Page 127 of At The End Of The Day

He chuckled and cast a humorous glance my way. “That obvious, huh?”

I rolled a shoulder and twisted my waist to look out the window at Violetta and the kids playing in the yard. “I’m a people watcher. I study them and figure them out.”

“That why you don’t got too many friends?”

For a split second, I was defensive, but a quick look told me he was genuinely curious and not trying to be a dick. It still amazed me how far our relationship had come, with him and Dash since that mountain.

“Yeah, I guess. One of many,” I sighed and took another sip.

An arm folded across his chest, the other propping on top. His head tipping, he scrutinized me long and hard, his eyelids narrowing. “You had a pretty shitty life growing up, didn’t you?”

Snorting bitterly, I pushed off the counter to dig my cigarettes out my pocket. Lighting one, I grumbled through the smoke, “I think you fucking know what I’ve been through, thank you.”

He flipped a wrist and shook his head. “No, no. I mean, before all that bullshit. I meant, growing up. You know, with your folks, and all.”

“Oh, uh, ahem. Yeah. Well, no worse than what you and Letta had to go through. I mean, at least my parents were there which is more than I can say for yours.”

One side of his face scrunched as he clucked his teeth. “Did that really make things better, them being there?”

“No,” I huffed, taking a drag. “Not at all. Sometimes, I wished they’d not been there. It woulda been better without them constantly breathing down my back, telling me I was shit unless I bowed down and obeyed.”

He flinched and set the beer bottle down. “I bet shit really hit the fan when you lost your scholarship, huh?”

Snorting and rolling my eyes, I chuckled bitterly, “You got no idea, man.”

His sight focused out the window, and a lazy smile curled his mouth. Following his trail of sight, I smiled, as well, finding Dash and Violetta chasing the three small kids around, making them squeal and burst into laughter.

“We gotta break the chains, man,” he offered quietly.

“Does that mean you and Dash are raising Piera together, or are you gonna be stepdaddy”

“Daddy,” he answered sternly, arching a brow to cast a stare that dared me to challenge the decision.

“That’s how I think it should be, honestly, so don’t go looking at me to start shit. I think what’s happening between you too is pretty fucking great.”

His stance straightened, his chin lifting. “Do you?”

“Yup. I saw things in Georgia. Dash asked a few questions.” I held my palm out and mocked in a teasing, playful manner. “‘I ain’t asking about me, I’m just curious. I swear.’”

We both chuckled, the mood lifting.

“What kinda questions?”

“I dunno. He was pretty much just fishing for validation, I think, cuz he was starting to realize he ain’t as straight as he once thought. Asking all kinds of questions about ‘gayness,’” I laughed, hooking my fingers.

Vincent snorted and shook his head, shifting his weight to the other foot. “Yeah, I don’t think he’ll ever stop using that word.”

“Naw, dude, I think he’s trademarked that shit. As far as he’s concerned, that is a bonafide, legit word.”

A proud grin puffed out his cheeks, his hazel irises glossing as he continued to ogle the object of his affection. “He’s kinda cute about it.”

A little taken aback, I squinted against the smoke and took another drag, rather enjoying this conversation.

“What?”

“Hm?”

“What are you looking at me like that for?”