Page 78 of Loving You

“I would. I’ve heard shit people say to Bowen, and if it wasn’t for our rule that I’m not allowed to knock anyone out, I’d probably have a rap sheet.”

Bronx chuckled. “Yeah. Me too. But I’m not going to be any kind of father if I’m locked up, so I keep my mouth shut and let him handle it. He gets creative.”

“Good. He’ll learn more, too, working in the kitchen,” Lane said. “Something I should apologize for.”

Dallas burst into laughter. “My brother worked as a dishwasher when I was in high school. He had a mouth on him.”

Bronx shrugged, unrepentant. “I got paid a decent wage back then, and I got to bring home free food. I have noregrets.” He polished off his third tamale before his stomach told him enough was enough, and he sat back. “I do appreciate you giving him a shot though. He’s going to learn pretty quick that without a little nepotism, it’s not going to be easy for guys like him. I hate it, but that’s the reality of the world we live in.”

“He’ll always have a job for me,” Lane said with a shrug. “And taking him on wasn’t a difficult decision. He listens well and remembers what I taught him. And it’s kind of opened up my kitchen to the possibility of others coming in once he heads off with Marc and the food truck.”

Bronx zoned out. He didn’t really want to think about that. The food truck would start during spring break, then into his senior year. But it was the mark of his step into adulthood. He was going to be eighteen a few months before he started his final year of high school, and even if he didn’t go off to college, Bronx knew he was going to want to start reaching for full independence.

“I know that look,” Adele said.

Bronx blinked and realized everyone but Adele had gotten up from the table. “That’s the panicked ‘my baby isn’t a baby’ anymore, look.”

Bronx blew out a puff of air. “How do you not lose it?”

“When I figure that out, I’ll let you know.” He bit down on his lip and glanced out the window. “Gage and Kash went out shopping tonight for a few things Kash needed. Gage is driving. He’s paying. He’s doing all the things I started doing when I was taking care of Bowen, and it made me realize that getting it all right as a parent meant he won’t need me for much longer. That kind of stings.”

Bronx rubbed a hand down his face. “I get that more than I want to admit. And it’s a tough pill to swallow.”

“Helps being in love though, yeah?” Adele asked.

Bronx bit his lip. “It does, but having Monty so late in life makes me feel like I was cheated out of a happy family. I know that sounds silly, but?—”

“It doesn’t,” Adele said, cutting him off. “Trust me, I get it. If I fall in love—if I get even a fraction of what y’all have—I’ll be happy. But it won’t be the same as Lane and Bowen or Dallas and Kylen. Or Frey and Renato. Their kids are young. They’re going to grow up seeing how much two people can really love each other. Sometimes I think that if Gage finds his person…”

“It’ll be in spite of what he had at home?” Bronx asked.

Adele bowed his head. “Exactly. Makes me feel like I royally fucked up in that department.”

Bronx shook his head. “If our boys love as hard as we do, it’ll be because we showed them that love can come in so many different forms. My ex is a monster. He was a shitty dad and a shitty partner, but as many mistakes as I made, I wasn’t. Lucas knows that. And I know Gage does too.”

Adele huffed a sigh. “Yeah. It’s easy to tell myself that. It’s harder to believe it.”

Before Bronx could say anything else, the front door opened and closed.

“Honey, we’re hooome,” someone called.

Gage. There was a second set of footsteps, slower than Gage’s. Then Kash appeared in the doorway, and his eyes went wide.

“Oh. We’re interrupting.”

Adele softened all over. Love was oozing out of his pores, and if Kash didn’t see it, it was because he was deliberately not looking. “You’re not. I saved you food in case you were hungry.”

Kash smiled but shook his head. “I think I need to lie down. Tonight wasn’t great.”

Adele looked worried, but he didn’t follow when Kash left the room. When he was gone, he sagged back in his chair. “Or my son is going to see me be a complete and total disaster and die alone.”

“Does he know?”

Adele frowned. “Kash or Gage?”

“Kash.”

“No. He doesn’t know. I never had the guts to tell him. He didn’t date when we were younger, and I kind of gave up hope that anything would ever happen between us. I met my ex and got married, and he moved. I kind of figured that was it.”

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