Page 55 of The Foul Out

“That’s…” He sputtered, choking on the words, his eyes bulging. “That’s…awful.”

I sighed. “Honestly, I don’t care. Let them have the money. I haven’t had the best experience with his family.” Hurt and frustration bubbled inside me, so I blew out a breath. I would not let any of it seep out. “I met my half brother, James, almost twoyears ago. He came into Boston Lights under the guise of moving his father in.”

Kyle leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, his throat working. “What did he say? ‘Surprise, we’re related’?”

I held back a sardonic laugh. That would have been better.

“He never mentioned our connection. He spent the whole time acting as if he needed information about our facilities and options for long-term care.” Head lowered, I shook it. “After wasting hours upon hours of my time, following me around for two tours of the facility, communicating over the phone probably a dozen times, and what felt like a million emails, the guy ghosted me. It wasn’t until last year, when I walked into the reading of the will?—”

Kyle lunged forward in his chair. “You went to the reading of the will?”

Another moment of naïvety on my part. “My father’s attorney told me I had to. I had no idea that they weren’t expecting me or that I wouldn’t be welcome.” I used my fork to push a single lima bean back and forth on my plate. “When I saw James, I was confused. Turns out, his mother didn’t know he’d been in contact with me. That he’d met me. His sister didn’t even know I existed.” Emotion pricked at the backs of my eyes, but I blinked it away. It had been a total shit show. “After a bunch of screaming and some name-calling?—”

“Name-calling?” Kyle gritted out, his brows pulled low in anger.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. James’s mother made a comment along the lines of ‘who invited the slut’s daughter?’”

I remembered her comment word for word, but I had nowhere near the energy to rehash the confrontation. My mother was far from perfect—I knew that—but that woman had acted as if I was somehow to blame for her husband’s infidelity.

“It was a disaster. She and I both said things we shouldn’t have.” I glanced over at the kids, who were still locked into their show. “After she lost her shit on me, I basically told them all to F-off and stormed out.”

Kyle’s jaw was tight again, the tendons in his neck strained. “Seems fair to me.”

“James chased me down in the parking lot and apologized.” I tightened my hold on my fork, trying not to frown at the memory that played in my head. “He wanted a chance to get to know the kids and me.” He’d begged, and after I left, saying I’d think about it, he got my number from the attorney. Which seriously pissed me off at first. “Since we don’t have any other family, I’m trying to give him a chance. For the kids’ sake.”

Kyle studied me, a swirl of emotion in his eyes I couldn’t interpret.

“Maybe it’s dumb.” I shrugged, swallowing back my apprehension. Because maybe I shouldn’t have shared any of this.

“It’s not dumb.” His eyes blazed now, this time with an aggressive protectiveness that made no sense to me. “It’s a testament to how forgiving you are.”

I shook my head. “I’m not that nice to him. Trust me. If you asked him, he’d probably tell you I’m difficult.”

He reached out and covered my hand with his once more, warming me in a way I shouldn’t like. Long fingers wrapped around my hand, and the tips pressed into my palm.

“You’re different. Not difficult.” His deep voice vibrated through my bones. Our gazes stay locked, and this odd antsy energy rushed through me. “There’s something about you…” He shook his head, lowering it.

The sincerity in his tone, in his demeanor, made my breath catch. Dammit. I could not let myself like this man.

“Every day, you impress me more.” With a small smile, he gave my hand another squeeze.

“I finished all my food,” Sam hollered, his voice jarring me out of the moment. He scurried toward the table, carrying his empty plate, dropping his fork to the floor halfway to us. “Can we play and sneak M&M’s now?” he asked Kyle.

Kyle released my hand and stood up.

“SneakM&M’s?” I cocked a brow at my child, then at our guest.

“Kyle has the best baseball M&M’s. They’re so yummy. He gaves me some at school every day.” Sam beamed up at his buddy.

Lips pursed, I fought the smile that was pulling at me as I looked between the two of them again.

“No ratting me out to Mom, kiddo.” Kyle chuckled. “Let’s play clean-up, and then we’ll do the Lego set you brought home.” He picked up my plate.

I stood and held a hand out, ready to take it back. “You don’t need to.”

“But I want to.” His focus was set on my face, his eyes warm, his words nothing but sincere. “I want to be someone you can count on.”

My stomach flipped as I took in the open honesty in his expression. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe Icouldtrust someone.

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