My bad mood insisted I start an argument, so I demanded, “Why wouldn’t you want your sister to shack up with your ally?”
“Because I assumed you were only interested in her as a way to mess with me.”
“Do you think that little of your sister?”
“No, I thought that highly of your sneakiness.”
“Well, it was never about you or our alliance. Your sister is just hot.”
“Is that why you’re sleeping over?” Clint asked.
“Yes, and I want to keep an eye on my son.”
Clint had a solid poker face. He rarely gave away his mood. Right now, he might be thinking I was an idiot or hoping I married his sister. There was no way to know based on his expression.
Sutter was almost as good at hiding his mood. Though he kept eyeballing me, his face didn’t give away what he was thinking.
“Do you like being a big brain nerd?” I asked him just before dinner. “Or do you wish you were normal?”
“Being normal looks difficult. The kids my age are struggling to spell basic words, while I can read adult books. Mom says easy is better.”
“Do you think your mom wishes you were normal?”
Sutter shook his head immediately. “My mom likes me just the way I am. If I were dumb, she’d feel the same way.”
“Are you sure?”
Nodding, Sutter explained, “When we went to the summer camp, the other kids seemed anxious, like they had to do everything right. When we’d get picked up, their parents would ask how they did and if they were able to keep up. My mom just asked if I had fun. She didn’t care if I learned anything or how I compared to the other advanced kids. She just wanted me to be happy.”
Nodding, I said, “Elle’s a good mom.”
“Is that why you made a baby with her?”
“No, that was an accident. I just like your mom.”
“She likes you, too,” Sutter said, sounding like a little kid before his gaze hardened and he suddenly looked like Ford. “Don’t make her cry.”
“No promises,” I replied like I would if his grandfather warned me. “I’m an asshole, and I refuse to change for anyone.”
“Because you grew up in foster care?”
“Sure. I didn’t have a mom who gave a shit if I was happy or safe. The only person who cared about me was me.”
“My mom cares about you.”
“For now.”
“That’s true,” Sutter said immediately and shrugged. “You should enjoy her attention while it lasts.”
I smiled at how the kid refused to sugarcoat the situation.
“Are you excited to be a brother?”
“No. I’ve never shared my mom before.”
“Are you worried my kid will be smarter than you?”
“No, because if he’s smarter, he can teach me things.”
