She lets out a disgusted noise from the back of her throat. “Well, you know what? My existing grandchildren love my blankets, so I don’t care what you people say.”
“I’m just saying, it’s not fair that I don’t get a famous Patricia McKinley blanket just because I chose to not have children.” Patty crosses her arms over her chest and feigns offense. “I’d like a blanket of my own.”
“Or a scarf, at the very least,” Chelsea adds.
My eyes widen. “Oh, could you make a pair of slippers? I’d love?—”
“The three of you aren’t getting shit!” She pushes back her chair in a huff, and storms into the kitchen with her empty wine glass.
And the three of us howl with laughter, while Dad tries to stifle his.
I look around the room, and I imagine what it’d be like to have Presley and Chance here with me. Kathy would love Presley, and I can picture Chelsea bickering with Chance. Dad would talk about hockey while Mom doted on Alyssa and Avery.
I can see it so clearly.
I canfeelit. This time around feels different than it did in college. That was fun and carefree, but now? This feels like we could be at the start of building our future together.
I only hope they feel the same way.
Kathy nudges me with her elbow. “You happy, baby brother?”
“For the first time in a long time, I am.”
Sophomore Year of College
“Would you put your clothes on?”
Stephen grins and plants his hands on his hips. “What’s the matter, Kellerman? You getting turned on by the sight of my magnificent dick?”
I spin around and set down the to-go cup on his nightstand.
His dickismagnificent, but I’d never tell him that.
“Nothing wrong with admitting it,” he continues. “I’m secure enough in myself to tell you that you’ve got a nice cock too.”
I choke on my spit as my head whips around to glare at him over my shoulder. “Why are you looking at my cock?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Like I said, it’s nice. Nothing wrong with appreciating a nice cock when you see one.”
My skin heats. “Yeah, well, maybe you should keep those thoughts to yourself.”
“Why the fuck would I do that? You see something you like, then you should let them know. Life is too short to keep your feelings bottled up.”
“Just shut the fuck up and get dressed.”
But he doesn’t shut the fuck up.
Nor does he ever.
“You know, that’s your problem. You’re stuck inside your own head, always worrying about what people will think.”
I roll my eyes and pull on my jeans. “I don’t care what people think.”
We both know it’s a lie, but Stephen doesn’t call me out on it. “Another black coffee? You’ve had two today already. That shit’s bad for you.”
“It’s not coffee.”
He opens the lid on the cup and inhales. “This smells like hot chocolate.”