Page 133 of Contentious

“When am I going to meet those kids of yours?”

“They’re not technically mine. You do know that, right?”

“Aren’t they?”

The question hit Julian like a punch. Were Theo and Mila his kids now? Was that how this worked? If he went all in with their mom—and he was all in with her—did that mean they were his kids?

“You still there, pal?”

“I am.”

“Was it something I said?”

“You just got me thinking.”

“About how you’re a father now?”

“Yeah. That.”

“How do you feel about it?”

“Surprisingly good. They’re great kids. I love being with them.”

“A lot of changes in your life all at once, my boy.”

“For sure, but it feels good. I get excited knowing I’m going to see them when I get home.”

“I love that for you, Jules. There’s nothing like that feeling, at least not that I’ve ever experienced.”

“It’s truly the best thing ever, even if my siblings look at me with the side-eye. They’re pissed that I’ve gone to the dark side.”

“They’ll get over it. They love you too much to punish you forever.”

“I guess we’ll see if that’s true.”

“It is. What do you think of Carson seeing Cresley?”

“He seems happy when he’s around her, even in a hospital bed.”

“I saw that, too. She’s a beautiful girl, inside and out.”

“That’s true. No one in the business has a bad word to say about her. Well, they didn’t until her ex stabbed Carson in her yard, and now speculation is running rampant.”

“I saw the statement she put out. I think it helped to shut down a lot of that shit.”

“You’re too funny. Are you the only ninetysomething in your place who keeps up with everything that happens in this town?”

“Probably. The rest of them don’t care about much of anything anymore, and that’s their problem.”

“I’m glad you still care and that you’re as sharp as ever.”

“Gotta stay sharp to keep track of my nine grandchildren and all their shenanigans. Let me know what Carson has to say for himself and tell him he’s on my shit list for not answering the phone.”

“It’ll be my great pleasure to tell him that.”

Spencer was laughing when he disconnected the call.

He was certainly used to their sibling nonsense after all these years.