Page 71 of Loving You

Monty grinned in spite of himself. “That’s very good. You know your stuff.”

“I read a lot online,” Lucas said. “You know, being theloser nerdy kid with one real friend. I wanted to read up on what real lawyers were like. Not the TV bullshit.”

“The TV bullshit is a lot of fun, but you’re right, I couldn’t represent either of you. But I have friends. Contacts. Discounts,” Monty promised him. Bronx didn’t live far, and he could already see the turn up ahead. “We’re almost to you. Are you still okay?”

“I will be when you both get here.” Lucas went quiet for a second. “I’m sorry I interrupted your night.”

“Never be sorry,” Monty said firmly. “Not ever. One of us will always come to you if you need us. I don’t care if it’s because you just want a hug or some asshole has broken into your house. It’ll never be too much or too little.”

“So, about that June wedding?—”

“I prefer October,” Monty said very softly. He sneaked a look at Bronx again, who was pale and focused. “I think it fits us better.”

Bronx glanced at him, eyes wide, and Monty motioned for him to look back at the road.

“I can get on board with that. I’m a fan of Halloween,” Lucas said. His voice sounded a little stronger now. “Promise you won’t hate us for this,” he asked again.

“I promise,” Monty said. He couldn’t believe how scared Lucas was that Monty would leave them when the going got rough. He needed to fix that. To make him feel solid and safe. “I see your house now. Don’t come out until one of us gets you, okay? Your dad is very, very angry.”

“Very angry,” Bronx said. “But I promise I won’t do anything foolish.”

Just as they were pulling into the driveway, another car rolled up behind them. Monty looked back and saw the blue SUV with the fire department logo on theside. There were lights on top of the truck, but they weren’t on, and he was unsurprised to see Adele jumping out just as Bronx did.

“We have backup,” Monty told Lucas. “Adele is here. I’m sure the cops have been informed. I’m sorry your father put you through this.”

“He’s not my father,” Lucas spat. “He never was. I share a little bit of his DNA, but that means absolutely fucking nothing. Pardon my French.”

Monty managed a laugh as he climbed out of the car. “Remind me to teach you all the curses I know in French so you can use them for real.” Bronx looked back at him, and Adele seemed surprised to see him.

“We’re going to come inside now. Wait for us,” Monty said. “Do you want to talk to your dad again?”

“I’ll wait. Just get him out of here. Please,” Lucas begged.

“We will. Stay put.” The line went dead, and Monty handed the phone back as Bronx tugged him close. “He’s safe and waiting for one of us to get him.”

Adele gave him a long up-and-down, then reached out and tugged him into a short, tight embrace. “I like you.”

Monty breathed a sigh of relief. “What do we do?”

“Wait in the foyer,” Bronx said. “Lucas said he’s in the kitchen, and I can see the light on from the backyard, so I have a feeling he’s drunk cooking. It was his thing whenever we got into a fight. I want to try to get him out of here peacefully.”

Adele stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Say I’d like an ice water if you need us.”

Bronx sighed and nodded, then opened his front door. The lock was busted, half hanging out of the door, and Monty could all but feel Bronx’s rage radiating off him.They stepped in, and then Monty and Adele froze as Bronx made his way down the hall and into the kitchen.

“Babe! You’re home. I was thinking about making omelets…” His voice sounded different than Monty expected it to. It was very soft.

“Where’s Lucas?”

“Who?”

“Don’t,” Bronx snapped.

Jules let out a loud, performative sigh. “I don’t know. He threw a tantrum and went up into his room like he always does. You have him hating me.”

“Youhave him hating you. You checked out the second he was born.”

“Well, I didn’t want some fuckin’ disabled kid. I mean, can you blame me?”

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