Page 27 of Kennedy

Seymour crossed his arms over his chest and glared. Thankfully, he didn’t say anything. Kennedy didn’t want the situation to degenerate, and they were already attracting enough attention as it was.

There was no doubt in his mind that Wallace Senior was doing it on purpose. He wanted to humiliate his son, and he probably thought he’d won the lottery. He truly believed he’d caught Seymour with Kennedy the other day, and he was going to use that against Jimmy. He clearly didn’t care how his son felt or about the fact that they were in public.

“My mate isn’t cheating on me. You need to leave him alone.”

“I caught the two of them kissing the other day. They were doing so here, right in front of the coffee shop for everyone to see. You’re the only one who doesn’t know, Jimmy. Open your eyes. You have to realize that being mates doesn’t mean he’s the right person for you. You’re ruining your life.”

“By being with my mate?”

“By quitting your job. By moving here for a man who doesn’t deserve you.”

Jimmy snorted. “As if you care about that.”

“You’re my son.”

“Being biologically related to you doesn’t mean I’m your son,” Jimmy snapped. “Or that you care about me. You’re not doing any of this for me. You’re doing it because you want to humiliate me. You want revenge because I support Wallace instead of you, and you’re attempting to get it by any means necessary, even if you have to lie.”

“I’m not lying. They were kissing.”

“Just let it go, okay? I’m never going to believe anything you say. You showed me your true colors, but I should have known this was the kind of person you were all along. You never loved Wallace the way you should have.”

“He’s not my son.”

Kennedy was glad that Wallace wasn’t here to hear this. He had to know that this was how Wallace Senior felt about him, but no one should have to hear it, least of all him.

Wallace Senior was a piece of work. It was a miracle that Wallace and Jimmy had ended up so nice. It could be thanks to their mother, but the little Kennedy knew about her pointed to the fact that it wasn’t. They were good men because it was who they were, and it had nothing to do with the people who had raised them.

“You certainly didn’t raise him as your son. Look, I don’t know how to tell you this in a way you’ll finally understand, but I never want to see you again. I don’t care that we’re biologically related. You’re not my father. I don’t have a father, not after what you did to Wallace. Leave me and my family alone. None of us want anything to do with you.”

Kennedy wished he could say that he believed that Wallace Senior would keep his distance now, but the man’s stubborn expression was enough to know that wouldn’t be the case. Wallace Senior was still bent on ruining his son’s life.

No matter how many people he had to hurt in the process.

* * * *

LEWIS HATED BEING LATE, but when he reached the coffee shop, he was glad he’d had a flower emergency for the first time ever.

Well, it had been a Danny emergency more than a flower emergency, but the details weren’t important. At least it had kept him away from the mess that was happening in front of him.

Wallace Senior had his back to Lewis, so he hadn’t seen him. Hopefully, he wouldn’t at all. Lewis didn’t want anything to do with the man. At the same time, since Wallace Senior was ranting about Seymour cheating on his mate, maybe it would be best if he finally found out that Seymour had a twin brother. Lewis doubted that would be enough to get him to stop bothering Jimmy and Seymour, but at least he’d stop screaming about Seymour cheating in the middle of the street.

Lewis hid behind a fake potted plant and peered at the mess in front of him. What was he supposed to do? Should he go up to Kennedy and say hello? What would Wallace Senior do if he did?

Seymour looked up and caught Lewis’s gaze. Lewis took a step forward, but Seymour shook his head and tilted his chin in the direction of the coffee shop.Go inside.

That was an order that Lewis would have typically ignored, but in this case, he was happy to obey. His brother didn’t need him. He had enough protection with Jimmy and Kennedy, and it was clear he didn’t want Wallace Senior to realize he had a twin. Since Lewis was the least involved in this situation, he had to trust that his brother knew what he was doing.

He slipped around two women standing at the coffee shop door watching what was happening. Half the town would know about the confrontation as soon as it was over. He hated it, but he’d come to accept this kind of gossip. It was what happened when one lived in a small town.

“Do you think he’s actually cheating?” one of the women, who wore a red hat, asked her friend.

They didn’t once look up when Lewis walked past them. They didn’t seem to realize that Seymour had a twin, either.

“I don’t know. They’re so cute together that I want to say no, but you never know these days. Look at what happened to Patty.”

That was enough for Lewis. He went to the counter and ordered coffee while keeping an eye on the situation on the sidewalk. Wallace Senior was gesticulating, while Jimmy appeared unimpressed. Seymour looked like he was about to bolt, and Kennedy, well. Lewis couldn’t see his expression, so he hoped he wasn’t about to punch Wallace Senior.

Eventually, Jimmy shook his head, grabbed Seymour’s hand, and pulled him back into the coffee shop. The women who’d been gossiping stepped aside to let him in. Kennedy followed, but when Wallace Senior tried to, the women exchanged a glance and stepped into his path. One of them had been holding a coffee, and it ended up all over Wallace Senior’s jacket.

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