Chapter 11 #2
“Are you sleeping together?”
“Say that a bit louder with my kid in the house.”
“You do realize you’re going to have to have the talk with her, don’t you?”
“With Brooklyn? Yes. I realize that. We’re sleeping together, and we don’t talk about what it really means. But that sounds a little too much like talking about your feelings, and I’m not in the mood for that. Not with everything going on.”
“I was actually talking about the fact that you will soon have a teenage girl in this house, but good to know about you and Brooklyn.”
I closed my eyes as my stomach twisted. “Yes. I realized what talks are going to have to happen. They have a book called What to Expect When You’re Expecting, but not What to Expect When You Find Out You Have a Twelve-year-old Daughter.”
“Maybe in a book about adoption?” Gage held up both hands at my glare. “I’m being serious. People adopt children who aren’t babies. Maybe there’s something for you in there.”
I sighed and pulled out my phone. “I’m making a note to look it up. Thanks.”
“I am trying to help. I may be an asshole, but I’m your asshole.”
“If you continue to flutter your eyelashes at me, I’m going to think dirty thoughts.”
“Just as long as those dirty thoughts also include Brooklyn.”
Gage ducked my fist, and the Allen wrench fell from his hand as we continued to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Bella asked as she skipped into the living room and smiled.
I gave Gage a glare and looked over at my daughter. “My friend is just being an idiot. How’s the drawing going?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
She shrugged. “Good, I think. Can I help?”
“Have at it. You must be better than your dad at building things,” Gage said, pointing to one of the boxes.
Both Bella and I stilled at the phrase “your dad”, but I waited to see what she would say before I made a move.
When she didn’t say anything, I knew it wasn’t time to dwell on the casual mention from Gage.
We were so good about calling me Reece, but Bella would always be my daughter. And now we were finding our path.
“Excuse me, it’s my literal job to build things.”
“Then why aren’t these shelves already done?”
“Because you’re distracting.”
“You just think I’m pretty.”
Bella burst out into laughter, the sound like literal bells, and I just sat there, watching my kid be big.
How the hell is this my life?
“Okay, hand me the directions, Bella, let’s get these shelves up.”
“And they’re really for me?” she asked, the hesitancy in her tone killing me.
“Of course. You keep getting books, and I want to make sure they have a place that isn’t the floor. You have to take care of them.”
“Grandma and Grandpa only let me use the shelves in the library. I couldn’t have anything in my room.”
I held back a scowl and told myself I didn’t need to complain about those two.
They would still be in her life, and there was no changing that.
And though I hated their attitude, there’s nothing I could do about it in that moment.
“Well, we can’t fit every bookshelf that we might want in your room, but we do have my office, and the loft upstairs. They can hold a few bookshelves.”
“So we can buy more books?” she asked, her smile bright.
“That’s it, kid. Use that smile and you can get anything that you want,” Gage said.
I glared at my friend. “Really?”
“Hey, I’m the fun uncle. I’m supposed to be the one who annoys you. And to make sure that my girl gets everything that she wants.”
“You know, Uncle Aiden said that he was my fun uncle.”
“Yes, by blood. I’m the fun uncle you choose.”
“But then there’s Uncle Dash, and Uncle Lexington, and Uncle Crew, and Uncle Connor, and Uncle Colin.” She continued to name more Montgomerys as Gage laughed, and I just shook my head.
Somehow this kid of mine had gained a whole extra family when we hadn’t been looking, and I would forever be grateful for the Foxes and the Montgomerys in my life.
“What about Uncle Patrick?” I asked, ribbing Gage.
“He’s nice too. But all he does is suck face with Riley.” She rolled her eyes, and I stiffened.
“Really?”
“Not really. I mean sometimes.” Bella shrugged, playing with a screw. “Riley’s really nice. I love her. She is so organized, and makes the art classes fun. But her boyfriend always shows up and tries to distract her. She doesn’t get distracted easily though.”
“It seems that my brother is still the peach that he always was.” Gage rolled his eyes, and Bella widened hers.
“He’s your brother. Oh.”
“What, didn’t think an old man like me could have a little brother like that?” Gage asked.
“No, you’re just so pretty.”
I was grateful that I had already swallowed the sip of water I had just taken, because I burst out laughing, tears threatening as Gage scowled at me.
“Thanks for that,” Gage said with a sigh. “I am pretty.”
“Pretty old,” I muttered.
“Hey, just because I have more silver on my temples than you doesn’t make me any older. In fact, you’re older than me.”
“Really? That’s old,” Bella said, and I didn’t know who was more offended in that moment, but when the doorbell rang, we didn’t have much time to care.
“I’ll get it,” Gage said, but I shook him off.
“My house, remember?”
“Okay, here, Bella, help me actually finish these bookshelves or we’re going to be here all night.”
I shook my head, loving the way that Bella leaned into Gage, both of their heads down as they looked over the instructions.
For a man without kids, he was sure good with them. Then again, my brothers were the same. We were all learning this on the fly, and I was grateful for the family we were making.
I opened the door without looking, and my heart left my chest.
“Brooklyn.”
She smiled at me, the sun right on her freckled face.
“I should have called, I’m sorry. But I figured since I was driving by I would come annoy you. And really just check on Bella.”
With Bella’s attention on Gage, I leaned forward, took Brooklyn by the back of her head, and pushed my mouth to hers.
She moaned into my mouth, that moment of surprise simmering between both of us, as I deepened the kiss.
When I pulled back, we were both breathless.
“Oh.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” I said the words, and I meant them. I had no idea what the fuck I was doing, but I could not keep my hands off of her. It was going to be a problem, but I didn’t care in that moment.
“I’m glad I’m here too.”
“Brooklyn!” Bella said as she moved between us and threw her arms around Brooklyn.
Brooklyn, the woman that I was falling for, immediately softened and hugged Bella tightly.
They were nearly the same height, with Bella being tall for her age, and Brooklyn being so short, and it was another kick to the gut.
This time, not just because of who Brooklyn was, but because I had lost so many years. So many fucking years that I wouldn’t have of Bella’s childhood. But I wasn’t going to lose any more.
“Well, what do we have here?” Gage drawled out. I elbowed him in the gut, but of course the man’s eight pack didn’t move an inch.
“I was just here to check in, and annoy you.” She winked at me as she said it and I ignored the heat in my chest.
“You’re never annoying. Come on, Gage and Reece are trying to build a bookshelf for me, and I don’t think they’re doing it right.”
“Well, as the landscape architect versus the actual person who builds things for a living, I’m here to help.”
“Stay for dinner?” I asked, my gaze only for Brooklyn.
“Of course I will,” Gage answered, and I laughed, but Brooklyn nodded.
“Of course.”
And as I closed the door behind her, and nearly swallowed my tongue, I told myself that I needed to tone it down.
“Does Bella know that you’re in love with the woman that seems to be her best friend?” Gage whispered under his breath.
“I’m not in love with her.”
“You can lie to yourself but don’t lie to me. You know I hate liars.”
I gave Gage a look, but pulled my attention quickly back to the two in the living room.
“I don’t think it’s smart to fall in love with Brooklyn. She’s too fucking young.”
“I don’t think she has a problem with that.”
“It wouldn’t be fair to Bella.”
“As long as you don’t keep secrets or lie, I don’t think Bella’s going to care.”
“Damn it. I don’t know.”
“Better figure it out. You’re a dad now. Things get complicated.”
And that seemed to be an understatement.
“You know, if you put the sticky wallpaper or drawer inserts on the back panel before you nail it in, it’s like a backdrop.”
“Really?” Bella asked, eyes wide.
I resisted the urge to groan. “We’re not going to add pink and sparkles are we?” I asked as Gage laughed at my side.
“I’m not a pink girly,” Bella said sarcastically.
“I have a couple of samples in my car. Mostly because I couldn’t help myself. I knew you were doing bookshelves today, and you know me, I love a project. Yay, crafts.”
“Really? Thank you. Can I use them, Reece?” Bella asked.
“Anything. Seriously. As long as you say thank you.”
“Thank you, Brooklyn. Seriously. Thank you.” She threw her arms around Brooklyn again, and my heart slowed.
“I would have those talks soon,” Gage whispered.
This time I didn’t elbow him, because he was right.
We were going to have to have so many fucking talks.
“I can go get them from your car if you want. And that’ll give you and Reece more time to make out.” She winked as she said it, and took Brooklyn’s keys, leaving me slack jawed, and both Brooklyn and Gage laughing their asses off.
Well, it seemed at least one conversation might have been tabled.