Page 38 of Stay with Me
Trish led the way to her car and took Nicole from his arms to buckle her into the car seat. Before he could walk around the SUV, she pulled him into a hug. “I promise this will be okay. Drew has gotten something into his head and I guarantee that the error of his ways is being pointed out to him quite vocally.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Drew knew he was on borrowed time. He figured Uncle Mooney was just waiting for the rest of the heptad to arrive before they performed an intervention. He was definitely not looking forward to being on the receiving end of them all in command mode — and he wasn’t deluding himself that he wasn’t about to face them in their glory. Fuck his life.
“Look at the dumbass, buried under a blanket, hugging a pillow to his chest watchingCaptain America. Steve Rogers would hit him upside his head with his shield for the stupid shit he was spouting the past few days.” Hearing Nova calling him on the carpet snapped Drew’s gaze to look over the edge of the couch. Oh, shit. Not the heptad. He wasn’t sure if he should be more afraid now.
Standing there glaring at him, some with hands on hips, were his siblings and cousins. Cam and Cal on either end with the rest lined up between them. The only ones he didn’t see were Maggie and the spouses — Keith, Rem, and Darien. Just as he had that thought, he heard her voice. “Turn the screen so I can yell at him,” Maggie said from the tablet he noticed Haley was holding.
“I think I get first volley,” Tristan said. When he looked at his brother, he couldn’t tell if he was pissed, disappointed or… scared? Tris broke ranks and came over to the couch. “I… you… did…” Before Drew could process that Tris couldn’t form a complete sentence, he was wrapped in his arms. Dropping his head to Tris’ chest, Drew could hear Tris whispering, “We were so scared. I got here as fast as I could. Worried that you’d been hurt. Couldn’t find you.”
It could’ve been a minute, or an hour. Drew lost track of time taking comfort in his brother’s arms. He sensed more than feltthe rest surround them. Each of his cousins took Tristan’s place hugging him and then Julia was in front of him. She leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead then shifted backward and swung. She didn’t coldcock him but it was close. He knew that she’d aimed for his shoulder. Uncle Spook would be proud that she was dead on target.
“Now that we know you’re physically okay, what the fuck are you thinking? You disappear off the face of the earth when you’re supposed to be in Kentucky with the uncles. And what the ever-loving hell is the crap that Nova said you told Brody? Why the hell does he think you think you’re a fuck-up? What have — Julia cut herself off with anargh. She motioned to the group as she walked away. Yup, he’d pissed her off. He’d seen it often enough in his life to know that once she calmed down, she’d be back.
“Well, are you going to answer Julia’s questions?” Nova shot at him. Oooh, two for one. Nova was on the pissed bus with Julia.
“Nova, take a breath. He’s obviously had a delayed psychotic break from being stabbed,” Noah said. “Not sure why it took months to happen but it’s got to be the reason for his bullshit. Maybe he had a brain injury and they never caught it. Do you have a headache?” he asked as he lifted his hand to Drew’s head.
Drew took a deep breath and held it, exhaled, and stood up. He stepped around the coffee table and started pacing back and forth. He looked at this generation of his family. He wasn’t sure what to say, where to start. Making a decision, he turned back and said, “Can you all sit down? This is going to be hard enough for me without you all looking like a formation.” He waited for them all to find a seat, Maddy dropping on Cal’s lap, Tris and Cam sharing the overstuffed armchair, Noah and Haley on the couch. Nova pulled Julia down next to her on the loveseat. Haley set the tablet down on the coffee table angled toward Drew.
“I love you all and I’m sorry that I worried you all. Everything came to a head for me when I found out that Jared was back—”
“Who’s Jared?” Haley asked. “Was this dumbass cheating on Brody?”
“Do you think so little of me that you think I would cheat on someone? I know I’m the fuck-up of the group but I do have morals.” Drew rubbed at his chest, trying to make the ache he had go away. Was he having a heart attack?
“Fuck-up?What are you talking about?” Cam sounded confused. “What am I missing?”
Jumping in with both feet, Drew started talking, pointing the obvious out to everyone. “Cal and Maddy are doctors. Julia’s a CPA. Noah’s a professor. Haley and Nova own their own successful businesses. Maggie’s a marine biologist. Cam played in the major leagues. And Tris…” Drew could feel the tears gathering but he was going to finish this. “Tris is a rising military leader who has succeeded in everything he’s ever even thought about.” He wiped at the tears that were rolling down his cheeks. “Me? I’m a barely functioning lieutenant who never wanted to be in the Army.” His statement was met with silence then Noah crowed.
“I knew it! I told you all he didn’t want to join the Army. None of you believed me. Should’a made a bet or two. I could be a millionaire if I’d bet with Cam.” Noah sounded smug. When Drew looked at them all, he could see shock and maybe some respect?
“You knew?” he asked quietly.
“Why didn’t you say something?” his dad’s voice came from the doorway. Drew turned to look and saw the gathering in the opening. All his aunts and uncles were standing there with his parents. His mother was the first to get to Drew.
“Andrew, why?” she asked softly as she put her hands on his cheeks, her thumbs brushing the wetness. “Why?”
Drew wrapped his arms around his mother and tried not to cry. It was time he manned up and told his truth. Oh, his family hadn’t batted an eye when he came out. But this? He was terrified of their reactions. Closing his eyes, he stepped back and squared his shoulders. He was a good NCO’s child. He would stand straight and meet their eyes when he spoke. Opening his eyes, he saw his aunts and uncles had arranged themselves around their kids. Uncles Mackey, Scott, Liam, and Danny on the ends.
“I’m named after Papa Andy and Uncle Brian. Him, Dad, all the uncles, and then Tris have set the standards for soldiers to follow. You made a difference. It was expected for me to keep up the tradition. I knew I couldn’t be as strong or as smart as Tristan so I didn’t try to go to West Point.” Drew paused, it was hard to finally say this all out loud. “I’m a passable lieutenant but my heart isn’t in the military.”
Hearing sniffles, Drew looked at his family. He didn’t see a dry eye. He could even see Maggie with tissues to her eyes on the tablet. No one spoke. No one corrected him. The room was dead silent.
Finally, his father broke ranks. He came up to Drew and grabbed him around the shoulders. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked more questions. I should’ve seen something.” He kept repeating himself with variations of the same three sentences. Drew started shaking his head. It wasn’t his father’s fault.
“No, Dad. You didn’t do anything. I’m just not good enough,” Drew said.
“Fucking bullshit,” Nova said hotly. “You are smarter than most of us in this room. Barring Cal and Maddy and maybeeven Tristan. You are far beyond a passable lieutenant. You’re a fucking great one. I know you studied your ass off at school and in your officer courses but ummm… summa cum laude? Honor graduate? Studying only gets you so far.”
Uncle Danny cleared his throat before speaking. “You tried to tell me this all those years ago, didn’t you? When you spent the weekend with me and Liam. You were trying to say you didn’t want to be in the military, weren’t you?” Drew shrugged and nodded his head. “What stopped you?”
“Time? Not having the strength to break Mom’s heart?” Drew knew his answer was weak but he really didn’t know why.
“You’ve got the time now,” Uncle Spook pointed out. “You’ve got us all here. You should know that we’re all on your side. That we’ll support anything you want to do.”
Drew felt a sense of peace come over him. His family looked at him expectantly. It didn’t take long before he heard Maggie’s voice demanding, “Well? You’ve babbled loads of bullshit about being a screw-up and insulted all of us for thinking we don’t support you. Speak the fuck up.”
