Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Is he all right?” Dad asks.
“I think so,” I answer as I shoot a group text to everyone else, letting them know Taylor is back. “I just need to see him.”
“You’re really in love with him, aren’t you?” Dad smiles.
“Yes…and it’s scary as hell.”
“Love is always scary. I was scared when I fell in love with your mom, and felt the same with Nicole, but it’s also the best thing that’s ever happened to me—both times.”
I chuckle, wanting to ask him a million questions, wanting to make sure everything will be okay. But the truth is, he can’t promise that. None of us can. We just have to enjoy the time we have when we have it. “Come on. Let’s hurry.”
I pick up to a jog, Dad right beside me as we hurry back to the hotel. Just as we’re getting on the elevator, I get a text from Taylor to meet him in our parents’ room. “He’s with Nicole,” I tell Dad, who hits the button for their floor.
I’m practically bouncing on my toes, unable to stay still, heart racing. I need to see Taylor so bad, need to make sure he’s okay.
Dad uses his key card, and as soon as I step in, I see Nicole and Taylor hugging, his mom crying as he tells her it’s okay and that he’s sorry for scaring her.
“I was worried sick.” She pulls away, and Taylor’s gaze catches mine.
“I know. I shouldn’t have left with him. I just needed to get him out of here. I didn’t want to do anything to ruin your day, but it looks like I might have done that anyway. I thought I could get back before you realized I was gone.”
“You did not ruin my day, Taylor. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were just being you…trying to take care of the people you care about.”
He sniffs and wipes his eyes with the back of his hands. It’s killing me not to go to him, not to take him in my arms, but he deserves this time with his mom. Also, I’m not sure how to react around our parents, and I forgot to tell Taylor they know about us.
“Thanks, Mom.”
Nicole takes his hand, and the two of them sit on the edge of the bed. “What happened?” she asks.
“When I went to get breakfast, I saw him. I tried to think of any way I could to get him to leave. We ended up at a diner not far from here, and he started in with his typical lies, making himself seem like the one who was mistreated. And I just…I don’t know. Today isn’t the day to talk about him. It’s supposed to be your and Keith’s day.”
I shuffle on my feet, trying to keep myself steady.
“Would you like me to leave?” Dad asks. “If you’d like a moment with your mom, I can do that, Taylor, but if you’re really just concerned about us, your mother and I agree that you won’t ruin this day. You and Brenner are the most important thing to both of us.”
My boyfriend’s gaze snags on my dad’s and doesn’t let go. I can see the emotion in his stare, see a story in his eyes I can’t read, but I think he’s coming to a realization.
“You don’t have to go,” Taylor tells him, then glances at me. “We’re family. And thank you for that. Chris…we were never the most important thing to him.”
Dad walks over and kneels in front of Taylor. “That’s his loss. I know I’m not your father, and I would never try to be something you don’t want me to be, but you are family to me. You’re the son of the woman I love. You’ve always been there when Brenner needs you. You’ve been his best friend, and now you’re the man my son is in love with. He couldn’t have chosen a better partner, and Nicole couldn’t have had a better son. You’ll always be important to me, and I’ll always be here for you.”
I’m caught between wanting to hug my dad for saying exactly what I know Taylor needs to hear and wanting to kill him. Taylor’s eyes go wide, shooting back and forth from Dad to Nicole to me.
“Sorry. They know about us. I was losing it a little, and it just came out.”
“In love with?” Taylor asks, his thoughts clearly snagging on that part.
“Surprise.” I give him a large grin. “Thanks for that, by the way, Dad. I haven’t told him yet.”
My dad pushes to his feet and joins me again. “Oops. Sorry.” He gives an honest bashful look.
“I feel like a million things are going on that I need to address, but first…” Taylor turns to his mom. “You’re okay with it? Me and Bren? We didn’t mean for it to happen. We were going to tell you, but we didn’t want to risk causing problems before the wedding. But I…” His voice goes softer, probably because the first time we’re saying or hearing this from each other is in a room with our parents. “I love him too. It took seeing the Piece of Shit again to realize just how much.”