"April." Shane caught her hands. "Look at me."
She did, and he could see the panic in her eyes. The old fear rising up.
"Kevin didn't manipulate me into loving you," Shane said firmly. "I already loved you. I've loved you for half my life. He didn't create these feelings. He just... gave us excuses to finally get over our past and spend time together."
"But the lying?—"
"Was an eight-year-old playing matchmaker. That's it. That's all it is."
"How do I know the difference?" April's voice broke. "How do I know he won't grow up to be like Vince? Lying and scheming and manipulating people to get what he wants?"
Shane pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. She resisted for a moment, then collapsed against his chest.
"Because you're raising him," Shane said into her hair. "Because he has you as an example. Because when Kevin sees someone in trouble, his first instinct is to help—even whenthat someone is a kid who's been cruel to him. That's not manipulation. That's compassion."
April's fingers curled into his shirt. "What if I'm wrong? What if I'm missing the signs?"
"You're not wrong. And you're not alone in this anymore." Shane pulled back enough to look at her. "We'll figure it out together. You, me, and Kevin. As a family."
"A family," April repeated softly.
"Yeah. If you want that."
"I want that." She closed her eyes. "God, I want that so much it scares me."
"Me, too.”
She opened her eyes and looked deeply into his. “You’re scared?”
“Sweetness, I’m fucking terrified. I’m so scared that I’m going to fuck all this up.” He stroked her cheek. “But I’m never gonna let fear stop me from being with you again. So let's be scared together."
They stood there for a long moment, holding each other. Then April straightened, wiping her face.
"I should go talk to him again."
"Want me to come?"
"Yeah.” She nodded. “I do." Then she grinned. “You said it yourself—let’s be scared together.”
They walked back to Kevin's room hand in hand. Kevin was still on his bed, looking small and as scared as they were.
"Kevin," April said, sitting beside him again. Shane leaned against the doorframe. "I'm not mad about you wanting Shane and me to get together. But I need you to understand something. No more schemes. No more tricks. If you want something, you talk to us. Okay?"
"Okay." Kevin's voice was small. "I'm sorry."
"I know you are." April touched his cheek. "And I love you. Always. No matter what."
Kevin threw his arms around her neck. "I love you too, Mom."
When Kevin pulled back, he looked at Shane. "Are you guys like... together-together now? Like for real?"
Shane glanced at April, who nodded.
"Yeah, bud," Shane said. "For real."
Kevin's face lit up. "Cool." Then, tentatively: "Can I call you Dad? Or is that weird?"
Shane's throat went tight. He'd been a lot of things in his life—SWCC operator, bodyguard, son, brother, friend. But this? This was different.
