“I know,” Chris said. “Zoey was waiting for Genna and me when we got home from the airport. I was ticked off when she first told me what happened.” Chris shifted in his seat, looking out the window. “Hazel was with her, and announced she was moving in with us.”

That must have destroyed Zoey. His heart ached for her.

“You can’t take her daughter away from her.”

Chris’s jaw tightened as he looked back to Mike. “She’s my daughter, too.” He took a breath. “But she’s not going anywhere. She stayed with us a couple of nights, just so the two of them could get a time-out from each other. But she’s back with Zoey now.” Chris leaned forward. “If you’re serious about Zoey, then you need to be serious about building a relationship with Hazel.”

“Hazel’s a great kid, Chris. I want to do right by her. But Zoey’s basically kept us apart since she and I got serious.”

Chris nodded. “That’s her usual fallback position—any threat to the family makes her put Hazel in a fortress to keep her safe. But that kid is tough and smart, and she can handle more than Zoey thinks.”

“Maybe Zoey just thinks Hazel has handled more than she should have at thirteen.” Mike’s voice was steady, but Chris got the point.

“I know what I’ve done to hurt Hazel. I’ve never blamed Zoey for anything that happened in our marriage, not to Zoey and definitely not to Hazel.” Chris looked straight across the table at Mike. “And I’ve told Hazel that her mom deserves to have someone in her life. Is that what you want? To be in Zoey’s—and Hazel’s—life for the long run? Because I think Hazel might accept that now that a little time has passed.”

“There’s nothing I want more.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“Zoey won’t even talk to me.” Mike threw his hands up in frustration. “She won’t answer my calls. She doesn’t want me around Hazel. And now Hazel’s put out that video thing...”

Chris winced. “I told her to take that freakin’ video down, but you know the internet—once something’s out there...”

“...it’s out there forever,” Mike finished. “I know.”

The two men went back to drinking their beer in brooding silence. When Mike drained his glass, he set it down firmly and folded his arms on his chest.

“Why are you here, Chris? If you really wanted to take me out back and beat me up, you’d have done it by now—or at least tried. Are you mad at Zoey? Me? What?”