Page 9 of Tangled Hearts

I backspace until all that remains is an empty box, the blinking cursor threatening to derail me. With a frustrated sigh, I toss the phone on the table beside me and roll to my side.

Chapter 4

Eli

As soon as I wake up, I can tell The Dads are already gone.

For one, the house always has a certain… empty feeling without them here, but also, Kassie is shoving her wet nose in my neck and they’re hard-asses and won’t let her on the bed with them.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her in close to me, burying my face in her thick fur. It doesn’t take long for her to start squirming. I’m not sure if she’s been out yet or not, so I force myself out of the warm blankets and stand up with a big stretch.

I slept so damn good last night. So good, in fact, that it almost slips my mind entirely that my whole family shifted last night. I almost roll my eyes at myself. It didn’t shift our family dynamics. I’m just a big baby with a fear of abandonment. My therapist would be proud of me for recognizing that one.

A note on the table by Beck’s side of the bed catches my eye, and I pick it up, reading over his scratchy handwriting.

Eli, Sorry we both left before you woke up. We figured you could use the extra sleep. Uncle Hold wants you to call him when you get some time today. Love you, kid. —Dad

I can’t help the smile on my face as I read over his words. They’re a note family. I guess it started when Roman was trying to win Beck back after they weren’t together for a few years, and then Beck proposed to Roman the same way. They like to pass them back and forth like we’re in high school or something. This could have easily been a text message, but I’m highkey glad it wasn’t. Now I get to add it to my box of notes from them that I’ve been saving since I was fourteen.

Iamgoing to be ignoring thecall Uncle Holdpart, though. At least for now. I’m not sure I’m ready to unpack all of that and work on figuring out why I had such a visceral reaction to the thought of being replaced after all these years.

Instead, I grab my phone and slide it into the pocket of my sweats before patting my thigh for Kassie to follow me. She jumps off the bed, running circles around my feet. She’s almost eight, but she still acts like a puppy most of the time. She follows me through the house and out the back door into the fenced-in backyard.

When she runs off to do her business, I sit down on the porch swing and check my messages.

Molly

Wanna meet Liam and me for coffee? Noon or so?

Uncle Hold

Give me a call. I’ve gotta talk to you.

My stomach does a flip. Nope. Won’t be calling Holden anytime soon. Thanks.

I fire off a text to Molly, letting her know I’ll be there, and usher Kassie back into the house so we can lock up and head home. I’ve gotta take a shower and get ready.

By the time I’m out of the shower and standing naked in the middle of my bedroom, I’m feeling a lot better about life. Sometimes we just need a good everything shower to get our minds right, you know? And there’s just something about using body scrub from head to toe and a good shave to make you feel like a new man.

It’s only 11:00 a.m., so I still have plenty of time before I need to make my way across town. I open the top drawer of my dresser and pull out my favorite pair of underwear. If I know anything about myself, it’s that I’m going to need an extra boost of confidence, and even if no one sees them—haha at that one, considering no one evenknowsI have this drawer filled with lace—I’ll know they’re there and feel good about myself.

The lace slides up my freshly shaved legs, and when I get them situated, I look down with a slight grin. Sure, my clothing choices tendto be all over the place—from dresses and skirts to a more sad emo boy aesthetic—but my lacy panties are probably my favorite item in my entire collection. Something about the way the lace cups my balls and cock makes me feel like I can take on the world. I’d probably be mortified if anyone ever found out, but hey, there’s no reason anyone will.

It’s not like I don’t have normal boring underwear too. I just… don’t prefer it if I can get away with wearing lace. And since no one sees me, I can always get away with it.

My phone rings, and without even thinking, I answer. “Hello.”

“Eli.” Fuck. Uncle Holden.

“Hey, Hold.”

There’s a pregnant pause on the line and then a sigh. “I need my little bestie in my corner right now.”

Ugh. He’s called me his little bestie since I was fifteen, and I’d probably ask him to stop if it didn’t fill me with so much fucking warmth every single time he says it. “Oh?” I question, trying to play dumb. I recognize how stupid that is. He knows Iknow.

Holden hums. “Yep. My brother—Nic, his name is Nic—is coming to dinner tonight. I called Ro, but he said he and Beck can’t make it tonight. You’re my last hope, kid.”

I snort, my heart feeling light. “I’m your last hope? Damn, your options arebleak.”