Zeke remembered a time when he looked at his own mother the same damn way.
Sophie probably wondered where their parenting went wrong. Or maybe she knew and that was why Zane was a much better son than he was.
Zane had been their second opportunity to do it right.
When Ky stood, she was gripping Ledger’s little hand.
His chest got even tighter with each step they took as she led his kid over to him.
Should he sit? Should he stand? He didn’t know what to fucking do besides slide his damp palms down his jean-covered thighs.
He stayed sitting so he’d be closer to Ledger’s level, but sat up straighter when Ky stopped in front of him. His gaze dropped from her solemn face to his kid.
It was clear as fucking day. He should’ve seen it the dayat the jubilee, but Ledger had not only been wearing face paint, Zeke’s brain had been focused elsewhere.
Holyfuck.
He could clearly see no DNA test was needed.
Staring at Ledger was like staring at himself in the mirror at that same age. His parents—Ledger’s grandparents—were going to shit a brick. If they didn’t fucking clobber him with one first.
“Ledger, do you remember this man? We met him at the fair.”
Shit.That meeting hadn’t gone so well.
Ledger nodded. “Mommy, he made Gwen bleed.”
Damn right he did. And he’d fucking do it again.
Zeke closed his eyes and pulled in a breath.
“You said I shouldn’t hit people.”
“That’s right, buddy. Hitting people is wrong.”
Depends on the reason.
Zeke opened his eyes and plastered a smile on his face. “Your mother’s right. Hittin’ people is wrong.”Damn, was that difficult to say. “Hi, Ledger, I’m…” At a loss on how he should introduce himself, he glanced up at Kyra.
“Ledger, this is Zeke. I’ve known him since we were in school together.”
“That was alooooongtime ago, Mommy.”
“It certainly was.”
“You’re old now.”
Kyra rolled her lips under.
Ledger turned his attention to Zeke. “Why’d you make Gwen bleed?”
How the fuck did he answer that?
“He lost his temper,” Ky answered for him, then her narrowed eyes locked with his. “He promised to never do that again.”
Ledger tugged on her hand. “When we goin’ home, Mommy? I’m hungwy.”
“Soon.”
