Page 45 of Keeping it Real

“Makes sense.”Alek sat down next to Finn on the leather couch.“Got any more?”

Finn nodded.He pulled out a plastic baggie filled with lollipops.Alek chose one flavored with butter rum.They sat there quietly for several long moments, enjoying the candy, until Alek couldn’t stand it any longer.He needed to address the elephant in the room.

“Look, Finn,” he began.“About what Merriweather said?—”

“Is that why my mom and dad fought so much?”Finn interrupted.“Because she was mad that you are my dad?”

Christ.Jamie and Madison fought?Was Madison unhappy?

“My dad was my best friend.But I wouldn’t be mad if you were my real dad.I know my mom was your girlfriend once,” Finn continued.

Alek bit back a groan.“Who told you that?”

Finn shrugged.“Grown-ups always think kids aren’t listening.”

Alek was regretting poking the sleeping elephant.He draped his arm around Finn’s shoulders.“Your mom and I were over before she and your dad got married.”He couldn’t feel guilty about the lie.Not if it protected Finn.“She loved your dad more.”

It was the first time he’d admitted that part out loud.

“And they loved each other enough to make you,” he told Finn.Pushing the words past his tight throat was painful, but it was important the boy know that.He gave Finn’s shoulders a squeeze.“Jamie will always be your dad.”

The door flew open, and Sheridan sprinted in.

“Finn!”

She dropped to her knees in front of them and cupped her nephew’s face.

“Your color looks really good.”

“They had to use the Epi,” Finn told her.

“I heard you were very brave.”She brushed the hair back from his forehead.“Can you take a few deep breaths for me?”

Finn did as she asked.Alek wasn’t sure what she was listening for without a stethoscope, but she seemed to be satisfied because she gave Finn the most gorgeous smile.Alek would have done just about anything to have one of those pointed his way.

“You are a rock star.What do you say we go show off to the pediatrician?”

“Do I have to?”

She nodded.“You know the drill.”

Lori poked her head in the door.“There’s some leftover Halloween candy in the business office, Finn.Before you go, will you help a lady out and take some of the temptation away from me?”

Finn gave Sheridan a pleading look.She nodded.He was out the door in an instant.

“Jesus,” Alek groaned.“It’s like it never happened.”

“Yeah.It’s like that sometimes.”The gorgeous smile was long gone from her face.“He’s eight years old, Alek.He couldn’t keep up with a group of elite professional athletes even if he had a perfect set of lungs.How could you let this happen?”

He stood and dug his hands into his hips.“Whoa.That isnothow things went down.”Although now Alek was kicking himself for not keeping a closer eye on how much Finn had been exerting himself.

She tilted her chin up in challenge.“Then what brought on his attack?A pretty serious one if they had to bring out the Epi.”

Alek sighed.“If you must know, it was Merriweather.”Shit.She was going to be furious.And hurt.“He implied that Finn might not be Jamie’s son.Finn overheard him.”

Sheridan opened and closed her mouth several times, but no words came out.She dropped down into the spot on the couch where Finn had just been.

“Wh-what?”she croaked.