Page 122 of My Debacle with De Lorenzo

“Shit. Ihatehanging around with you guys. There’s so much...affection. I really feel like the fifth wheel.”

“That’s why you have me,” Tommy announces from the doorway. “I will be your designated date anywhere, Peter. Just say the word.”

Whenever we go out as a group, Tommy is Peter’s plus one. Pete doesn’t mind because the alternative is Connor, and Cat is the only one who gets along with him. His geekiness doesn’t gel well with the rest of us.

Tommy pulls Peter’s arm around him then wrap’s his arms around Peter’s midriff as if they are a couple. “So, when are we going to start wearing matching cardigans, stud?”

“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Tom. I’m the commitment-phobe in the group.” Peter keeps his arm around him, and we all walk out onto the porch, waiting as Cat locks the door.

“Keep me as a mistress, then.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be a woman of the church?” Bella asks. “And here you are signing up to be a mistress. I think?”

She stops short when she spots someone at the foot of the stairs, a regal-looking African American man, dressed in a grey suit. He walks up the stairs and stops in front of Cat.

“You must be Catalina,” he says.

He leans forward as if he’s about to hug her and Scott places his hand on his chest to stop him. “Yo, hold up, my dude. What are you doing?” His tone is part playful, part threatening. “Don’t touch her. She doesn’t know you.”

“Chill, Alex.”

“My name is Scott.”

“Sorry...Scott.”

“Why did you call him, Alex?” Cat asks, looking at him warily. “That’s my dad’s name...Well, Alejandro, but everyone called him Alex.”

“Your mother drops a lot of names,” he replies. “I must’ve just gotten them confused.”

All of us are silent for a while, staring at him and I decide to ask the question on everyone’s minds.

“Uh...hi,” I say warily. “Who are you?”

He gives me a lazy smile. “I’m surprised you don’t recognize your old man.”

I’m confused as hell, but Bella giggles softly beside me and nudges me in the ribs. “Oh, shit. I think that’s Keith.”

“Smart girl,” he confirms with a nod. “You must be Isabella. The two of you looked different on security cameras.”

I chuckle. “Oh, you saw those, huh?”

“Well, I had to. I was very surprised to hear that I had adopted a son. I had to see who it was.”

“Dyl, what’s he talking about?” Scott asks.

“Long story. I’ll tell you guys over lunch later.” I turn back to Keith. “I hope you made a full recovery, Mr. Hart.”

“Call me Keith. And yes, I made a full recovery. I had a beautiful nurse helping me through it and she made everything easier.”

The affection in his voice makes Bella smile and she exchanges glances with Cat before looking at Keith again. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be picking my mom up from the hospital?”

He thinks about it for a second. “I’m sure she said I should come here.”

“She wouldn’t’ve said that,” Bella says. “She didn’t want us to meet you just yet. She doesn’t want us to get attached and then...you leave. We apparently have some issues with that.”

“Iknow.” Keith sighs and shakes his head. “Man, have I learned a lot about issues.”

“And me,” I agree.

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