Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,88
“I’m just saying first Natalie and now Wade and Eli. Seems like you have a new habit.”
Gabe grabbed the pot of coffee and poured each of them a fresh cup. “Is there something you want to ask me?”
“I don’t need to.” Andy settled for holding the mug instead.
“This conversation is annoying as shit.”
“Try being the youngest brother in this family.”
“Want to explain that?”
He had to be kidding. The stress between them right now bordered on back-breaking. “It should be self-evident.”
Gabe frowned. “How are the headaches?”
Andy almost reached for the base of his neck to massage the area, but he didn’t have to. The usual ticking that blurred his vision hadn’t started. Not yet, but who knew.
“Under control.” That topic could take them to a conversation about Eli, and Andy wasn’t in the mood for that. “I’ve already texted with Brandon.”
The kid was so excited about the smile on his old dad’s face. The fact his father snagged someone as pretty as Natalie seemed to be something Brandon wanted to brag about. The reaction filled Andy with relief because he knew if Brandon didn’t like Natalie Gabe would likely walk away from her. And Andy sensed that Gabe needed to stay by her side.
Gabe must have known that Brandon couldn’t talk about anything other than his dad’s new relationship at the moment because he rolled his eyes. “That’s just great.”
“He likes her. Likes you two together. Said you didn’t hide the fact you guys were having sex or that she meant something to you.” Andy took that opportunity to take a sip. He knew he could count on Gabe to make it really strong.
“I should have sent him farther away to school.”
Andy knew the truth—that Gabe hated Brandon being even an hour away. “Which brings me to the next topic—”
“Don’t bother.” Gabe’s mug hit the counter with a smack and he held up his hand to stop the flow of words. “I know Rick is trying to get Brandon to meet up. I guess Rick thinks he can just drop the DNA issue in the middle of dessert, the dumbass.”
The idea of Rick taking the choice out of Gabe’s hands made Andy sick. Gabe might need to come around on the DNA test since Rick wasn’t giving one inch, but not this way. Not with threats or by using Brandon. “He just doesn’t stop trying to do this in the most underhanded manner.”
“Nope.”
Andy almost hated to ask. “What are you going to do?”
“Damned if I know.” Gabe put his palms against the counter and pushed back, straightening his arms. He looked down at his feet. “All of the options suck.”
“Brandon is a tough kid. You can explain it to him.” The words sounded right and the idea so easy, but Andy had to admit if he were in Gabe’s shoes he would want this all to go away, too.
“He’s already had to hear about how his mom didn’t want him.” Gabe pushed off from the counter and stood up straight again. “Not that I said it that way, of course.”
“You sure this is about him and not about you?” There really wasn’t a delicate way to ask so Andy didn’t try. His relationship with Gabe remained strong. It could survive some tough love.
Gabe exhaled. “You think I’m being selfish.”
“I think you’re worried you are going to lose the most important person in the world. Understandable, but it will never happen.” Brandon idolized his dad. And Gabe had managed to be a pretty great one. Without a strong fatherly influence of his own or the wisdom that came with age, he’d muddled through and raised a great kid.
“The idea of him not being mine . . . fuck.” Gabe started pacing. Went back and forth two times on the kitchen floor before stopping. “Natalie thinks—”
“Wait.” This time Andy dropped his mug. It slipped from his fingers and bounced. He caught it before it fell off the counter. “She knows?”
Gabe watched the moves without saying a word. “Yes. It felt right to tell her. I can’t really explain it.”
Neither could Andy. He didn’t know what to do with that information or how to assess it. The news of Gabe sharing such intimate details, with a client no less, qualified as a pretty big shock. Gabe didn’t open up much. If he did with Natalie, then whatever they had went well past sex and dating. It was more than just fun for Gabe.
“Huh.” Andy didn’t know what else to say so he went with