Page 73 of Collision of Winters
I smashed my lips together and scowled.
“That’s it, I’m putting sugar in my coffee,” Dad grumbled, reaching for the sweeteners. He flicked a look at Wade. “He’s been my son for twenty fucking years. You couldn’t have chosen anyone else?”
Okay, yeah, so he knew.
Wade cleared his throat. “To be fair, choice had very little to do with it.”
I nodded, ready to butt in, ready to plead with Dad, ready to defend Wade.
“It’s true,” I said. “I threw myself at him.”
Chris barked out a laugh.
Dad kept pouring sugar into his coffee. It was going to be gross.
“That’s—” Wade coughed and gave my leg a squeeze. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying, I can’t control my own feelings.”
Oh. That sounded better.
“Here we go, gentlemen.” Wonderful! The server was here with our food. “Four full stacks with bacon, whipped butter, and maple syrup. Fresh fruit on the side for you, sir.” Wade was given his plate. I got mine. Chris got his. “And two eggs, sunny-side up, for you, sir.” Dad got his too.
“Thanks,” Dad said, clearing his throat. “I’d like to order a sweet tea and a new coffee as well.”
“Of course, comin’ right up.”
I scrunched my nose. “Think about your blood pressure, Dad.”
“That’s what I was doing. My question is why you two aren’t,” he shot back. “And why him?” He jerked his chin at Wade. “You remember he’s a Falcons fan, right? He always takes the last of Yaya’s moussaka, he can sit for hours and stare into space, and he entered his garden flowers into a fucking competition last year—and threw a fit when they didn’t win.”
I…of course I knew he was a Falcons fan, and yeah, it wasn’t great that he ate the last of the moussaka every time, but hold on,what?
“What garden flowers?” I blurted out.
“This is fucking gold.” Chris couldn’t stop laughing.
“Fuck you, they’re incredible,” Wade told Dad. “And I didn’t throw afit. I don’t throw fits. Yaya grew them for me?—”
“She started it—you took over,” Dad argued.
“Whatever,” Wade snapped. “It’s a relaxing hobby. It’s peaceful. Double hollyhocks are the most beautiful flowers.Move on. I don’t think Kayden will end things with me because I happen to have two plants next to my goddamn porch.”
“…that you entered into a competition,” Dad said.
Wade rolled his eyes. “You used to have a fucking show dog. You don’t see me making fun of you for that.”
It was my turn to cough.
It wasn’t the first time I’d seen Wade and Dad act more like brothers than cousins or even… I mean, Dad was kind of a father figure to them too, but… Not all the time.
I was just gonna let them fight it out. In the meantime, I got started on my pancakes.
They were delicious.
I clearly had nothing to worry about. Dad would be fine.
“I didn’t compete with her,” he pointed out. “I adopted her.”
Wade didn’t miss a beat. “And she was the prettiest little lady in all the land, I recall you telling her every day.”
