AllFreeNovel
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“Fine.”
Dad sits as the girls return and set dessert on the table, and I can hear Erin calling out the back door for the kids to come in and get their share.
When we’re finished eating, Summer and I offer to clean up the kitchen since we didn’t help cook, and I take on the task of rinsing dishes and passing them to Summer to be placed in the dishwasher.
“I haven’t heard from her in days.”
Summer sighs. She doesn’t have to ask who I’m talking about. Polly is her best friend, and we both know it.
“She walked into a mess when she got home.”
“She said something about that.” I pass her a salad bowl. “But she hasn’t even texted back. You said something at the table about her being tired, but you were going to say something else.”
She blows out a breath and leans on the counter. “Ryan, Polly is like a sister to me. I can’t betray her confidence.”
“I’m not asking you to. I just want to know that she’s okay.”
“She is. I will say that she was a little overwhelmed on that first morning, and she was tired from the jet lag, and she wanted to talk. She didn’t say anything bad.”
That, at least, sets my mind at ease.
“Just give her a few days to catch her breath.”
I nod, and then Remington walks into the kitchen, and Summer frowns.
“Okay, I’m not going to lie. You two and all of your shit make me uncomfortable, so Remington can help with the dishes.”
She wipes her hands on a towel, and then she’s gone.
“Way to scare the women,” I say and return to rinsing dishes. “Did you come in here to tell me that I never should have adopted him? That he’d be better off without me?”
“Jesus.” Rem blows out a breath and shuts the dishwasher, paces away and back again. “I didn’t mean any of that.”
“That’s what it sounded like.”
“I shouldn’t have said it, okay? Jake is great, and we all love him.”
“I know.” I turn to look at him now. “I know you do. You treat him as if he’s been here since he was born, and I’m grateful. He loves being part of this family. He asked if he could change his last name to ours.”
That makes Rem pause. He blinks and shoves his hands into his pockets.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“No! Fuck no. He should have our name because he is ours. Jesus, Ry.”
“What? Why wouldn’t I assume that you’d think that? You can’t stand me, and we both know it.”
“No, I?—”
“So, I won’t come to dinners anymore. I’ll send Jake and make up excuses about work.”
“No. Damn it?—”
“I love you.” I turn to him, and now it’s time for me to shove my hands into my pockets because I don’t know what else to do with them. “You’ve always been my best friend, until…well, until. I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t feel like I had a choice.”
“You did?—”
“I know that now. But six years ago? I didn’t. I’m sorry. I hate that one decision lost me my big brother. But I can’t have you resenting my kid for it. One of these days, you’ll slip and say something in front of him, and he already carries enough baggage from a past that he didn’t ask for. I won’t ever have you making him feel insecure about this family, Rem. So, I’ll stay away because that’s what makes you the most comfortable.”
