Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
After class, my last of the day, I’m halfway through the quad when my phone rings. Dad flashes across the screen, the photo of me, him, and Mom when I was a kid making me smile. It’s one of my favorite photos of us. We’re at the beach, and we look over the moon… Dad looks so happy, and I remind myself that Nicole makes him feel like that again.
“Hey, old man,” I tease.
“You’re only as young as you feel, kiddo.”
I grin at the kiddo. “So that makes you eighty?”
“Hey now. Maybe a year ago, but not anymore. I’m living my life, remember? We went on a cruise, and Nic and I are already planning our European honeymoon.”
Emotions fucking suck. It’s so hard to feel a sting of pain while simultaneously being happy as hell for someone. I don’t get how it’s often so easy to feel more than one emotion. “Europe, huh?” He’s always wanted to go. I tried to talk him into taking a trip when I left for college, but he never did.
“Yeah. She’s never been either. It’ll be an adventure. That’s not why I called, though. I’m in town. I had a single-day conference. I expected it to go longer, but it’s done, so I thought we could meet up for an early dinner before I head home. Do you have time?”
That’s how my dad is. He’s the type who wants to spend time with me every moment he can. I really did get lucky in the father department, unlike Tay. My dad is the kind of person who would always put me first, who has always put me first. That’s why it’s so important to me to put him first now.
“Eh, I can squeeze you into my busy schedule,” I tease. “But only if we go to that Korean BBQ place I like.”
“You say that like there’s anywhere else I would take you to eat.”
We both chuckle, say our goodbyes, and I hop into my truck and drive over to meet him at the restaurant.
Me: Hey…I’m having dinner with my dad…our dad? Too soon? Anyway, he’s in town for the evening. Want me to bring you food?
Tay: Good stepbros always bring their brothers dinner.
Me: Do good stepbros also dick each other down? Because if so, I definitely want to be the best stepbrother there is.
Tay: Now I’m getting a semi at work.
Me: Good. I like you that way.
I add a winky-face emoji, then stuff my phone into my pocket. If I don’t, I’ll spend most of my dinner with my dad sexting with his fiancée’s son.
Dad pulls up beside me as soon as I get out of my truck. It might sound cheesy, but it really feels like he has an extra pep in his step. If I’m honest, I’ll admit it’s something I noticed even before we walked in on him and Nicole. Dad had seemed different, but I just didn’t stop to wonder what that meant.
“What?” he asks as we walk toward the building. “You’re looking at me funny.”
“You just seem happy, is all.”
He gives me an almost sad smile then, one that says he’s happy but worries he should feel guilty for that.
“She would want you to move on,” I tell him. “She’d probably kick your ass that you didn’t do it sooner.”
He chuckles, and we lean against the wall before going inside. “She definitely would. That’s how we know ghosts aren’t real. She would have haunted my ass until I started to live my life more.”
The cool thing is that we’re not exaggerating. That’s the kind of woman she was. She would have hated the idea of Dad being alone all these years. “I miss her,” I admit.
“I know. Me too.”
I turn to look at him. His hair is dark like mine, except for that little bit of salt mixed into the strands. He has a few wrinkles around his eyes—which seem less deep now that he’s with Nicole. A question sits on the tip of my tongue, but I’m not sure if I should ask it, if bringing it up makes me an asshole.
“What is it, Bren?”
“Even now that you’re in love with Nicole? You still miss her?” I feel like a kid. It’s so fucking dumb to act this way, but sometimes my emotions are so big, I can’t keep them locked away like I normally do.
“Of course. That won’t change, no matter how much I love Nicole. And you know what’s really cool? Nicole knows that. She understands it. She asks me about Mom. We talk about her—her and you. I hope you know she would never try to take Mom’s place.”
“It’s stupid of me to ask that.” I swipe at a stray tear. “I’m an adult. I shouldn’t worry about someone trying to take Mom’s place.”
“You’re allowed to feel what you feel. It’s valid. Your mom will always hold a special place in my heart. Her memory and the love I had for her won’t get erased by what I feel for Nic.”