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He makes it sound like they made the same decisions. They didn’t. Dad was twenty, and his girlfriend was eighteen when she got pregnant with me. She chose to go through with the pregnancy, but she intended to put me up for adoption. Dad offered to take care of me instead. He’s told me a hundred times or more that he never regretted that decision. Elliott was another accidental pregnancy. Once again, he stepped up and took on the role of sole parent without hesitation or reservation, and honestly, he’s an amazing dad.

As for Euan—he wanted to be a dad. He had a friend who didn’t want kids of her own but offered to be a surrogate. They went the IVF route.

“You and Euan have less in common,” Dad says.

“I like him, Dad, and he likes me. I don’t know if this is going to turn into anything serious, but it would be easier to see where things go if we know you’re okay with it.”

He puffs his cheeks out and stares off somewhere to his right. It’s evening in Hong Kong. Is it dark out already? Is he looking out his window at the city lights? One of the first things Dad did when he arrived was take a photo of Hong Kong out of the window of his temporary apartment. It looks amazing.

“I’ve got five months to get used to it,” he says eventually.

My heart sinks. “You don’t approve.”

“I didn’t say that. What I did say is that it’s odd, and it is going to take some getting used to. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy, Cam. Do you think Euan will make you happy?”

“Yes.”

“Long term?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe. I don’t have a crystal ball.”

“True. He’s got a son.”

“Uh, yeah, I know.”

“My point is, if things do get serious, being a stepdad is very different to taking care of your younger brother for six months.”

I take a breath. His comment should terrify me. Is that why he said it? It doesn’t. Peter is a great kid. “We’re a long way off stepdad territory, Dad.”

He smiles. “I know. But it’s something to think about. You can’t get into a relationship with a parent—however casual—without considering their child.”

“I know.”

“Do the boys know?”

“Not yet.”

“But you’ll tell them?”

I nod.

“They might be a tougher audience than I was.”

My jaw drops. “You think so?”

He laughs. “No. I think they’ll be excited at the prospect of getting to have more sleepovers.”

I laugh along with him. “Probably.”

“Do you have any more bombshells to drop on me?”

“Nope.”

“Then tell me everything you’ve been up to since we last talked. I want every detail.”

I grin. “Sure thing, as long as you tell me everything you’ve done.”

“Are you sure you want details of every boring meeting?”