Epilogue
Everest
“Are you sure we need to do this?” Penny asked as I pulled into our dad’s driveway.
I watched in the rear view mirror as Atlas pulled her in tight, planting a kiss in her hair. “We’ll protect you.”
“I shouldn’t need protection from my own mother.”
He said, “Sometimes family members are the ones we need the most protection from.”
Phoenix added from the seat beside me, “It’s the people who know us the best who can hurt us the most.”
Instead of shutting the car off, I said, “I really think it’s best that we tell them now. No one has to worry about saying or doing something revealing.”
As far as our dad and Penny’s mom knew, we were stopping by on our way home from Rawhide Ranch. They didn’t know we had Penny with us… and would forever.
We had all agreed not to say anything until we could do so in person.
Her eyes lifted to meet mine in the mirror.
I said, “But if you want to wait, I’ll drive away.”
She reached over the seat and grabbed my shoulder. “You’re right. Let’s get this out of the way.”
“Sure are stepping up, little brother,” Atlas said as he pushed his door open.
Ironic since he spent his whole life overshadowing me. “Thanks for letting me take the lead on this one.”
Phoenix turned to me before opening his door. “I trust you.”
There was far more said in the silent pause before he turned away that let me know we were good after I’d steered him wrong previously.
We’d never been more in sync with each other than since we’d met Penny. She was the final link that brought us together in a way we’d never imagined.
Penny’s mom rushed out the front door. Penny was out of sight on the far side of the SUV with Atlas.
Her mom waived excessively. “Hey, boys! So nice to finally meet you in person.” She motioned to herself. “I’m Brynn.”
As if there was anyone else she might be. Whatever.
She pointed to each of us in turn, me through the windshield, and at Atlas’ head over the top of the SUV, noting that she knew our names. Great.
Then in the next breath said, “Promise me you’ll go easy on your father.”
Phoenix was closest to her and asked, “Go easy on him? About what?”
“We have a little secret to reveal. He worries you’ll be… judgmental.” She moved toward the front of the car as if to get a look at me and Atlas. I hurried out and around to Phoenix’s side. Penny deserved to do her reveal on her terms.
Phoenix said, “We know you’re married.”
“Yeah.” She flashed the gigantic diamond on her finger but her single word answer was oddly half-hearted.
Not to be callous but telling them about our relationship was going to trump whatever they had going on. Atlas and Penny hadn’t come around the SUV yet, so I said, “Why don’t we go inside.”
“But Atlas…” She tried to look through the SUV but tinted windows didn’t give anything up.
“I’ll be there in a minute.” His voice exuded complete control.
While she was distracted, Phoenix leaned close and whispered. “You don’t think she’s pregnant do you?”
“Penny? Yeah, but we’ll—”
“No, I mean her.” He tilted his head to Brynn.
I busted out laughing. So it was possible to further complicate our family. Remembering that I’d asked to take the lead on this reveal, I stepped toward the house, motioning for Brynn to see us in.
Crossing the threshold, she said, “Go easy.”
“Sounds like something we could all do,” I said, planting the seed.
She stutter stepped, causing Phoenix and me to pile up behind her in the grand entry. She turned. “Is everything okay? On the phone you said…”
“Never been better.”
Her eyes lit up. “Did you meet someone?”
“You could say that.”
She glanced at Phoenix. “All of you or just Everest?”
He shrugged, a smile playing on his lips. It was so funny to see him try to repress excitement. “All of us.”
Brynn clapped quietly then her smile dropped. “And Penny? She was so tight-lipped. Didn’t tell me anything except when she’d get home. I made sure her friends were going to be there to check on her.”
“You did?” I asked.
“I felt bad, not being there. But she obviously didn’t want to talk to her mom about her sex life. I wanted her to have someone.”
“You should probably trust her more.” I fought the urge to spill our secret.
“What does that mean?”
“She’s pretty amazing.”
Brynn studied me for a beat too long. I diverted my gaze to the credenza along the entry wall. There was a new photo collage. A wedding collage to be more specific. And our dad wasn’t the only groom.
What the fuck?
My mouth dropped open but I couldn’t get the question out.
She followed my gaze and stepped between me and the photos. “This isn’t going to plan. I meant to breeze right past that. Remember to be nice.”
This woman was too much. Maybe that’s why Dad had brought his best friend in. She hurried ahead, waving frantically for us to follow.
Phoenix went first. I looked over my shoulder, but Atlas and Penny hadn’t surfaced. Needing to hear this from our own dad’s mouth, I followed Brynn. If this was real, bringing Penny in wouldn’t be a big deal, would it?
Dad was rubbing the back of his neck when we got to the living room. He jumped up from the couch and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Hey, boys, where’s Atlas? We need to talk.”
“He’s outside. Let me get this straight. You and Wesley are in a ménage with Penny’s mom?”
Dad stumbled over his answer several times, something I’d never experienced.
“It’s okay, Dad. I’m fine with that. I just wish you would have told us.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want you to judge her for being with two men, or me for sharing her.”
“That’s not a problem.”
Dad stood taller. “Seriously? Wow, this is going to be way easier than I thought.”
“Hold on,” I said, and as I was rushing outside, heard him say, “Did I scare him off?”
Stopping beside the car, I gave worried Penny a huge hug. “It’s all going to be fine.”
“You don’t know my mom.”
“I’m already getting the idea that she’s a lot, which might be why our dad isn’t her only husband.”
Penny and Atlas stared at me.
“Yep, we’re not the only ones with an unconventional relationship.”
I grabbed Penny’s hand and walked her inside while filling them in on the details.
“Penny!” Brynn exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
Wrapping my arm around Penny, while Phoenix closed in from the other side, and Atlas stood behind her, I said, “Looks like we all have surprises. We haven’t had a chance to get a ring yet, but we’re all committed to protecting Penny forever.”
Brynn jumped up and down, taking it far better than I expected. Penny froze, seeming as surprised as I was. I glanced at my brothers to find a full assortment of confusion.
Brynn dialed it down to say, “I did good.”
“What does that mean?” Penny asked, her voice strong.
Brynn stepped close but Penny put her hand up and tried to step back but ran into Atlas, whose arms naturally circled her waist.
“Oh, sweet Penny,” Brynn said. “I found out about your trip and…”
“You snooped into my business, Mom. That’s not okay.”
“But look how good it worked out.” Brynn gestured to the four of us. “When Ryan showed me a picture of his handsome boys, I just knew that if I could get the four of you together, you could have what we have.”
Brynn dramatically retreated to our dad who motioned for his best friend to join us.
“No more meddling, Mom. Just because I’m not like you doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Just promise me you’ll stay out of my business.”
Brynn shrunk a little. Maybe she got the point. But damn, she’d actually intended for us to hook up with her daughter. That was going to take me some time to process.
“I’m sorry, Penny. I’m also very happy for you.”
Penny paused, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “Thanks, Mom. I’m happy for you too. Now I don’t have to feel so bad for not understanding which guy you were dating.”
Brynn grimaced then broke into laughter. “Guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
“Uh… nope, Mom. Let’s just drop this.”
Atlas hoisted Penny into his arms, cradling her against his chest. “Yep, we have somewhere we have to be.”
“Oh please, don’t rush away.”
But there was no stopping Atlas. We’d had a long drive and couldn’t wait to get Penny home.
We had a job to do and we took our jobs seriously. We were committed to protecting Penny the rest of our lives.
And we were pretty eager to keep trying to put babies in her.
When he set her down beside the car, she made us wait while she got her phone out of her purse.
“Get really close, we’re doing a selfie.”
“Right now?” Phoenix balked.
“Yeah, my friends wanted to know what made me decide to stay after I told them I was going home early.”
“You didn’t tell them yet?”
“I wasn’t going to tell anyone until we told our parents.”
She took the picture and tapped out a quick text.
Didn’t find a sugar daddy, but you’re right, stepbrothers make great Daddies!
Somehow that made her belong to us even more. And we lived happily ever after!
The End