Page 34 of The Interview
“Really? You’ve raised Lu, your own version of G. You’ve witnessed Paige at her best and worst, and heard all of us say they’re exactly like her. What?” I shake my head. “Did you just think Georgia got to a certain age and became the person we know and love? I’ve known her since we were about four, and she’sneverbeen any different.”
He turns his attention back to his wife. “Yeah, I know. I just hadn’t heard that story before, and I’ve heard a lot. They’re just usually about all of you and the band.”
“Does that bother you?”
He shrugs his response.
“I wouldn’t say it bothers me. I just sometimes wonder if we’ll ever sit around telling stories that I’m a part of.”
I literally feel like I’ve been stabbed in the heart. This man, this big, beautiful, sometimes scary man, who loves my girl and all her flaws, would lay down his life for her and his kids, who has always come across to me as confident and fearless, has, after all these years of knowing him, just shown me a teeny, tiny chink in his armour.
“We talk about you, tell stories about you,” I reassure him. “I know, even for someone like you, it can be a bit daunting. This family’s a lot. Believe me, I know firsthand how intimidating they can be. But when they love you, you know it. They’re loud, dysfunctional, crass, and as hard as Bern tried over the years, they’re often uncouth, but they love with their whole hearts, and they love you, Cam. Don’t ever doubt that.” Emotion builds in my chest as I push the words through the tightness in my throat. Words that have me wondering if anyone has ever told this man what a huge, irreplaceable member of our family he is.
“Do they love me, or are they just grateful?”
“You think I would’ve carried your baby inside me if I didn’t love you? Do you think my husband would’ve allowed me to ifhedidn’t feel the same way?”
“Your husband clocked me on the jaw the day you found out you were pregnant, if you remember rightly. Unless violence is his love language, it didn’t exactly give me warm and fuzzy welcome to the family vibes.” His brows rise as he turns back to me.
I’d forgotten about that. I wasn’t there to witness it in person, but we’d all watched the security camera footage a few times, and in all honesty, I couldn’t have been prouder of Len. His actions earned him the best blow job I’ve ever given later that night.
“You did deserve it to be fair.”
“I did. What started as a shit day got worse before it got considerably better, and I’ll never, not in a thousand lifetimes, be able to repay you, Ash, Len, and Marley for what you did for us. What you gave us.”
“No repayment necessary. We’re family, and that’s what families do.”
He nods slowly, his eyes tracing a path across my face.
“What, you trying to read me? Work out if I’m being honest?”
“Not at all. I was thinking, in a very non-flirty kind of way, and with the utmost respect, what a lucky bloke Len is, and how pissed off Marley must’ve been when he didn’t get the girl.”
I narrow my eyes and smile up at him. “You’re such a charmer. You sure you’re not flirting with me, Mr King? Just a tiny bit?” I hold up my thumb and pointer finger barely a millimetre apart.
“Absolutely not. As gorgeous as you are, Mrs Layton, I only have eyes for my wife.”
He gives a chin lift in her direction, and I know said eyes have landed on said wife again when they widen and his face lightsup with a smile. I look up to see Georgia, Marley, and Lennon moving towards us.
“You all right?” Len asks as soon as he reaches my side.
My eyes meet his, and I know from the way his brows are pulled tightly together that concern is radiating fromthemand every pore in his body. The ball of emotion rises from my chest back to my throat, and I can’t find my words for a long moment. I shake my head, Len shrugs, and I know from knowing this man for over fifty years, loving him for over forty, it’s an apologetic shrug.
“We need to talk,” he says.
“We do. We probably needed to start this conversation at least forty years ago.”
“I know.” He licks his lips and looks away.
“Where’s Ash?” Marley asks.
“In the house with the girls. They went to organise some dinner. You lot staying?” Cam asks, looking between us all. He has his arm around Georgia, who hasn’t said a word. Her eyes slice between Len and me, and knowing us as well as she does, she’s picked up that I’m not happy.
“Fuck dinner. I need another drink,” I announce.
“A-fuckin-men to that, sister. A-fuckin-men!” Georgia replies.
“You all right?” George asks as we go through the door that leads into her house.
