Page 25

CHAPTER 25

One Month Later

Today was the day. Michael was seeing the house for the first time and she was more nervous than Jayce. At least, he didn’t look nervous standing next to her.

“Are we sure this is a good idea?” she asked for what was probably the millionth time.

“The bedroom or the living together?” Jayce asked but didn’t give her time to answer before he spoke again. “Because yes to both. He’s going to love his room. You already ran some of the ideas past him and everything else he told you to do as you please. And the living together? We’ve had this discussion. Plenty of times. Michael has said repeatedly he’s fine with it. Don’t you believe him?”

She chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Of course I believe him but it’s a lot of change in a month. And sure, he’s seen us together but that’s always when we go out as a group of four. Never just the two of us.”

And honestly, they kept things PG in front of her brother and nephew. Yes, they held hands, and yes, they kissed but it wasn’t like when they were inside the house. Jayce was a thousand times more handsy and playful when they were alone.

“Michael will be fine. He’s a teenage boy and he just wants us to be happy together.”

“Knock, knock.”

Oh God. Her time was up. Michael was here.

They all agreed that Shaun would drop Michael off; that this time was just meant for the three of them. Shaun felt Michael and Jayce deserved that alone time together without him interfering.

Plus, she was almost positive her brother was seeing someone even if he refused to admit it.

“In the kitchen!” Jayce hollered back.

“Oh good, I’m not interrupting anything,” Michael said as soon as he walked in.

“See?” She slapped Jayce on the chest but he only laughed.

“The boy is teasing you.”

“Yeah, Aunt Kennedy. I’m just playin’. I’m happy Dad has you. It’s better than meeting some other strange chick.”

That did not make her feel better one bit, but the smile on her nephew’s face did. It was the same smile Jayce now wore more often than not.

“Gee thanks. You ready to see your room?”

“Yup.”

She had no idea why she was so nervous about this. Michael was going to love it. They expanded the closet so instead of dressers in the room, there were built-ins inside the closet. The queen-size bed took up one of the walls and there was a basketball hoop directly across from it so Michael could practice his shots any time he wanted from the comfort of his bed.

A decent-size gaming desk and chair sat against another wall. Sports posters of all of Michael’s favorite players gave the room the teenage vibe she knew her nephew would love.

“So, what do you think?” she hesitantly asked as soon as they got upstairs and hooked a left.

Michael looked around the room in awe. He smiled when he noticed his favorite basketball player’s poster hung on the wall.

“It’s perfect, Aunt Kennedy. Just like I knew it would be.” Michael pulled her into a big hug. Her nephew already towered over her and wasn’t even done growing yet.

“You sure? Because you can change anything you want.”

“He said it’s perfect.” Jayce yanked her out of Michael’s arms and into his own. “I told you you’re overthinking this.”

“I just want him to be comfortable when he comes to visit us,” she grumbled but looked Michael in the eye when she said it.

Jayce might be acting cool and collected, but she knew from their discussion earlier in the day that he wanted this to work just as much as she did. They just expressed it differently.

“Aunt Kennedy, I would be comfortable sleeping on the couch as long as I was spending time with Dad.”

Because she was still in Jayce’s arms, she felt more than heard the hitch in Jayce’s breath. She figured she was right as Jayce spoke. “Come here, son.” There was so much emotion in those three little words.

Michael joined their three-way hug and Kennedy soaked up the happiness radiating from everyone. This was an excellent start to their future.

“Okay, enough mushy stuff. I’m hungry.”

And just like that the moment was gone but not ruined. Michael was a growing boy after all and it was important they fed him. But dinner was just the start of what would be an amazing weekend watching father and son bond.