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I had great parents. I would be the first one to tell you that I loved them and that I owed them for everything. They hadtaken me in, given me a home, and raised me. Before Maverick and Jackson, I had nothing. And after? I had never wanted for anything. But this man, this man right here, was never given a chance to raise me. To know who I was or teach me how to throw a baseball. My mother not only fucked up my life, she had fucked up Atlas’s as well.
I pulled back, my ears burning, and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Sorry, I just... I wanted to do that.”
“I’m glad you did.” Atlas’s face was wet, too. “Shall we?” He sat down, and Leo and I joined him.
***
Atlas was pretty great. He laughed a lot and asked about Princess Bungalow. He listened when I spoke. Not that Dad and Pop didn’t, but I could tell that Atlas was really interested in what I had to say. And it turned out that I had two younger half siblings. A brother and a sister. Atlas was divorced but helped his ex-wife raise them.
“They’re excited to meet you, Andy.” Atlas showed me a picture on his phone of Taylor and Nick. They both had hazel eyes. “Taylor isn’t very musical, but Nick plays guitar. He’s got a great singing voice, too. Taylor has plans to go to medical school when she graduates high school.”
Tears once again burned my eyes. “I’d love to meet them. Maybe I could come to California sometime.”
“You’re more than welcome. And, Leo, you’re welcome as well.” Atlas made sure to include Leo in our conversations. He was nice,reallynice. I wasn’t sure that I would ever be able to call him dad, but I wanted him in my life.
Leo finished chewing his food before he spoke. “That would be great. I’d love that.”
“Or I can bring your brother and sister here. They’ve never been to North Carolina or a NASCAR race before.”
“We race in California. I could get them tickets,” Leo offered, and I squeezed his thigh where my hand rested.
We talked for what felt like hours. About everything and anything. I learned Atlas had wanted to marry my mother, but when she broke up with him, she blocked him, and they never spoke again. He had no idea she had a drug problem when they were together. She had hidden that, just like she had hidden me.
“I’m sorry, Andy, that I couldn’t help you.” Atlas gave me a sad smile. “Maverick and Jackson are great men, though. I’m glad that you had them.”
I nodded. “Me, too.” I swallowed thickly. “You don’t have to apologize for her being a shitty mother. That’s not your fault.”
“Kim had so much potential, you know? She was a talented singer and could have gone so far if she had just pushed herself further.” Atlas handed his credit card to the waiter before I had the chance.
I stared at him. “She sang?”
“Oh, she was brilliant. Had the voice of an angel,” Atlas told me. “She wanted to travel the world and share it with everyone, but she never worked at it. She felt too entitled, like the record companies should come to her.”
Leo leaned into me, his warmth seeping through my clothes. “And my grandparents? Your parents and hers?”
“My parents are very much alive and well, living in Florida. They’re hoping to meet you as well. As for Kim’s parents, well, I don’t know what happened to them. She has a sister, Kelly, who lives in Boston and has a couple of kids.” Atlas signed the receipt for our lunch. “I could probably get in touch with her if you wanted to meet your aunt and cousins.”
I stared at him. “I have more family?”
“Yes, you do. You have a lot of people who never knew you existed and are horrified about what your mother did. We want to be a part of your life if you want that.” Atlas gave me a big smile.
Did I want that? “I would love that.”
And I couldn’t wait to meet them.
Epilogue
Leo
A year later
I knocked lightly on the door to my bedroom before I stepped inside. Noel sat on the oversized plush chair in the corner by the window, his legs crossed while he tapped his knee with his fingers. His tuxedo jacket lay on the bed, but he was wearing a blue bowtie and a matching cummerbund. Noel turned to look at me, a big smile spreading over his face. He climbed to his feet and wrapped his arms around me when I got closer.
“You look beautiful, Leo,” Noel murmured. He pulled back to look at me, his one green and one blue eye sparkling with happiness.
I beamed. “Shouldn’t I be telling you how good you look today? I’m not the one getting married.”
Ezra had made the turquoise dress I was wearing, and I was a little obsessed with it. He insisted on doing my hair and makeup while Felix did my nails. But today wasn’t about me. It was about Noel, Wyatt, and Seth. My brother was marrying his dream guys.
