Angel’s fists clenched and he dropped them to his sides. I almost wished he would come at me swinging because I would know what to do with that. But he was soft and sweet, and he would never fucking punch me, not even if I deserved it. “And you made my life hell when I told you I was gay. You ignored it or said shitty things. You were so fucking mean to Casey.” His voice grew louder. “What the fuck?”
A fancy gray sports car pulled into the driveway nearby, and I tensed as I caught sight of Uhlig’s profile, which had Drew’s body turning to steel next to mine.
“I’m sorry. I was always fucked-up. I never explained about—”
Angel let out a sound that was more of a growl than anything. “No, you fucked me over for years and you’re just going to show up with some guy? I never blamed Mom for leaving,” he said directly to Drew, and that fucking hurt. “She didn’t deserve his bullshit, and I’m telling you now that you don’t, either. I didn’t do anything to make him be an asshole to me. I don’t know what he has been doing, but if you want to be with him, you’re either a nightmare, too, or you don’t know my dad very well.” He sounded much more confident than the last time he’d spoken with me—that I did remember—and as hurt and upset as I was, it was nice to see him standing tall.
“I love him,” Drew barked, shocking me. “I know you’re his kid but—”
“Stop,” I bit out, and Drew dragged me closer to his side. “No, he has a right to say whatever he thinks. You didn’t… you didn’t know me then.”This is such a fucking mess.
My face was hot, and I wanted to yell, to try to make Angel understand. Thankfully Drew didn’t let go of me. This was it—this was my moment to try to get my family back, the only piece of it I had left, and I was bombing hard.
Uhlig came stomping across the yard, big as a fucking grizzly, and put himself between me and Angel. His thick dark eyebrows lowered with his glare. The well-maintained beard that hid the bottom half of his face completed the furry image. “What the fuck is going on?”
Drew stuck out his hand and Uhlig frowned down at it. “I’m Drew Greene. Peter wanted to talk to his son.”
Uhlig scowled and shook with Drew, which surprised me. Angel came up and huddled against his back, sliding his arms around his waist. Fuck, I hated to see him act that way, like I was the worst thing that had ever happened to him.
“Thank you for the house fixes,” I forced myself to say, but it came out as a whisper.
Uhlig snorted. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d tell me thank you. But I don’t care about thanks. I did it because Angel was worried about you. The cash meant nothing, and his peace of mind is everything.” He loomed in my direction.
“I get it,” I snapped, and more than anything I wanted to take a fucking swing at him so I could use the adrenaline to chase off some of these shitty feelings. It would be like old times. The only thing that stopped me was that all those glorious fistfights ended in me alone, scared, and wishing I’d done things differently.
“Let’s bring it down,” Drew said, patting at the air in front of himself with one hand. Uhlig glared at him but didn’t say anything else. “There’s a guy staying in the house right now. That’s pertinent info if you’ve been keeping an eye on it.”
“What?” Angel asked and peeked around Uhlig’s bulk with a confused frown.
I sighed. “I was in prison with a kid who had no place to go when he got out. He was nice and clearly needed a hand. He’s younger than you are, Angel. I’ve been staying out of town with Drew.”
“You won’t even be using the house.” Angel’s face pinked up, and he turned and stomped toward the home that was large enough we could probably fit Drew’s in it three or four times over.
“Angel!” I started after him.
“No,” Uhlig roared and put his hand on my chest. He tensed, and I could tell he wanted to shove me on my ass, and God, I would have fucking loved it if he did. I knew Drew. He’d be on him fast. And it would have gotten ugly. But what would I be left with if all that shit happened? What good would it do?
“I get it,” I whispered. “Okay? He’s my son. You might fuck him—” I closed my eyes and tried to square with that idea, but it just pissed me off. I snapped my eyes open to glare. “—but he’s my son.”
Uhlig stepped back and looked like he’d sucked on five lemons. “If he wants to talk to you, he’ll call. If you come here again without a direct invitation from him, I’ll make you regret being alive.” He turned and took off at a fast clip after Angel.
My stomach sank and I scratched at the back of my head as I stared at the brilliant green grass. The sun was dazzling and it was still a gorgeous summer day, but everything was awful. Drew draped an arm around my shoulders. “That go how you expected?”
“More or less. Hoped for better.”
He leaned down until I was laughing reluctantly as he got in my face and knocked his nose against mine. The small kiss he pressed to my lips breathed life into me again, and I didn’t feel quite so much like busting my knuckles open punching something.
“He didn’t tell you to go to hell.” Drew popped another kiss on my lips. “He didn’t tell you he never wanted to see you again. The big guy just said you needed an invitation. Your son has my number now.” Another kiss. “I’m right here for you.” Another kiss, this time one that stole my breath because he sucked on my bottom lip in the way that always sent my body into overdrive.
“Yeah?”
“This isn’t the end,” he whispered.
“Are you sure it’s a beginning?”
He glanced at the front door as it slammed shut. “No, but there’s hope here, right?”
I stared at the house, happy my son was inside such a nice place with someone who obviously cared about him, even if I hated the man’s guts. I used to hate him, anyway. High school was ages ago, and we had grand jury trials and fucking decades between our lives now and all the horror that had gone on back then.
