Page 73 of Loving You

“Here,” Bronx said. He held his hand out and touched Lucas’s outstretched fingers, drawing him close. Lucas wrapped around him and held tight.

“Frey said Rex is sick and he couldn’t make it. I couldn’t get a hold of Lane,” Lucas said very softly. “Frey was really sorry, but he knows Adele and Dallas are here.”

Bronx held him tighter. “It’s fine. This is enough.” He kissed Lucas’s temple, then looked over at Jules. “I’d call a cab if I were you.”

“My car’s on the lawn,” Jules said in a much smaller voice now.

Dallas smirked. “I know. I’m having it towed.”

“And I will make sure you’re put away for a DUI if you so much as look at your car keys,” Adele said with a smirk. “Now, you’re trespassing, so I’d show yourself out and save what little pride you have left.”

“Babe,” Jules started to whine.

Monty moved closer to Bronx, who quickly pulled him in, sandwiching Lucas between them. Lucas put his free arm around Monty and squeezed so tight he almost lost the air in his lungs.

“I told you to stay in your room,” Monty whispered.

Lucas shook his head. “I wasn’t going to let him keep saying that shit about my dad.”

Bronx ruffled his son’s hair before turning his attention back to Jules. “You came here to make a point, and you failed. Suck it up and get out. It’s over, Jules. You wanted out, you got out. You wanted to give your kid back, fine. He’s not yours anymore. You fought that battle and won. There’s nothing left for you here.”

Jules seemed to realize he was outnumbered, and his face paled. He swayed a little, but he didn’t fall over. Instead, he stumbled past them all, knocking Dallas in the shoulder, though the man didn’t move an inch, and soon enough, the busted door was slamming shut.

There was a beat of silence, and then Dallas clapped his hands, making everyone jump. “Sorry,” he said quickly. He pushed his glasses up his nose, then brushed past Adele and took Lucas into his arms. “Hey, kiddo. I’m sorry I didn’t answer before.”

“It’s okay. You got here in time,” Lucas murmured against his uncle’s chest. “Thank you.”

Dallas closed his eyes and squeezed before letting him go. He turned to Monty and gave him a pointed stare. “Obviously, we need to talk.”

Monty flushed. “We were going to tell you this weekend.”

“How long?” Dallas demanded.

At that, Kylen scoffed. “Babe. Since we left them at dinner. Jesus, how did you not notice?”

Dallas’s ears flushed, and he looked at Bronx, who nodded. “Oh great, fine. That’s just fine. Everyone knew but me?”

Adele grimaced. “I’m afraid so, bud.”

“Fuck me, then,” Dallas said. “I’m not bringing shit to the barbeque. You all owe me.”

There was a ripple of laughter in the room, though it was still tense. Bronx reached behind Lucas and found Monty’s hand, squeezing it. “Someone needs to go make sure he’s gone. Is his car really being towed?”

“I called the service as soon as I got ahold of Luke,” Dallas said. “I also blocked him in on the lawn, so he can’t get out.”

Bronx let out a short breath of air. “I don’t think we should stay here tonight. Monty?—”

“Not even a question,” Monty said. “You know I have plenty of room.”

Adele hummed, looking over at Lucas. “You want to come stay with me and Gage, kiddo?”

Lucas hunched in closer to Monty. “I kind of want to stay with my dad. Is that okay? Do you mind if I come with?”

Monty wrapped his arm around him tightly. “Like I said, there will always be room for you. Always.”

Monty still had all his floor nest supplies, so as Bronx gave Lucas a tour of the house—mostly how to find the bathroom on his own and where to get a glass for water, he set it up. There were still some tzatziki stains on one of the sheets, but everything was clean enough, and Bronx’s eyes went wide when the pair of them stopped just inside the living room.

“What?” Lucas demanded. “It got weirdly quiet.”

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