough again.”

His mother crossed the kitchen and stood beside him. “Come sit down.”

“I’m fine.”

She smiled. “I know. Come sit down anyway.”

He let her take his hand and lead him back to the table. She didn’t let go when she slid into the chair beside him.

“We know what happened with Ethan hurt you.” She squeezed his hand, and he looked at her. “But this man isn’t Ethan. You’ve told us a lot about why you’re afraid of losing Dominic and nothing that makes me think he wanted you to go.”

Gavin pulled his hand free and rubbed his forehead. He knew they were trying to help, but he really wanted them to stop. His phone vibrated against the table, and he reached for it, grateful for the interruption. Dom’s name appeared above a message asking if he was okay.

“Does he know you’re here?” His mother looked from the phone to his face.

Gavin shook his head. “I haven’t spoken to him since I left.”

His dad reached over and clasped his shoulder, giving him a squeeze before returning to his breakfast. “Let him know you’re safe. You don’t have to say anything else, but he deserves that much.”

Gavin unlocked the phone. There were more messages than he wanted to count, and he kept his eyes on the bottom of the screen and typed before he could talk himself out of it.

Gavin

I’m safe. I’m at my parents’ house. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where I was going.

He sent the message and set the phone down, but a reply arrived before he could manage another sip of coffee.

Dom

You drove to Northern California?

He stared at the words. Until that moment, going to his parents had felt like the only thing he could do. Seeing it written out made him picture Dom reading his message and thinking Gavin had run to the other end of the state to get away from him.

Gavin

Yeah.

Three dots appeared, disappeared, then appeared again, and Gavin held his breath.

Dom

I’m glad you’re safe.

He was still staring at the message when his father pushed back his chair and carried his plate to the sink. “Go get some sleep, Gavin.”