She looks down at the page.
Guilt festers in my heart.
Why can’t I stop doing this? It should be so easy. I’ve been in therapy almost half my life. I should be able to conquer one behavior.
It’s so easy to tell the kids to make the right choices, but when it comes to this, it feels like a mountain I’ll never get over.
A little snore pulls me out of my thoughts.
Dash passed out with his arms still reaching for the toy.
Daria’s body shakes with soundless laughter.
This would be a perfect moment in time if all of that weren’t hanging over my head. “What’s so funny?”
“The characters in my book just started fake dating.”
Fake dating? “Why is that funny?”
“Because it’s obvious that she’s into him, but her ex is getting so jealous. I think he’s going to try punching the fake boyfriend. Which is hysterical because he’s an accountant and the fake boyfriend plays hockey.”
“Uh oh. That’s not going to end well for him.” Fake boyfriends…is that really a thing?
DNA
Max
Taylor opens up the back door as I slip into the mausoleum the Kentworths call a home. It makes Antonio and Bonnie’s place look positively warm and welcoming. “He’s waiting for you in the office.”
“Thanks.”
“Do I need to ask my dad what all of this is about?”
Does Ethan know? Probably not, but I wouldn’t put it past him. “We’ll have a family meeting soon.” Either welcoming Everett into the family or figuring out what to do with the kid.
“Oh, goodie. I don’t need to ask if you took precautions.”
Like father, like son. “I wasn’t followed.” Or recorded. A pocket jammer comes in handy.
“You do know a black man wearing a hoodie in this neighborhood probably set all the little old ladies talking.”
He’s not wrong. “And what do they say when you go for a jog?”
Taylor grins. “They stopped calling the police a few years ago.”
“My mom is making dinner this Sunday.”
“You know they are working together to kill us with all that saturated fat.”
“With love.” I grin back at him as we climb the stairs two at a time.
“I’ll be there Sunday. And for Gabe’s game next week. I can’t believe he’s going for another ring.”
“He loves his bling.”
Taylor laughs cause we both know Gabe doesn’t wear any jewelry, not even a gold necklace, like most men in our family do.
“You join the family pool?”
