by Megan Slayer
“Because it sounds interesting.” Bobby curled his fingers under Remy’s chin again. “The lack of confidence is kind of cute, but babe, you’re more than your past. Have some faith in yourself. Try to see the Remy I see—the one who writes wonderful articles, has a big heart and a sexy ass.”
Part of him didn’t want to believe Bobby, but the rest of him did. What the hell… He didn’t have much to lose if he bought into what Bobby had said. “I’ll work on it.”
“Harder. Work harder.” Bobby’s eyes flashed. “I know you can.”
Remy snuggled up to Bobby. He could’ve sworn he heard something. A clunk? He held still. The noise was back, but now he knew what it was. “I hear a rumble. I’m guessing it wasn’t the wind.”
Bobby sat up. “That’s the bad thing about this house. You can hear everything outside.” He climbed out of bed and crept up to the window. “Yep. Mom’s back with Darcy.”
“So stand in front of the glass where everyone can see you, nudist.” He shoved the sheets away from his body. Shit. If Grandma and the kid were there, then naked time was over.
“The roof is in the way of anyone seeing in here, but I can see the trunk of her car. Besides, I peeked through the blinds.” Bobby strode over to the dresser. “We’re safe.”
“Ah.” He yanked his boxers free from his rumpled jeans, then stepped into the underwear. He slid the denim on next. “They won’t care I’m here?” he asked. He didn’t want to intrude on family time or put Bobby into an awkward position.
“Darcy asked me when you’d be back.” Bobby pulled a pair of briefs on, then shook out his jeans. “She likes you.”
“Ah.” He’d said that already, but really he had no idea what else to say. He yanked his shirt down past his head. He located his socks.
“She hated my ex-boyfriend Neil.”
“Ouch.” He picked up his shoes. “Want me to wait to go downstairs?”
“You’re fine.” Bobby unfolded a T-shirt. “My ex was a dick, so her dislike was understandable.”
“Oh.”
“He really didn’t like kids.” Bobby shrugged into the shirt, then faced Remy. “Neil only came over when Chris and Darce were gone. Unfortunately for our relationship, that was difficult. Once they’re both in school, I work those hours. I’m flexible with my schedule, but still.”
“Is that why you split? Because of the kids?” He gripped his shoes and waited for Bobby to button his jeans.
“He found someone younger. A pretty boy.” Bobby shrugged. “I’ll never be the pretty boy type.”
“He’s nuts. You’re gorgeous.” He didn’t understand how anyone could not be attracted to Bobby.
“Well, if he weren’t crazy, as you put it, and was still here, then I wouldn’t be with you.” Bobby strode up to Remy and kissed him. “It’s a good trade-off and better for my sanity.”
“I agree.” He snagged Bobby in his arms. “His bad decision is my good fortune.” He kissed Bobby right back.
“You’re staying for supper, then, right?” Bobby grasped Remy’s hand. He made his way into the hall. “I have no idea what I’m making, but you’re not allowed to leave.”
“I should go back to work, but if you put it that way.” He had no place he’d rather be. “Want me to go downstairs in a few minutes?” He’d asked the question before, but hadn’t gotten much of an answer.
“The kids have already figured it out, and if Mom doesn’t understand, she soon will.” Bobby headed down the stairs first and waved to Remy. “My daughter’s twelve, but she’s not clueless.”
“Oh.” He had so much to learn about kids. He had no idea what to expect from Chris or Darcy.
Bobby stopped on the landing. “See? You thought you weren’t a kid person. You’re warming up to the idea.”
“Because of you.” And the few hours he’d spent around Darcy and Chris had been fun.
When he rounded the corner into the kitchen, Remy forced himself to keep going forward. Darcy and Bobby’s mother were sitting at the table. A mound of bags blocked the view of the rest of the room.
“There you are.” Mrs. Gagnon hugged Bobby. “I was wondering what happened to— Oh. Hi.” She stared at Remy. “Are you the young man I’ve heard about?”
“Yes?” He vowed to be more confident, but he rarely met the parents of his current date.
“Mom.” Bobby draped his arm around Remy’s shoulders. “This is Remy. You should know him. He’s a reporter for The Tribune and works with Maureen.” He nodded to the table. “So, kid, what’d you con Grandma into buying?”
Darcy smiled and clasped her hands together. “School clothes. I’ll show you later.”
“Did you max out her credit cards? Your grandpa will arrest me.” Bobby remained beside Remy with his arm around Remy.
“He won’t say a word,” Mrs. Gagnon replied. “If I’m buying for the kids, he’s happy.”
“Mom.” Bobby sighed.
“I saw Chris at the mall. They’re seeing the double feature, and he said he’d be home around seven. I got to meet all of his friends. Nice kids.” She folded her hands on the table top. “That Nicki is very pretty.”
“Mom.” Bobby shrugged away from Remy. “Thanks for checking up on him.”
Remy ducked out of the kitchen and escaped into the living room. He didn’t mind family dynamics as long as the family wasn’t his. He shuddered. Just thinking about going back to the Nicholas homestead churned his stomach. But then he’d probably never introduce Bobby to his parents.
He sighed and stared out of the front window. Parents. Kids. He had so much to figure out and most of it revolved around him and Bobby being a couple. They weren’t even an exclusive couple. He’d warmed up to the kids because of Bobby. In any other situation, he couldn’t guarantee he’d be so happy to find out his lover had offspring.
“Do you like my dad?” Darcy asked. She appeared beside Remy.
He slapped his hand over his mouth to muffle the shriek. He’d forgotten how stealthy kids could be, especially when he wasn’t expecting them to show up.
“Sorry.” She darted behind the armchair and leaned on the back cushion. Probably to keep him at a safe distance and for a good escape plan.
“I wasn’t expecting you.” He gulped air and willed his heart rate to slow to normal. “I’m sorry too. I startle easily.” He’d thought he was over that phase of his life. He guessed not.
“I used to, too.” She shrugged and remained behind the chair. “When Dad and Mom split, I thought everyone was going to take me. I was really good at hiding.”
“Why?” He sat on the couch and patted the cushion beside him. “I won’t bite if you want to come over. Promise.”
She smiled and joined him on the sofa. “I was five when Mom left. She told me and Chris that she’d come back for us. She did and I said no. That made her mad.” Darcy flopped her hands onto her lap.
“Aww, honey.” He draped his arm around her. Out of instinct? He wasn’t sure, but she seemed like she needed a hug.
“Chris didn’t want to go either. Mom shouted a lot and was always mad. She said she wanted to take us because Dad was yucky. I never told him she said that.”
And you’re telling me this stuff? She must trust him more than he’d expected. “I bet she only said that because she was angry that they didn’t get along. But their arguing wasn’t your fault. Still isn’t.”
“She used to say it was my fault. Mom told me if she and Dad hadn’t had me, then she wouldn’t feel like she had to stay. She blamed Chris too.” Darcy sagged against Remy and curled her legs to her chest. “I’m not a bad kid.”
“No, you’re not.” He hugged her a little tighter and kissed the top of her head. “That’s over, and your dad loves you very much. He loves Chris that much too.”
“I know,” she replied. “Dad needs a boyfriend. I liked Terry. He was nice.”
Terry? He didn’t know that name, and he doubted Bobby would have two guys at one time. It didn’t feel like so
mething Bobby would do. “Was he?”
“He’s in California now. I think.”
“Oh.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but his heart broke a little. He didn’t want there to be competition for Bobby.
“Terry said he and Dad weren’t meant to be.” She sat up and faced him. “I tell the boys that at school too.”
For twelve, she not only switched topics at warp speed, but she handled situations with more maturity than some forty-two-year-olds he knew. “You’re in middle school. Boys are already sniffing around?” He hadn’t shown interest in boys or girls until he was fourteen, but still.
“Yeah. My friend Kevin is going with Maya.” She shrugged. “I don’t want to. Chris can’t have a girlfriend. Dad said so.”
“He’s a smart guy. Get through school first, then worry about boys and girls. There’s time for dating and all that after you graduate.” Christ, he sounded like a public service announcement or an after-school special.
“You sound like Dad.” She folded her arms and grinned.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” he said. “Speaking of your dad…did the kitchen eat him alive?”
“Nah. Grandma’s talking to him. Something about necking and dates. My birthday’s coming up. Maybe she meant that. I have no idea what necking is.” Her eyes lit up. “Maybe she and Dad are planning a party!”
“Maybe.” He had a pretty good idea what was being discussed in the other room, and thanked God Darcy hadn’t heard of necking yet. She didn’t need to know. Innocence wasn’t overrated.
“So.” She stared at him. “You never answered my question. Do you like my dad? Neil didn’t.”
“I’m sorry about Neil, but yes, I like your dad.” He could say that with complete confidence, and knowing that liberated him. “I hope you and your brother like me enough to keep me around.”
Darcy rolled her eyes and laughed. “You haven’t called us shits or threatened to put us up for adoption, so you’re cool.”
He pressed his lips together to process what he’d just heard. Besides her swearing, she’d shocked him with the information. “You shouldn’t say shits.”
“Sorry.” She plunked herself down on the couch again. “That was Neil’s word for us.”
“He was wrong.” He rested his arm on the back of the sofa. “Please tell me Neil didn’t threaten you and Chris… He didn’t say he’d put you up for adoption, did he?”
“Yeah.” She waggled her head. “Mom and Neil always said it. I heard him yelling at Dad one time. They thought I was asleep, but they woke me up. Neil was mad because Dad didn’t want to go to the Rainbow. I found out that’s a dance club.” She grinned again. “I want to go there someday and dance.”
“When you’re older.” Much older.
“That’s Dad’s answer too.” She knotted her eyebrows. “Anyway, Neil said he wanted us gone, and if we weren’t here, then he’d get what he wanted.” She paused and her eyes widened. “I never told Chris that. He’d be mad.”
“Jesus,” Remy muttered. What a thing to say to a kid, much less to the parent. No wonder no one liked Neil. He’d never met the guy, and he wanted to rearrange Neil’s face.
“Yeah. It sucked.” She folded her arms again. “I should go try on my new stuff and make sure it all fits right. When school starts, I’m ready.”
“Sounds like you’re excited.” He’d have to add keeping up with her conversations onto his to-do list.
“Uh-huh. School means sports, and I can’t wait for ninth grade. Then I can join the swim team.” She waved her arms as though she was soaring across the pool.
“Sounds like you’re good to go.”
“Oh yeah.” She left the couch and waved. “I’m going to set records. I know it. Bye.”
Darcy strolled out of the living room, leaving Remy in silence. His mind whirled with all of the new information. She talked a lot and at a rapid pace. And he thought he could chatter someone’s ears off… He sighed. She was a smart kid and seemed to have adjusted well, considering the circumstances. Raising kids was not easy. Did he have it in him to handle the complications?
“Oh my God.” Bobby strode into the living room. “That lasted forever.”
“What?” Remy focused on his lover. “Your mom?”
“Yes. She grilled me.” He sat beside Remy. “Every freaking thing… She wanted to know it all.”
“About me?”
“Who else?” Bobby settled against Remy and rested his head on Remy’s outstretched arm. “I’m sorry. It’s just, after Neil―”
“You’re right. Darcy didn’t like him,” Remy said. “Not a bit.”
“I know.” Bobby met Remy’s gaze. “How’d you know…other that what I said?” He stared at Remy, wide-eyed. “Don’t tell me she told you? She’s a talker, but she usually only opens up to Chris.”
“We bonded.” He grinned. “She must’ve thought I was okay enough to tell me. I didn’t pry.”
“I’m impressed, although you are easy to talk to.” Bobby resumed cuddling up to Remy. “For a no-kid guy, you’re a kid guy.”
He wasn’t convinced, but if Bobby was happy, then that was wonderful. He turned his attention back to his conversation with Darcy. “She’s still messed up about Neil and the divorce. She mentioned Terry too.”
“Fuck,” Bobby muttered. “She was in elementary school. Seven years old.”
“I don’t know how you’re going to bring it up, but you need to talk to her. According to Darcy, her mom said some really fucked-up stuff.”
“Goddamn it, Helene,” Bobby snapped. He sat up and scrubbed both hands over his face. “I should’ve known.”
“Just show Darcy you love her and help her understand that you’re not going to let someone come along and adopt her.”
Bobby glared at Remy. For a split second, Remy wondered if he should run. He didn’t like the way Bobby was looking at him.
“Helene said that? She’d let someone else adopt the kids?” Bobby shook his head. “Over my dead body.”
“She said that along with some other things. Neil reiterated it, too.” He hated being the messenger, but Bobby needed to know what had been said.
“Rem…” Bobby sagged in his seat.
“If I’m going to date you, I need to know all of that stuff. I need to hear the baggage and be prepared for what might happen.” Remy grasped Bobby’s hand. He shored up courage he didn’t realize he had. “I want Chris and Darcy to like me. I want you to like me too.”
“That’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard,” Bobby replied.
“I don’t want to be like Neil. I don’t know what happened between you and Terry, but I don’t want us to split and mess up the kids.”
“Me neither.” Bobby bridged the gap between them and massaged Remy’s thigh. “You’re here now, and we’re at the beginning of something awesome. I feel it. We’ll do this our way.”
Remy nodded. “Our way sounds perfect.” He had no idea what the future held or if the kids would keep warming up to him, but as long as he and Bobby were solid, he could handle the pressure. Bobby was worth the effort.
Chapter Eight
Bobby sat on the back patio and watched Darcy in the pool. For the last three weeks, he’d spent his days and a few nights getting to know Remy much better. He crossed his ankles and adjusted his sunglasses. The life he’d carved out with the kids and now Remy was simple. They were all settled and seemed to get along great—no small feat, considering. He hadn’t run into many men interested in being with a family man, let alone things working out.
He tossed the newspaper he’d been reading onto the picnic table and folded his hands on his belly. Remy’s latest column focused on the school system and the band. With summer nearing an end and the start of the school year soon, he’d chosen to feature the good things happening in at the school. That article, as well as the one about the sports in town, were both positive, easy pieces. Mentions of intervention and the Coalition had been left out.
All in all, things were nice and quiet. Too quiet. Bobby shook his head. Life had a way of kicking him in the ass when he thought he had everything in order. Maybe it was his one shred of self-doubt, but he feared whatever storm was coming.
Still, he, Remy and the kids had a good schedule going. Every morning, Bobby took the kids to practice and met up with Remy to run the trails. When practices ended, he and Remy parted. The kids went home with his mother while Bobby worked. They shared suppers together—including Bobby’s parents—and Remy accompanied him to most of Chris’ races. Remy cheered on Darcy at her meets too.
Bobby cherished the occasional nights he spent with Remy and the blessed quiet existence they shared.
“Hey, Dad?” Chris strode out onto the deck. “There are signs all over our front lawn. It looks like when we decorated at the old house when you turned thirty, but these are flag-looking things. You’re thirty-four, and your birthday isn’t until November. What gives?”
Bobby sighed and left his chair. He hadn’t noticed anything that morning, but that didn’t mean much. He wasn’t one for staring at the front lawn unless he had to mow it. “Are the kids from the team TPing you?”
“No one does that anymore,” Chris said.
“They should,” Bobby replied. “It’s fun.” He hadn’t been out tossing toilet paper on someone else’s trees in years, but the two times he’d joined in the festivities, he’d enjoyed himself.
“Did you? TP?” Chris asked.
“I did a couple of times. It was fun.” He’d said ‘fun’ twice in the space of two minutes. Boy, am I getting boring. Bobby opened the sliding door. “Keep an eye on your sister while I check this out.” He headed into the house and crossed through to the living room. He didn’t need to look out of the picture window to see the damage to his lawn. “What the hell?” he muttered.
Rainbow flags with a black circle and slash had been jabbed into the grass. Who would do such a thing? Surely not the kids on the cross-country team.
“What’s wrong, Dad?” Chris joined him at the window. “Darcy went upstairs. She’s mad I told her to get out of the pool.”