After Marnie pulled out of the hug, she pushed open the kitchen window and screeched into the deserted backyard, “Jeremy! Selena’s young man is here. Get in here and meet him!”
While she turned back to stir the saucepan bubbling away on the stove, a ball of energy came flying through the back door, almost knocking me on my ass and throwing himself into Shane’s arms. I’m guessing this was James.
It didn’t surprise me when I saw the wide, genuine smile covering my brother’s face. He loved this kid. James may not be his by blood, but blood didn’t mean shit when a kid was involved. I could see, hell, anyone with eyes could see just how much Shane loved him. It was indisputable and pretty fucking fantastic to witness. Not that I ever doubted him. After the way Shane had stepped up and stepped in, taking care of me when everything fell to shit, there was no way he was going to be anything other than a kick ass dad. Or step-dad.
“Hey man. What’s been happening?” Shane asked, completely zoning out and forgetting there were other people in the room. James had commanded one hundred and ten percent of his attention.
“Pop and I were in the shed.”
“Yeah. What were you guys up to?”
James tugged on Shane’s arm and he bent down to meet him. When he whispered in Shane’s ear, Shane’s booming laughter filled the room. Must have been some secret.
“What have you two been up to out there?” Selena asked in her best Mum voice.
“Never you mind,” a bald man, with a round belly and glasses perched at the end of his nose confirmed as he stepped through the door. “James and I have our secrets, don’t we?”
“Yep! Gran, can I please have a drink?”
“Sure, sweetie.” While Marnie busied herself pouring James a glass of what I’m hoping was green cordial, because if it wasn’t, it was something quite disgusting looking. “Not too much. Lunch is ready,” Selena reminded before turning and kissing her dad on the cheek. Gone was the sassy, confident chick I’d met, already replaced by Daddy’s little girl. She wore a shy smile and a sweet, innocent sundress. This was definitely going to be an interesting afternoon. “Daddy, I want you to meet Shane.”
I thought I heard a huff, but I wasn’t about to call anyone on it.
“So, you’re the man who wants to marry my daughter?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, I don’t know about that. I mean, what sort of guy asks a girl to marry him without even meeting her family first? And you didn’t even have the decency to ask her father before you pop the question!”
Wow! His words were blunt. I think my balls just shrivelled up and I wasn’t even the one under the microscope.
“Daddy!”
“What did I miss?” a deep voice came from behind me, causing everyone to spin around at the intruder.
“Carter!” Marnie squealed as she shoved past me and threw herself at the most well-defined guy I’d ever seen. And trust me, I looked. After she squeezed him tightly and he placed a kiss on her forehead, he tucked Marnie under his arm and waited for an explanation. I had nothing. My mouth was dry as I tried to memorise each and every one of the intricate tattoos that curled up his arms before disappearing under his shirt sleeves.
“This is Shane. He thinks he’s going to marry your sister.”
“And be my dad,” James added with a huge smile.
That was the moment I realised it didn’t matter what any of the adults in the room thought. It didn’t matter that Shane hadn’t met Selena’s parents first, or that he hadn’t asked her father for her hand. It didn’t matter that we were basically standing in a room full of strangers, we were strangers who were about to become family, because the pure happiness on James’s face as he stood proudly next to Shane said everything.
I think everyone else in the room knew it.
Except Selena.
She looked a little green around the edges.
I guess she hadn’t been expecting that.
It was out there now. There was no taking it back.
Marnie must have felt the heaviness in the room. “Come on, everyone. Sit down. Lunch is ready.”
“Anything I can do to help, Mum?” Selena asked as she came out of her trance and stepped past Shane, into the kitchen.
“Sure.”
While James led us to the already set table, making sure Shane was sitting right next to him, I followed along silently. I got that Shane wanted me here as moral support, but he didn’t need me. He just didn’t know it. This was his life now. These people were his family. He was exactly where he belonged.
Sitting at the table, everyone was watching each other. It was like the first to blink, lost. Thankfully James was too young to understand the games going on around him. Instead he just started telling Shane all about his friends at school and the epic game, his words not mine, of basketball yesterday. To his credit, Shane looked on, enthralled by the story. He asked questions and kept up, even asking about James’s friends by name. He wasn’t playing the role of dad. For all intents and purposes, Shane was James’s dad. It was a beautiful thing to watch.
“Carter, how’s business?” Jeremy asked directly.
I felt like an intruder. The urge to fake an emergency and escape out the door was definitely tempting.
“Good. This week’s been crazy busy.”
“Why?”
“Football, I think. We’ve done more Tigers tattoos in a week than I think we ever have. Justin was complaining that if he had to do one more he was going to make it cross-eyed.”
“That’ll do it.” Jeremy chuckled and rocked back in his chair.
Before anyone had a chance to ask any more questions, Selena and her mother appeared carrying platters of food. The moment the tray of cheesy garlic bread hit the table I was stoked with my decision to stick it out. Even if it was just for the food, when the pasta and salad bowl were placed on the table, I knew I was going to make myself look like a pig as I shovelled in more than my fair share of the deliciousness.
“Looks great!” I couldn’t help but say. It was the truth. And it smelt even better. For a brief second, I wondered if Selena would reconsider her choice of brother. Even if it was just for her mother’s cooking, joining this family wouldn’t be a hardship.
“Thanks, Alex.”
“What do you do, Alex?” The attention shifted to me and I was caught off guard. I hadn’t been prepared to be the one interrogated. I wasn’t marrying into the family. Why wasn’t Shane under the microscope? Oh, that’s right, when I looked over, he was serving salad onto James’s plate, carefully picking out the olives and feta.
“I renovate houses.”
“Don’t lie, Alex,” Selena admonished and my head shot up. How was I lying? It’s what I did. Currently I was working on three houses at once, and while it’s more than I normally tried to juggle, Shane’s place needed the love. I wanted to get it done and sold ASAP.
“What?”
“He does renovate, but he also owns the company which renovates houses. They buy them cheap, renovate, and sell for a profit.” Oh. That’s all. I sighed heavily, feeling my shoulders fall.
“That’s pretty cool,” Carter added, as he stuffed a forkful of pasta into his mouth, dribbling some of the rich tomato sauce down the front of his tight grey shirt.
“Do we need to get you a bib, Carter?” Selena teased.
“No. Smartass.” He poked his tongue out at his sister. Ten minutes with them and it was easy to see how much they loved each other. They reminded me a bit of Shane and me. There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do to see him happy. After all, that’s why I was sitting here eating pasta at a table full of virtual strangers.
A quiet settled over the room except for the clattering of silverware against the plates. When everyone but Carter was finished, the plates were pushed to the centre of the table and I slouched in my chair. I wanted to pop the button on my jeans and give my stomach some much needed room. If I was at home, that’s exactly what I would have done.
> “So, I guess we’re having a wedding then,” Marnie stated the obvious. I was thankful that she was redirecting the conversation.
“Yes, Mum. I was thinking early December,” Selena added as she took Shane’s hand. It was the first contact I’d seen them exchange since we’d arrived and the pure relief on Shane’s face revealed how much he craved it.
“That’s only a couple of months away.”
“I know, Daddy, but I also know I don’t want to wait.”
“Are you knocked up?” Carter asked, coughing as he choked on his water.
“No. I’m not pregnant. But I don’t want to draw this out, either. I don’t want the big, white church wedding…” A loud gasp silenced Selena. Glancing around, it didn’t take much to realise it was Marnie who was struggling to accept the lack of a traditional wedding for her only daughter.
“What do you mean, no church wedding?” she spluttered.
Jeremy reached over the table and took his wife’s hand. While outwardly they seemed to have accepted Shane and Selena’s upcoming nuptials, I would hedge a bet there was a way to go before everything was peachy again.
“Come on, Mum. When was the last time Selena and I even stepped foot in a church? You can’t be all that surprised she doesn’t want to get married in one,” Carter added, racing to his sister’s defence.
“But…but…”
“What are you thinking, sweetheart?” Jeremy invited.
When we reached the ten-minute mark of Selena droning on about dresses and cakes and fairy lights, I tuned out. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, it was more, I didn’t care about the details. I knew my job. Get suit. Show up. Make sure Shane was sober through the ceremony. Job done. Being the best man was going to be a piece of piss.
Just when Marnie seemed to be getting on board with the program, Selena dropped another bombshell. “Only one bridesmaid?”
There was more to the story. It was written all over Selena’s perfectly made up face. “Well, yeah but…”
“You can’t just have one bridesmaid. Your cousins are counting on it.”
“Like I’d invite those conniving bitches to the wedding, let alone have them as part of my bridal party!” Someone hit a nerve.
“Selena! That’s enough!”
“Mum, can I go play?” James’s asked politely. Smart boy. Escape while you can. I wondered if he wanted company.
“Sure, sweetie. Just keep it down.”
James was out of his seat and halfway out the door before anyone had the opportunity to change their mind. “Uncle Carter?”
“Yeah, mate?”
“Wanna play too?”
“Hell yeah, I do!” Carter was making a run for it. Smart and sexy. Damn him.
“Carter Jaxson! Watch your language!”
“Sorry, Mum! Alex, wanna come join us? Unless of course you’d prefer to sit and talk all things wedding?”
That was one question I didn’t have to think about. “Sounds good.”
I followed James and Carter upstairs to what had to be James’s bedroom, because it didn’t match the rest of the house at all. Where everything I’d seen so far made you think you’d stepped back in time, James’s room had every gadget you could imagine. Mounted to the wall was a massive flat screen with more than one gaming console. The shelves were lined with games and books, and in the middle of the room was a double bed complete with Star Wars comforter.
“Nice bedspread,” I commented as I perched my ass on the corner. I felt kinda awkward being in a kid’s bedroom, especially with a kid I didn’t know, but when he loaded up the game and handed me a controller, all fears evaporated.
“You’re on my team, Alex. I’m heaps better than Uncle Carter.” I liked this kid’s confidence. Even if it was slightly misguided.
“Hey!”
“You’re slow,” James explained matter-of-factly.
“Kid’s harsh.”
For the next two hours I laughed, pouted, and tried to refrain from cursing as I got schooled by a kid. He was ferocious. Don’t let the sweet, innocent good guy act fool you. He decapitated me twice with a machete even though we were on the same team because, in his words, I was slowing him down. Rammed me into a concrete wall as we raced F1 cars around a track that no normal human could possibly navigate. At least I was smart enough to give up when he changed to soccer. Carter, it seemed, was sucker for punishment. Sitting back, leaning against the bed, I watched as they trash talked the afternoon away.
By the time the bedroom door was pushed open, Selena and Shane were watching while Carter and I had become friends. We had to. It was either we team up to take the down the smack talking, ass kicking, kid or embarrass ourselves. Well, embarrass ourselves even more.
“You boys having fun?”
“Yes, Mum,” we chorused. While Shane and Selena shared a confused look, Carter and I cracked up.
“Ha ha, losers!” James bragged.
Turning my attention back to the screen I saw why he was so damn cocky. While we’d been looking elsewhere he’d killed both of us and claimed the prize. This kid was sneaky. I was going to have to practice before I demanded a rematch. And there would be a rematch. There was no way I could stand a seven-year-old having bragging rights. That shit just wouldn’t fly. Not with me.
“You ready to head out, Alex?” Shane asked, and I instantly felt like I was a kid and the fun was over. Shane’s simple words had burst my bubble. Reality was on the other side of that door.
My head was a fucking mess at the moment. And for a few hours I’d done a good job of pretending all was okay—the sad truth was it was far from it.
Finding my feet, I shook Carter’s hand and ruffled James’s hair.
“Thanks for having me. I’m sure I will see you soon, Selena. And I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
“That you have to put up with this guy’s bullsh—” I cut myself off, remembering at the last minute the little ears in the room.
“He’s a teddy bear, really.” She smiled before planting a kiss on my cheek.
“No, I’m not!”
“Yeah, sweetie, you are.” Selena rubbed his belly affectionately. Being alone, lonely sucked ass.
“Let’s go. Meet you at your place around six?”
“Sounds good.”
While they said their mushy goodbyes I headed downstairs, thanked Marnie for having us, and she did something that I knew even hours, even days later, I’d be replaying in my head trying to figure out. She’d welcomed me to the family. I didn’t understand, but I didn’t argue either. After being effectively kicked out of my own, to unexpectedly be invited into another seemingly normal family was beyond crazy to me.
As Shane drove me home, I stared out the window, lost in my own scrambled thoughts. We pulled up out the front of my apartment and I expected Shane to drop me and take off. Instead he parked, climbed out, and followed me upstairs. When I opened the door, I clicked on the heating and headed straight for the fridge. Grabbing a couple of beers, I pushed one into Shane’s hand before flopping down on the couch. Truthfully, all I could think about was a nap.
“You okay with all of this?”
“All of what?”
“Me getting married. Selena. James. Her crazy family.”
Taking a swig from my bottle, I set my feet on the coffee table. Usually it wasn’t something I’d do, but right now I didn’t care. “’Course I am. Doesn’t matter to me. It’s your life. Selena seems like a tough chick. Tough enough to put up with your bullshit. And James is an awesome kid. A little competitive, but he’s cool.”
“You know you will always come first.”
“No, I won’t.” I sounded bitter and I didn’t mean to. “I won’t, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. Shane, you’re my brother, not my mother. You need to go get your own family now.”
“You are my family.”
“And I’m not going anywhere.”
“I know.”
I might be a gay guy, but that didn’t m
ean I like that heavy emotional bullshit. I preferred to remain oblivious. Pretend it wasn’t there and deal with it when I was alone. The sad truth was, Shane was right. I wanted him to be happy, I really did, but I was scared I was going to lose him. He was the only family I had left, and I couldn’t bear to lose him too. I just couldn’t. But it was inevitable. And it was exactly as it should be. I couldn’t ask him to put his life on hold for me. I wouldn’t. That wouldn’t be fair After everything he’d already given up for me, I could do this for him. I would do this for him.
“What do you think of James?”
“He’s a pretty cool kid. He thinks you walk on water. I’ve got no idea why.”
“’Cause he’s genius!”
“Nah, that’s definitely not it.”
“I just hang out with him. We do stuff. We play games and go to the football. We hang. I don’t think he’s ever had that.”
“He’s got a dad now.”
“I’m not his dad.” Even as Shane said the words I saw how much it hurt him to vocalise them. It might be the truth, but that didn’t mean it didn’t sting.
“Yeah, you are. In every way that counts, you’re his dad. That’s how he sees you. And what’s even better, you treat him like he’s your son.”
My phone beeped on the counter and I thought about getting up and grabbing it, but I was way too comfy. It could wait. Probably just some bullshit anyway. Someone calling in sick for work or something.
“You right if I take off?”
“Of course.”
“I wanna swing past my house and grab some stuff.”
“Start the move?”
“Might as well. I’m never there anyway. It’s where I want to be, so why wait? If nothing else, today showed me that. Even though it looks like the next five months of my life are going to be an effort in negotiating world peace.”
“What do you mean?”
“Selena versus her mother in the battle for the wedding.”
“Ah. Have fun with that.”
“Actually, I might keep my shit at the house. At least that way I’ve got somewhere to escape to if I need a safe house.”
Breaking Free (Meet the McIntyres Book 4) Page 10