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Jacob shook his head. “Because...because. It was between him and me.”
“Good answer,” Aidan said. “You have to let them deal with this their way.”
Blake looked between them. “Don’t make me out to be the bad guy. He’s my father-in-law. You’re my brother.”
Jacob glanced at Aidan for some support.
The three of them were probably the closest. With Logan being older and Amelia, well, a girl, he and Blake had spent a lot of time with Aidan.
“Give him a break, Blake.” Aidan grunted. “Buddy, there’s no rule book here. The question is, do you want a relationship with him? With your half brothers?”
Did he?
He was still coming to terms with the news and had no idea what he wanted yet.
Space.
To fucking think.
“They’re in my life if I want them or not,” Jacob said. “I don’t have a lot of choice.”
That was the part that was fucking him off. There was no room to breathe. To process any of it.
He did understand Blake’s perspective, but his brother needed to understand that his needs actually weren’t the priority here.
“Understandable,” Aidan replied.
“Listen, I’m not trying to be a dick. I just want my brother in my life,” Blake said. “I’m going to be a dad in a few months. I want you there. Not hiding in the shadows.”
Fuck.
Jacob didn’t want that either. Not at all.
He grit his teeth. “I know, bro. I know. I’m...just give me time.”
He glanced around, needing to get out of this conversation. Trying to please everyone was overwhelming. Too overwhelming.
“I need to go change. Back in five.” Jacob tossed back the whisky and walked inside. His eyes connected with Leilani’s as he walked past the kitchen where the girls were nibbling and chatting.
He considered reaching out for her, but the truth was, his feelings for her were becoming just as confusing.
He needed a moment.
To himself.
Jacob walked upstairs to their bedroom, shut the door, and sat on the end of the bed.
Then dropped his head into his hands.
––––––––
LEILANI GLANCED AT the clock on the wall one more time.
Jacob had been upstairs for nearly an hour. He hadn’t looked happy when he’d walked past, so she’d let him go, wondering if something had happened outside with his family.
Her immediate sense was that he needed a moment alone. She watched, waiting to see if anyone followed.
But they hadn’t.
