“I have no idea, though I know she was always on the thin side. Maybe she hid it. Maybe he was traveling when she gave birth. All I know is Cash and Reid had no idea you even existed. You came here, all angry, resembling Cash, and it’s not like they didn’t wonder. But they found the journal, and it’s turned their lives upside down.”
Evan took a brave step and reached out to put a hand on Smith’s shoulder. “Look. You and Cash share the same mom and dad. You and Reid have the same mom. I’m related to the guys through our dads being brothers. But the biological ties don’t matter, Smith. Family is what you make of it. If you want them, you have two brothers and a cousin. And an aunt, because my mom is dying to meet you.”
Smith’s eyes widened. “Your mom knows about me?”
He nodded. “I told her about you when you first arrived, not even knowing about the journal and Aunt Angela. My mom always suspected something wasn’t right about their marriage. But there was nothing she or my dad could do. She’s a great mom, by the way. And she’d be a great aunt to have if you’d realize not everyone is out to get you. Some of us, me at least, would love having another guy to hang with, call family.”
Smith looked so confused it hurt. Evan felt for the guy.
“Look, just sit with this. Cash and Reid are trying to figure out the best way to talk to you about it all. It would help if you didn’t look like you want to strangle them every time you talk to them.”
“But I do.”
They both grinned at the bald confession.
“Well, Cash at least,” Smith admitted. “He’s such an asshole.”
Evan thought it amusing neither Cash nor Smith realized how alike they were, though everyone else saw it.
“Reid isn’t so bad,” Smith said. “He’s more…I don’t know, he’s smoother than Cash. Easier to talk to.”
“Yeah. And think about this. They both know who you are, and they haven’t said anything because they don’t want to make more mistakes where you’re concerned. You’ve been an outright dick, toyour bosses, and you still have a job.”
Smith frowned.
“With anyone else, you’d have been fired, and you know it.”
Smith sighed. “I kind of wanted to see how far I could push them. Reid just backs off. Cash looks like he wants to slug me then storms away after calling me names.” Smith shrugged. “Sometimes I can’t help myself with him.”
“Trust me, I know Cash.” Evan couldn’t help a chuckle. “But Smith, you have an opportunity to get to know another side of family you never had. Quit being a fuckhead for two seconds and think about it.”
“Fuckhead? Really?”
Evan just looked at him.
“Okay, fine. Look, I’ll think on this. I mean, if I didn’t want to talk to them at some point, I’d already have left. But I…I just don’t know.”
“Now you have something to think about.”
“I guess.”
“But you could start small.”
“What do you mean?”
Evan knew his mother wanted to meet Smith. “Why don’t you come to dinner with me and my mom? You can visit, ask any questions you want, and get a free meal out of it.”
Smith glanced out the window. “I don’t know.”
“Well, the invitation’s there. Think about it.”
“I will.”
“And do me a favor, don’t tell my cousins we talked about this. You need to talk to them and work through this on your own. But now you know a little more about what you’re getting into.” And Evan didn’t feel bad about that. Smith had had a crappy childhood, yeah. But Cash’s and Reid’s hadn’t been much better, and Smith needed to know that.
“Fine. We never talked about any of this.” Smith started up the truck and drove again. “But this doesn’t mean we’re best girlfriends or anything, you get me?”
Evan rested his head against the side window. “Whatever. I have more important things to worry about than how much you like or don’t like me.”
