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“You think I’m hot?” Ford gasped, then shook his head.
I took a couple of steps closer to him. “You’re hot, like really hot, and maybe, if things had been different, we might have had a shot at something. I care for you, Ford, and I love you, but asfamily. I’m sorry if I ever made you think there was something more between us.”
“Do you hate me now? Because I don’t blame you. I’m a shitty person. A shitty friend, and I just... What are you doing?” Ford struggled as I wrapped my arms around him.
I snorted. “Hugging you, dumbass. It’s what brothers and brothers do when they want to comfort one another. You should try it sometime.”
“I hug people.” Ford awkwardly returned the embrace. “Sometimes.”
I pulled back and looked down at him. “You hug Felix, your twin, and I totally get that. You’re close. But it’s okay to let other people in, too. It doesn’t mean you’re weak.”
“That’s not true. I let Dad hug me.”
“Dad forces himself on you.”
Ford grinned. “Yeah, he does, but I don’t hate it. He’s pretty great.”
“And to answer your question, I don’t hate you. I’m a little upset with you. Okay, more like pissed off, and that might last for a while. But maybe, over time, I’ll trust you again. Leo forgave you,” I told him.
He nodded. “I don’t know why. I was an asshole. I’ll be making that up to him for the rest of my life.”
The sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs had us both turning toward the sound. Dad appeared in the doorway, his face flushed, and his lips pressed into a firm line.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Andrew.” His brows dipped. “Everything good between the two of you?”
“Perfect,” Ford answered as he gave a weak smile.
Dad looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead he turned his attention back to me. “Can I talk to you, kiddo?”
“Is everything all right?” My stomach dropped. “Is it Leo?”
Dad smiled. “I...” He stopped. “Maybe we can do this alone.”
“Dad?” My voice cracked. Had something happened to my boyfriend? Was he hurt and in the hospital?
“Leo’s fine, baby, don’t worry. He’s still out doing wedding stuff.” Dad’s gaze bounced between Leo and me. “Come on. Let’s go sit downstairs with your father.”
I followed behind him as he left the room, down the hall and the stairs, and into the kitchen, where I found Pop sitting at the table. He looked somber as I slid into the chair across from him. Dad crawled up into Pop’s lap and tried to give me a smile, but it didn’t quite meet his eyes. What the hell was going on?
“What’s wrong?” I whispered as tears stung my eyes.
Dad leaned forward. “Someone reached out to us and is claiming that he might be your biological father. He said that he dated your mother for a little while, and he didn’t know that she got pregnant.”
“He’s lying!” I exclaimed. “My mother told me my father was dead. Besides, you’re my father. Both of you, and I... Is this your way of getting rid of me?” My throat tightened. “Do you not want me anymore? Are you trying to push me off on someone else because I’m too much to handle?”
Dad was off Pop’s lap and hugging me before I could say anything else. “Baby, no. We love you so much. You’re amazing. We would never, ever not want you in our lives. It’s just...” He brushed the hair back from my face as Pop climbed to his feet. “We thought you might like to meet him. He’s kind, baby, and he—”
“No!” I exclaimed. “I don’t... I don’t want to meet someone who claims they are my father when I have you two. Two amazing men who raised me, gave me a home, and loved me no matter what. Who taught me how to skate and play hockey, made me a better drummer. Ones who accepted me, took in my best friends when they needed somewhere to live, and continueto amaze me on a daily basis. So, this guy, whoever he is, can fuck off.”
Pop reached over and tugged me into his arms. “We didn’t want to upset you. You don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do.”
I gripped the front of his shirt. “I love you. Both of you, and I don’t need some asshole who thinks he’s my father walking into my life and fucking everything up. You two are my parents. That’s it.”
“Okay, baby, I’m sorry,” Dad murmured, and then he was hugging me, too, both of my fathers comforting me as only they could. “We were only thinking of you.”
I sniffed softly. “He’s probably looking for money and publicity. That’s all this is.”
“Probably not.” Pop dragged his hands through my hair. “He’s kind of famous.”
