Page 193 of Vexatious Queen

“Myles wasn’t lying. He would never do that to you, and neither will I. I’m still sore and still healing. But I’m going to be okay, I promise.”

“So, you still want me?”

Dear God, the kid was determined to make me cry. I wiped away the tear trailing down my cheek. Standing, I busied myself with fixing the pillows and picking up the cards.

“Lip…there is nothing in this world you could do to make me not want you in my life. I love you, son, and I’m so incredibly sorry that I haven’t been there for you when you needed me the most. That is going to change. Myles and I are going to talk this week about making sure we both see you more.”

“Really,” he asked, his voice full of pure joy.

It had been missing since the night of the shooting, like Lawrence had stolen that piece of my brother.

“Really.”

“Let me help you stand,” Lip said as Ethan winced, trying to get up.

Even though I knew it was Blake who did the heavy lifting, watching Lip try—his face serious with determination—simultaneously made me smile and broke my heart.

Ethan slowly made his way over to a large wingback chair and sat down. Lip started giving him the speedy rundown of everything that had happened over the last couple of months. I wasn’t sure how he managed to talk that much or that fast without taking a breath.

I walked over to Blake and nudged his shoulder. His eyes held the same unshed tears as mine.

“It’s good ta see him out,” I whispered.

Blake nodded and then stepped out into the hall to give us more privacy.

“I honestly thought he was going to refuse to come. I was all ready with the argument as to why he needed to be here, but instead he just asked me to bring him a suit from his and mom’s closet, and I helped him get dressed.”

“He’s still in the spare room?”

I watched Ethan laugh at something Lip said. The kid hadn’t let go of Ethan’s hand and was trying to be doubly animated, using only one arm as he explained something from class.

“Yeah, he says he doesn’t know if he’ll ever be able to go back into the master bedroom ever again. He had me bring him one of Mom’s nightgowns and her perfume. He’s been sleeping with it at night. I don’t know if that’s healthy, but he’s at least getting up every day and venturing downstairs for a few hours.”

I gripped Blake’s shoulder.

“He’s gonna get there, and I’m glad he came. They were both needin’ this. Lip has been tryin’ ta hide how upset he’s been that he hasn’t seen Ethan since the funeral, but I could tell.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right. I haven’t seen Dad smile this much since before.”

With a sigh, I looked around and spotted Romeo, Ronan, and Vicky standing at the far end of the hall.

“Can ya believe dat’s who Mr. G has courting Vicky?”

Blake crossed his arms and stared as Vicky walked away, and Ronan laughed. We were too far away to know what was said, but it didn’t matter. It was Ronan, which meant it was wildly inappropriate or rude.

“I know this is going to sound crazy, but it kind of makes sense. I mean, can you see Vicky with someone who doesn’t have pushback in them? She’d be leading them around by the nose after the first day.”

“Aye…ya just made me think of the bull we had back home. Owen used to lead it round wi the ring in its nose.”

Blake snorted and then laughed, which made me laugh.

“Thanks, man,” he said, shaking his head. “I needed that.”

“Anytime. Have ya seen Snowflake yet?”

“No, I came straight in here when I heard your voice,” Blake said.

“Aww, that’s just so sweet of ya,” I teased, and he rolled his eyes.