Page 2 of Reconcile

I don’t tell him it’s exactly the same thing because Cole and Spencer may as wellbemy father when it comes to business.Cutthroat.

“I’m here because you asked me to lunch. To catch up. Not so you could try to lure me to the dark side.”

He snorts this time and shakes his head. “You think we’re darker than the Sterlings?”

I know they are. Lincoln is a surly motherfucker, but he has a heart. Especially now that he’s pussy-whipped.

“Next topic,” I try. “How’s my nephew and niece?”

He cocks his head to the side and then shakes it off. “Growing fast. You haven’t seen them since they were in diapers.”

“They aren’t anymore?”

His eyes roll with irritation, and I smile. They’re ten and eight. I know they’re out of diapers, but it’s still fun to fuck with my brother. “No, asshole. And they ask about you sometimes.”

I swallow, trying to suppress my guilt. I’ve never liked kids. When Cole and Oliver announced they were adopting the first time, I cringed. When they adopted their second child, I told them I’d pray for them if I prayed. They weren’t amused.

And I’d held strong on the whole not liking kids thing until I met Sebastian, or Baz as we call him. I smile, thinking about that little shit. The kid of Vivienne Crenshaw—now Sterling. She and I had a thing a couple of years ago before Asher and she finally got it together and got married.

They were the ones who were in love, but I wanted so fucking desperately to feel something—anything—for another human.

In the end, Asher got the girl, and rightfully so. But Baz... That kid nestled himself in my black heart. I couldn’t resist his playful spirit and cuteness. He couldn’t pronounce my name and ended up calling me ‘Swearer,’ which is all too fucking fitting since I can’t, for the life of me, clean up my language even around the kid.

But I try.

Thankfully, I live pretty close to Ash, Viv, and Baz’s house. And for whatever reason, they trust me to hang out with them and the kid. I almost fucked up the only true friendship I had with Asher, but somehow I got a family.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around.”

“You’ve been too busy playing Sterling.”

My gaze hardens. “Watch it. They’ve been the only family I’ve had.”

“And whose fault is that?”

I place my napkin on the table, tired of this lunch. “I just remembered I have an errand.”

“Don’t leave. Just think about it, okay? Even Samantha works there now. It’s a family business, but it’s missing one link.”

I roll my eyes and stand, buttoning my suit jacket. “Yeah well, I heard you acquired a Ward.”

His eyes flicker with recognition as he stands, placing his napkin on the table. “Piper is my friend.”

I laugh because that’s ridiculous. “Piper left town right after graduation. No fucking way you two were friends.”

“We are now.”

I step closer to him. “When she started working for you?”

“Before. I offered her the job. She’s well-qualified, and she’s changed a hell of a lot too.”

I don’t want to talk about Piper. I don’t want to think about Piper. Or the fact that she works for my family.

For Spencer.

“I need to go.”

He looks down at the floor, and then, taking a deep breath and releasing it, he looks back at me. “You should come by. See what you could claim. It’s rightfully yours too.”

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