“No, Mom,” Lucy said, shaking her head. “That’s his business.”
“No, it’s fine,” he said, but Lucy gave him a look.
“Please don’t think you have to say anything to them because of me, really. Just tell them to butt out,” Lucy said, and he laughed as Autumn tsked at her.
“That’s not nice,” she said and Lucy shot her a look.
“Mom, you’re asking him something personal.”
“Because I like him. We are friends. And he’s dating you!”
Benji laughed as River rolled his eyes. “It’s fine, really.”
“Whatever,” Lucy decided, leaning against him and nibbling on the last piece of cake. “She’s nosy and she won’t stop.”
“Lucy Lane!”
“Just saying.”
Chuckling, Benji looked over at Autumn and he sucked in a deep breath. He understood their interest and appreciated it, but it was never easy speaking of the family he’d lost. “My family wasn’t there for me when I needed them. I had a drinking problem, and instead of supporting me and being there for me, they kicked me when I was down, blamed me for stuff, and basically told me they wished I had died instead of my brother. At the time, I agreed with them. But now, I know they were just shitty people. Because of that, I live by the motto, ‘If you don’t add to my life, you’re out of my life.’”
“Wow, that’s deep,” Lucy said with a nod. “Great motto.”
“Yeah, one life to live, you know. I want it to be the best I can make it.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m marrying this gal right here,” River said, pulling Autumn into the crook of his arm. “She’s the best.”
“Gag, get a room,” Lucy teased, but Benji didn’t think they heard her as they kissed sweetly. “Mom, you guys decide on a cake?”
But Autumn ignored her, looking at Benji. “So if you don’t mind my asking, why are you still single?” Lucy started to choke on the milk she had just taken a drink of.
“Mom!” she gasped, before choking a little more, and Autumn waved her off.
“We’re friends, remember?” Autumn said and then she pointed to him. “Plus, he’s amazing. Such a sweet guy, so doting on you, and great with Angie. So why hasn’t anyone scooped you up yet?”
Benji smiled as Lucy muttered a curse. “Mom, leave him be!”
“No, it’s fine,” he said, his hand sliding across her back to rest against her shoulder.
“She won’t stop.”
He heard her loud and clear, but he honestly didn’t mind. “I was married before.”
“So you’re divorced? Hm, I didn’t think that about you. You seem like the kind of guy who won’t back down from a fight,” River said and Benji nodded.
“No, I’m not,” he said simply, and there was a flicker of confusion in Autumn’s eyes. “My wife and my two-year-old daughter were killed in a car crash about twelve years ago.”
Lucy blew out a breath as both Autumn’s and River’s faces changed, sorrow deep in their eyes. “My God,” Autumn gasped as River shook his head.
“I’m very sorry,” he said seriously and Benji nodded. “I hadn’t realized that.”
“Thank you,” he said with a soft smile. “I never remarried. Never found the right girl.”
His gaze drifted to Lucy, and her face filled with heat as she shook her head. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Chuckling, he leaned into her, kissing her temple as Autumn asked, “So you lost your brother too, all to car crashes?”
Benji nodded, meeting her sad gaze. “Same car crash. All three of them.”
“My goodness, bless your heart,” she was almost crying and Benji nodded.
“Enter drinking problem,” River stated with a nod. “Been there. Done it.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “You did?”
“Oh, yeah,” River said, holding Autumn closer. “Baylor’s mom left me, and I left the NHL. I was depressed to no end, turned into a functioning alcoholic, and I thought I was good. But then I met your mom and things just changed. I didn’t need to be numb—I wanted to feel everything because I loved her.”
“Gagging, but wow, that’s sweet,” Lucy said, sending her mother a grin, but Autumn was too busy beaming up at River.
“Yeah, mine started when I was younger, but it got worse. Took me a long time to come back from that, but I’m coping. And while I didn’t stop for a woman, I stopped because I wanted to be a good guy, someone people could depend on, and maybe one day, love.” Looking over at Lucy, Benji found her lips quirked at the side, watching him with dark eyes.
“Well, I think you’re a great guy,” Autumn decided and Benji smiled.
“He’s okay,” Lucy said, and Autumn tsked her as River chuckled.
“Yeah, I think I’m finally enjoying life. And when you enjoy life, you become the person you want to be.”
River and Autumn both grinned at Lucy as she groaned. “Ugh, stop, guys.”
That made them all laugh as Benji held her close.