He leaned in and kissed my shoulder. Atlas kissed the top of my head. Phoenix lifted one of my hands and kissed it.
I never felt more myself.
Epilogue
Everest
“Are you sure we need to do this?” Penny asked as I pulled into our dad’s driveway.
I watched in the rear view mirror as Atlas pulled her in tight, planting a kiss in her hair. “We’ll protect you.”
“I shouldn’t need protection from my own mother.”
He said, “Sometimes family members are the ones we need the most protection from.”
Phoenix added from the seat beside me, “It’s the people who know us the best who can hurt us the most.”
Instead of shutting the car off, I said, “I really think it’s best that we tell them now. No one has to worry about saying or doing something revealing.”
As far as our dad and Penny’s mom knew, we were stopping by on our way home from Rawhide Ranch. They didn’t know we had Penny with us… and would forever.
We had all agreed not to say anything until we could do so in person.
Her eyes lifted to meet mine in the mirror.
I said, “But if you want to wait, I’ll drive away.”
She reached over the seat and grabbed my shoulder. “You’re right. Let’s get this out of the way.”
“Sure are stepping up, little brother,” Atlas said as he pushed his door open.
Ironic since he spent his whole life overshadowing me. “Thanks for letting me take the lead on this one.”
Phoenix turned to me before opening his door. “I trust you.”
There was far more said in the silent pause before he turned away that let me know we were good after I’d steered him wrong previously.
We’d never been more in sync with each other than since we’d met Penny. She was the final link that brought us together in a way we’d never imagined.
Penny’s mom rushed out the front door. Penny was out of sight on the far side of the SUV with Atlas.
Her mom waived excessively. “Hey, boys! So nice to finally meet you in person.” She motioned to herself. “I’m Brynn.”
As if there was anyone else she might be. Whatever.
She pointed to each of us in turn, me through the windshield, and at Atlas’ head over the top of the SUV, noting that she knew our names. Great.
Then in the next breath said, “Promise me you’ll go easy on your father.”
Phoenix was closest to her and asked, “Go easy on him? About what?”
“We have a little secret to reveal. He worries you’ll be… judgmental.” She moved toward the front of the car as if to get a look at me and Atlas. I hurried out and around to Phoenix’s side. Penny deserved to do her reveal on her terms.
Phoenix said, “We know you’re married.”
“Yeah.” She flashed the gigantic diamond on her finger but her single word answer was oddly half-hearted.
Not to be callous but telling them about our relationship was going to trump whatever they had going on. Atlas and Penny hadn’t come around the SUV yet, so I said, “Why don’t we go inside.”
