“Did it, though? He insisted she’d be fine with it.”
“We all knew that wasn’t going to be the case. Imry telling him that it was kind of selfish to force Ellory and Avory into hiding their relationshipagainin their own home might have spoken louder than even Jeannette’s acceptance of them.”
“I almost feel guilty that we made him feel guilty all over again,” I say, frowning. “As if we used the one thing we know would hurt him.”
“It’s not about that,” Myro says. “It’s about our brothers who have lived with Mom’s assholery for far too many years. Nowthat they’re finally free of it, Dad is considering bringing in someone who will probably view them the same way.”
“You don’t think we’re being unfair to her and just assuming that’s how she’ll treat them?”
“Look at them.” I do. “Look how even here, surrounded by the bare minimum of our family—only those theyknowaccept their love—look at how they keep their distance, Voss. Are you telling me you think today would be happening like this if Jeannette were Dad’s wife?”
“I—no. I don’t. But I also feel like we’ve had it in our heads that she’s not good enough for Dad from the beginning, and perhaps we’re being unfair.”
“Dad doesn’t love her.”
“Dad is aromantic,” I point out.
Myro huffs. “Fine. Yes. But he needs better criteria than choosing someone based on how they’re going to look on his arm for the next few years. This is our family. He’s worked fucking hard to get us where we are, and someone like Jeannetteis notgoing to keep this happiness at the same level it is now.”
“He deserves to be happy. He wasn’t the only one unhappy with Mom.”
“Fuck, Voss. He wasn’t happy!”
“I’m sorry I have a conscience and am feeling guilty because we ganged up on himon his birthday.” Brek stepping outside with Haze and Jessica catches my attention. “As fun as this conversation isagain, I don’t really want to keep arguing about this.”
I leave Myro. He doesn’t try to stop me, though I can feel his frown follow me. I’m not a Jeannette fan. At all. But I definitely feel bad that we accosted Dad under the pretense of spending his birthday with him.
Myro isn’t wrong. Avory and Ellory’s ceremony wouldn’t be happening if Jeannette were here. It’s not like we directed a conversation that discusses twincest in front of her to gauge her reaction. The fact of the matter is, most people have an opinion on relationships that don’t affect them.
And yeah, Avory and Ellory deserve to keep their safe space here above all else.
None of that negates that we ganged up on Dad. I hate that we did that. As a family, we need to get better at communicating. When it’s about business, we’re fucking epic communicators. Personal life? Not so good.
By the time I catch up with Brek, he’s sitting off to the side. Alone. Half in the shade. He has a fan in his hand and is waving it. I drop into the chair beside him. Do I imagine the way his cheeks pinken? It might just be from the sun.
“Hey, you.”
He bows his head at first and then looks at me. “Hey. How are you not hot?”
“I grew up in this.”
“That means you’re not hot? Really?”
“I’m hot, but I’ll live until we can get inside.”
He sighs.
“If you were wearing shorts, you’d be cooler,” I point out.
“I dressed for a wedding.”
“There wasn’t a dress code purposefully.”
“We can’t all pull off dresses.”
I follow his gaze to Uncle Noaz, who is, in fact, rocking a fucking dress. “I don’t know. I think you have the legs for it.”
Brek rolls his eyes. “I’d be far too self-conscious.”
