Ryder barks out a surprised laugh. “Fuck. My dad and your mom?” He finally looks up,surprise showing in his eyes.
I shrug. “It could be worse.”
Ryder shakes his head. “We should have seen this shit coming a mile away.”
“How?” I ask incredulously.
“We just stuck two lonely people in the same house for weeks. Something was bound to happen,” Ryder says, then shudders. “I don’t even want to finish that thought.”
“Please don’t,” I laugh. I slap him on the back. “Come on. We have some apologizing to do.” I stand up and can’t help the next words that come out of my mouth. “Stepbro.”
Ryder shoots out of his chair, locking me in a headlock. “Don’t ever fucking call me that again.”
I laugh weakly. “Why not, stepbro?”
He squeezes harder before stepping back with a laugh. “I hate you.”
I grin. “No, you don’t,” I argue, causing him to roll his eyes.
Now that’s out of the way, it’s time to talk to Mom.
When we came backinto the house, Mom and Rocco pulled us to an office away from everyone else. I still don’t know what to think, and I want to rinse my brain with bleach after seeing them in the kitchen.
“Does anyone want to say something?” Rocco asks after we’ve sat in awkward silence for two minutes. Ryder and I share a glance, shaking our heads. We’re sitting across from them in a little sitting area off to the side, on opposite sides of a coffee table.
“I wanted to tell you,” Mom says quietly. “I just didn’t know how.”
“Blindsiding us with it probably wasn’t the way to do it,” I argue.
“Neither was telling me you were in a polyamorous relationship and bisexual all in the same night,” she argues back.
Shit. She has me there. “I just want what’s best for you, Mom.”
“I’ll always treat your mother with respect, Leo,” Rocco promises.I acknowledge that with a nod. She seems more than happy, and he’s always nice. Much more than his son was at first. Then I remember what Ryder said that day at Nina’s, and my stomach sinks. “It’s just you guys here, right?”
“What?” Mom asks in confusion.
“You’re not dating more than just him, are you?” I ask lamely. I hear Ryder snort and look at him with narrowed eyes.
“I lied about Dad having brothers. He’s an only child,” Ryder admits.
“You fucker,” I grit out. This asshole had me believing Mom would end up in a relationship like I am and freaking me out for nothing.
“I assure you it’s just us,” Rocco answers in amusement. Then he sobers and looks at Ryder. “I’ll always love your mom.” My mom squeezes his hand in hers, accepting what he’s saying. “She gave me you. I didn’t see other women until I met Katherine.”
Ryder jerks a nod. “I’m sorry for my bullshit earlier. You didn’t deserve that.”
Mom smiles at him. “I know this has to be hard for you.” She looks between us. “Both of you, but we’re happy.”
Ryder and I nod in acceptance. That’s all we can ask for. They both accepted our relationship with Les; we can show them the same respect.
Ryder clears his throat. “Dad, there’s something I need to tell you too.” He rubs the back of his neck. “A couple of things, actually.” Rocco raises an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. “First, I should tell you that Zane is back in Les’ life.”
Rocco’s eyes narrow, and all I see is Ryder. The resemblance is uncanny between them. “In what way?”
“It’s a long story, but he’s at the house. With Les,” Ryder explains, trying to control his own emotions, so his dad doesn’t pick up on them.
“That’s understandable,” Mom says. “They went through something terrible together. It would make sense they would lean on each other.”
