Gage burst into laughter. “Just promise you don’t think I’ll become that guy.”
Lucas sobered and took Gage’s hand again. “If I thought for even a second that’s who you might turn out to be, I would tell you. I love you too much to hold that back. That little mango is going to be my nibling. I already love them. And I love Fallon. I don’t want them hurt either.”
That made Gage feel better. He took his hand back and rubbed at his eyes. “I have to apologize to my dads and my uncle.”
“They’ll get over it. They’re probably already over it.”
Gage knew he was right, but he also had to fix it. He had to call his therapist and talk it out, then call his dad and make it better because that wasn’t the man he wanted to be. Even if he had moments where he couldn’t help it.
And then he wanted to go home and kiss the absolute shit out of Fallon because all of this was good—it was better than good. It was healing. But he wanted to be soothed, and there was only one person who was like an actual balm to his wounds.
And there was no good reason not to seek him out when Gage needed him the most.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
GAGE
He woke disoriented,the way he always did after a massive panic attack and the medications he needed to get through it. The room he was in was dark and smelled unfamiliar, though a bit like Lucas’s shower soap and something like dirt and cookies.
He’d almost forgotten that Frankie had taken him back to their place instead of his apartment.
Opening his eyes, he rolled over and startled when he saw a figure sitting in front of him, nose almost touching his cheek. It took several seconds to see it was Elodie.
“Hello.”
She shoved her nose into his cheek and took a big sniff.
“Um?”
“Gross,” she said primly.
“Thank you?”
The door flew open a second later, and in the dim light, Gage immediately recognized Fenton, who took three steps into the room. Elodie threw herself on top of Gage with a heavy laugh.
“Excuse me. Is this make-your-own-rules day?” Fenton asked.
“I made my own rules up!” she shouted back.
Gage eased himself up to sit, and in small fits and bursts, he remembered why he was there. The panic attack. Falling apart in Lucas’s food truck. Panicking over whether or not he was going to be an absolutely shit dad.
Oh, and telling his dads and uncles to fuck off.
That was going to be a fun conversation.
“He’s my best friend,” Elodie said, tightening her grip when Fenton grabbed her around the waist. “I can…I can stay. He wants me to stay!”
“He needs rest,” Fenton said. He gave Gage an apologetic smile. “Sorry. She’s getting sneaky.”
Gage shifted her on his lap as he sat all the way up and rested his back against the wall. He was in Lucas and Frankie’s guest room, which also doubled as Lucas’s space for when he needed alone time. His braille D&D manual volumes sat on shelves, along with his figurines, and the maps they’d made over the years were hanging on the walls.
But there were also Elodie’s toys—Hot Wheels and Barbies and strange-looking stuffed animals with creepy faces.
It was odd to think of Lucas doing this whole parenting thing. Of him living with a child and being a stepdad and thriving in ways that felt a little too adult for him some days.
“She can stay,” Gage said when Elodie started to look actually upset.
Fenton’s brows dipped. “Dude, it’s fine.”
