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Chapter 25
Finton
“Can I try talking to him?” I ask, knowing Cammie could shut me right down. I look around our worried huddle, feeling as though I have to do something. I can’t keep watching and not try to help.
“I guess if you can climb a tree?” she says with a sigh, cupping her hand across her forehead to see where Ben has disappeared.
“Knights can rescue brothers from trees,” Em adds.
Reid turns to Em. “Why don’t we see if knights can practice brushing their teeth?”
“Can we read an extra bedtime story?” Em counters, making a deal of her own. That girl and I are cut from the same cloth.
Reid picks up Em for a piggyback ride, then gives Cammie and me pecking kisses. “Meet us inside, sweetheart?”
Cammie nods and turns to me. “I don’t know what to say. He’s having a hard time talking about his feelings, but I can?—”
I pull her to me for a hug. “I’m not saying I’m gonna be successful but let me try. I didn’t expect to become a dad of two overnight. But I’m up for the challenge.” Even if it is partly delusional, as my sister said.
Cammie squeezes me tightly and takes one last glance at Ben before going back inside.
I look up at the old oak, trying to decide on a game plan. Waffles wags his tail next to me, barking encouragement.
“You think I got this?” I ask him.
Waffles barks once, the sound sharp and quick, then he paws the ground, his butt wiggling.
“You’re right. I’m a badass omega with awesome nesting instincts, moderate tree-climbing skills, and zilch in the way of real-life parenting know-how. I’m totally gonna nail this.”
He barks again, loving this game.
I glance up and my stomach swoops. Ben’s up there, legs dangling from a big bough, ignoring the world. It’s been a long time since I’ve climbed a tree. I haven’t done it since I was his age and trying to escape a house with ten people.
Nothing to do but to do it. Sunshine the shit out of it, Finney.
It proves to be an easy climb, the twisted old thing offering several places to perch. When I’ve made it halfway, I call out in warning, “Make room, I’m coming up.”
The last few levels are not for the weak, and I’m grateful I was a punk who skated and did parkour downtown when I was a teen. The moves are handy as I swing up to the final branch and plop beside him.
Ben cuts his eyes at me. “Show-off.”
“Guilty,” I admit with a surprised laugh. Ben’s funny as hell with his biting humor. He misses nothing. It’s refreshing. “But I haven’t done those moves since I was young. I was pretending again for a minute that I was cool.”
He rolls his eyes. “You are kind of cool. In a weird way. I like your drawings and your comic books.”
“Thank you. I’ll take it as a compliment. I like how hard you work at school, how good you are with your sister, and how much you love your family. Plus, you’re good at sports. It’s nice because they’re not my favorite thing, and I like that you and Reid have that in common.”
He fidgets on the branch, and I force myself not to fill the quiet with more idle ramblings. I have things to say, but I think I should listen. I watch the last dying red and yellow rays, wedging myself against the trunk and spreading my legs.
“Did my mom ask you to come get me? I didn’t run,” he asks quietly after a while. He doesn’t look my way, staring into the summer night.
“I asked. I like talking to you, and I’m glad you ran here. Finding space at home to process when you need thinking time is good. Sometimes, it helps to talk to people about it too. I forget that sometimes.” I twirl a leaf in my hand, waiting.
He thinks that over in that quiet way he has, then he turns to look at me. “I don’t want to go with my dad.”
“How come?” I ask, studying his face and keeping mine free of judgment.
His nose scrunches up, and his face clouds with confusion. “It’s not right. Not for Mom.”
