Page 77 of Structure of Love

Asshole:Apologize NOW. She’s doing the best she can.

Me:No, she isn’t.Neither are you. You both shoved Cooper at me because you don’t want to deal with your own child. Well, I’m done being his parent. Your wife owes me an apology for making me her son’s parent. You owe me an apology for failing to be a father to either of your children. Until I get that apology, you can both go to hell.

Asshole:I’m due back on shift, I can’t talk about this now. Just make up with your mother. I’ll be home soon.

“I’ll be home soon” was code for he didn’t want to deal with this shit, and he just wanted to get his wife off his back. I sent him back a string of emojis, flipping him off, then blocked the number.

Maybe blocking him was extreme, but you know what? I only had so much patience for that man. Me apologize? When I’d been used like a doormat my entire life by my family? Fuck no. I wasn’t doing it.

Blocking him should send the message I was done with this shit, and they should straighten themselves out. I was done being their therapist.

Asher sauntered into my office with his tablet in hand, mouth open to say something, but paused right inside the doorway. “Uh-oh, why do you have mad face on?”

I didn’t say anything, just handed him my phone.

Asher read through the text message, lips pursed in a whistle. “Damn. Logan’s so good for you. Look at you not taking this shit lying down anymore.”

“Logan has a lot to do with it,” I admitted. Then groaned. “Although I feel bad he’s straightening out my baggage.”

“We all got it, bro, don’t feel bad. If anything, when you tell him about this, he’ll be super proud.”

“For sure. I just…can’t. Y’know? I just don’t have it in me anymore to be the whipping boy. Every person in this family is supposedly an adult. They can damn well start acting like it.”

“Yup yup.” Asher handed my phone back. “I came in to help you with the design aspects of the new build, in case they start asking questions.”

“I’m all for it. Should we move to the conference room?”

“Sure, that’ll be more comfortable.” Asher’s eyes narrowed. “Before we do that, though, answer me this. You’re a month into dating Logan and have properly introduced him to our group. You seem to be living in the man’s pocket.”

I snorted. Yeah, that was a pretty accurate statement.

“You’re evenbottomingfor this guy, which is something I never thought I’d see you do.”

“Technically, you still haven’t seen me do that because exhibitionism is not my kink.”

Asher waved off my words. “Semantics. What I’m getting at is, do you like him so much you’d marry him?”

I felt a flush crawl right up my ears. Dammit, how did best friends justknowthese things? It was like he’d known me my entire life or something.

A slow, sly grin took over Asher’s face. “Woooow. You do!”

“Shut up. He’s perfect for me, all right? I’d be crazy to let that man go.”

“I absolutely agree with you, but I have to ask, how far have you fantasized? We talking wedding plans already?”

“You know I’m not big on pomp and ceremony, but…” I hesitated, not sure if I wanted to share, but I kind of wanted to show off, too. I pulled my personal tablet off its charging dock, opened the file, and showed Asher the first drawing rendition.

Asher took the tablet, all while wearing a confused expression. “That’s a nice-looking house, but…wait. Oh. My. God. You have not designed a house for you two!”

I chafed the back of my neck, feeling bashful. “Not, like, seriously. More doodles?”

Asher swiped through the images. “Doodles my ass, you’ve even got the duct lines marked out! Damn, dude, this house is legit. Game room, which can be converted over to a movie theater, huge dining room, sunroom off the back— Wait, this is a whole other building. Are you building him a garage?”

“He likes to tinker with cars and bikes sometimes.”

Asher’s eyes narrowed in deep suspicion. “Is this the architect’s version of a marriage proposal?”

“I haven’t known him long enough to propose.”