Page 5 of About That Night

I shake my head. “She says no.” I still don’t understand why she didn’t tell me she had a son, though. It seems out of character for her. Not that I know her. Knowing her body and knowing her aren’t the same thing at all.

But we had talked for hours…

“Of course it’s not your kid, you idiot. Chastity would never lie like that.”

I nod. “You’re right. It just caught me off guard.”

Out of nowhere, Pops throws the tissue box from his bedside table at me. I duck, and it lands on the floor. The old man has more strength than I give him credit for.

“What the hell was that for?” I demand.

“For thinking with the wrong head. You’re damn lucky you’re not the one who knocked that poor girl up.”

“I am lucky.” Right? Lucky Hank. If it happened now, I could rise to the occasion. My brother Cash is due to have a baby any day now, and, to be totally honest, I get a little jealous when I’m around him and his wife, Sera. She looks so confidently maternal in her pregnancy and he’s so happy, that I get it the appeal of a family. I’m in the midst of launching my first solo culinary venture, but I would welcome a baby, a wife, the whole settling-down-thing, now. Five years ago, I probably would have fucked it all up.

Which makes me wonder about the real father. Who is he, and where is he? He must have done the fucking up. Better him than me. But it makes me feel sympathy for Chastity and her son, and admire her for her tenacity.

“One of these days you’ll get caught. Mark my words.”

“I sense a double standard here. Cash knocks Sera up, and everyone is patting him on the back. They weren’t even dating. Explain that to me.” I know the answer. I just want to grumble.

“Sera is a grown woman with three kids already, and your brother’s been wanting a family just about his whole life. They’re exactly what the other one needed. And he’s rich.”

I pick up the tissue box and slap it down on the bedside table. “Fair enough. I am not rich.” Nor will I ever be, considering I’ve just sunk my life’s savings into opening a restaurant in Porte French.

I had always planned to open a restaurant in New Orleans, or maybe even Nashville, where Cash plays pro football.

But impulsively, I decided to buy an old building that I had loved as a kid. On the heels of my other brother Conway having a freak accident, and Pops flatlining during his surgery, and Cash’s baby about to be born, I don’t know, something changed. I’d gotten to where I didn’t want to be alone in New Orleans anymore.

I wanted to be home, near my family.

So here I am, with a massive project underway and problems popping up left and right.

It’s a bad time for the past to pop up too, but that’s clearly not stopping me.

“Maybe it’s time to stop chasing skirts and settle down yourself,” Pops says.

“I just settled myself down with a huge-ass mortgage. That’s enough adult commitment for now,” I say dryly.

“Then stay away from Chastity. She’s too good for you.”

I have to admit, that stings a little. It didn’t bother me to be considered the family cutup when I was younger, but I am a man now, damn it, and a fucking decent one most of the time.

I cross my arms over my chest. “Thank you for the insult. Forget about me letting you have this barbecue now.”

“Don’t be an ass. Give me the food.” He holds his hand out.

I wave him off and move the bag to the table to start unpacking it. “I should make you get out of that bed and come get it yourself after that character defamation you just tossed my way. I’m a good guy. I don’t have a criminal record, I open doors for old ladies, and I call my mother once a week.” Maybe it’s only once every two weeks. But I text her when I don’t call.

“I never said you were a bad guy. Just that Chastity’s too good for you. Which she is. Those are facts, son.”

“Based on what?” Moving the tray in front of him, the lids off the containers so he can eat, I eye the ribs. I’ve been experimenting with my new smoker, and I don’t like the char on them. But I hand Pops a plastic fork. “Just eat your dinner and quit judging me.”

Pops points to the picture taped to the wall. The house, the tree, the sun. “And you just keep that kid in mind. That’s all I’m saying.”

My dick doesn’t want to listen to anything the old man has to say, but everything above my waist agrees with him. Proceed with caution. This changes things with Chastity.

Unless it doesn’t. It hadn’t stopped her in New Orleans.

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