The joys of adulthood.
After learning that Reid Walters really is my biological father, and for once in her life, my mother didn’t lie, we agreed to meet. Soph’s da isn’t feeling well, so it’s just going to be me and Reid meeting alone for the first time.
But as I walk toward the nearest subway station to get to his place, I don’t know if going alone is the best choice. Fuck. Why am I freaking out? It’s my father, for fuck’s sake.
It’s like Ollie hears my thoughts and my phone rings, his name flashes on the screen.
“Miss me?” I ask as I lift the phone to my ear.
“I always do when you aren’t around.”
I snort and then laugh. “Aw shucks, you’re making me cry!”
“In all seriousness, I wanted to see how you’re doing. I know it’s a big day for you as you meet your family—” Ollie keeps talking, but I focus on how he called him myfamily.
“Baby steps, Ollie. It still feels weird to call him my family. I don’t even know if he’ll like me.” I admit and hear Ollie murmuring, but I can’t hear what he says. “Could you please repeat that?”
“You should stop thinkingifand start thinkingwhen. It’s about time you see how amazing you are, J. I mean, you can sometimes be the biggest dickhead out there, but there’s a reason why we love you, brother.”
I blink away the sudden tears that fill my eyes. “Ollie, stop it. Don’t make me cry right now. I need to focus on seeing him.”
“You could just sayI love you too.”
“Yeah, yeah, I do. I just wasn’t ready for some afternoon love from you.”
Ollie cackles. “I can call you back in the evening if that’s what you’re after.”
Fuck. He knows me well. I know I can’t just bullshit my way through this phone call. “Don’t get me wrong, your words and support mean a lot, but I have spent the last hour, fuck, last days, wondering if I’m good enough to have a real family like the one I’m meeting today.”
“But you already have a real family.”
“You know what I mean. I just wonder—never mind, just forget it.” I trail off as I grip the phone harder, turning my tattooed knuckles whiter than they already are.
“J, finish that sentence before I have to drive there to get it out of you myself.”
“I was thinking—” I lower my voice. “—why would they ever love me?”
“They will because that’s what many families do. Not all, but you know what I mean. They’ll love you unconditionally,” Ollie tells me.
I try to wrap my head around what he’s saying. Ollie doesn’t know that I’m not only talking about my father and his family. I mean Soph as well.
Am I good enough for her?
Will she love me too when the time is right for us?
Or should I just let her go before it gets too complicated?
But what if I don’t want to let her go?
Getting off at Washington Square, I walk towards the address my father gave me. Even my favorite playlist isn't lifting my mood. With every single step, I think what if this is a mistake. But the phone call with Ollie reminded me that this guy I’m meeting is part of my family. I need to try to remember that.
It's almost like he can sense me, because as I reach the house, the door opens. My gaze lands on Reid, my father, who is an older, cleaner version of me. He’s wearing a navy blazer with ablack turtleneck and dress pants, and his hair is cut short in a neat haircut. What catches me off guard are the glasses perched on his nose—he wasn’t wearing them in the photos he sent. But there’s no denying that we are related. Those eyes, his facial features like his nose, and even his body build match mine.
I walk up the stairs, my entire body shaking, and he offers me his hand nervously. “Welcome to our home, Jax.”
We have talked a bit, so he knows I prefer Jax over Jackson. “Thanks, Reid. You’ve such a lovely home.”
“Thank you. Odessa and the girls are visiting my in-laws outside the city so that we can talk privately. But they're eagerly waiting to meet you. The girls especially, they've always wished for a brother.”
