Page 86 of Regrets

I shake my head. “No. You know Ash, he doesn’t drag shit out. He asked me to be there. I told him I couldn’t, and he told me to fuck off. That was pretty much it.”

Once you piss off my little brother, that’s it. The kid can hold a grudge.

“Then, you’re right. We have to fix that.”

I wrap my arm around her and pull her close.

I intend to.

46

LINC

“He looks so much like Colt.” I smile and turn to look at Penelope as she watches Asher play with Sebastian outside of my mom’s house. We just pulled up, and I have to admit I’m fucking nervous.

My mom was happy to help though, inviting Vivienne and Sebastian over today.

“Come on, Linc. I’ll hold your hand the whole time.”

I smirk, and we climb out of the car, walking to the front yard where Ash is tossing a ball to our two-year-old nephew.

My brother’s eyes meet mine with the same fury as the last time I saw him. He looks good. He’s grown in the last two years and actually might stand an inch over me now. Maybe.

His hair isn’t as unruly as it once was, now styled and perfect and it’s gotten slightly darker.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“I’ve been a shit uncle, I know. But I want to get to know him.”

Ash shakes his head, looking over at the boy. “No. You don’t get to just come into his life whenever you feel like it, Linc.”

“I know you’re pissed, and I get it. But I’m here now.”

He shakes his head bitterly. “So like you. Here when you want to be.”

Penelope stands at my side, slipping her small hand into mine. “That’s not fair. We’ve all grown up a lot. He’s changed.”

Asher’s eyes look down at our hands and then back at me. “Oh, this is happening now? That’s just great. Does Mom know?”

“Yes.” We all look toward the front door as my mom walks out. “They told me on the phone a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Ash looks flabbergasted, and I’m sure he feels the gut punch. My mom was happy when we told her, and I see the joy on her face as she joins us.

“That’s a real nice way to honor my brother.” His eyes lock ferociously on P.

And I grab his attention. “Watch it. We love each other and have for a long time. But we loved him more.”

“Yeah, right. I saw just how you loved him.”

He takes off inside the house, and P and my mom lock concerned eyes as Penelope’s hand moves from mine to my shoulder. “Just let him go. It will be okay.”

“No.” I kiss her lips quickly. “I did that last time.

I follow Ash inside, passing Vivienne, who’s sitting on the sofa and find him in the kitchen, his hands grasping the edge of the granite counter of the island in the middle. I’m taking a cue from P and just getting it all out there. “Did you see something? When we were all younger?”

“You mean you and Penelope? Her cheating on Colt?”

“She didn’t cheat.” I take another step into the kitchen. “They broke up. And you weren’t there.” He has to be bluffing.

---