“Miscommunication with my minions.” Mal shuffled his feet, turning in circles while he tried to figure out what to do. “Oh, geez.”
Gramps laughed. “You look just like my daddy did when he got caught doing some mischief.” His eyes narrowed as he studied Mal. “You actually look a lot like my daddy. What’s your name, son?”
“M…Malcolm.”
“Really? That was my daddy’s name.”
“Oh, geez. Oh, geez. Oh, geez. I have to go.” Mal stopped circling and ran for the festival exit. He tucked the slip of paper that Wally had given him away, then called his grandpa while he ran.
“About time you called,” David Reed said, deep voice rough. “It’s been two whole months. I thought you were dead in a ditch.”
“You thought I was dead in a ditch, but you didn’t bother trying to call me or at least alert the police?” Mal asked, offended despite the trouble he was about to bring to his grandpa.
“Eh, I’m old. Thought I’d see you soon enough in the afterlife.”
Mal rolled his eyes. All of his grandparents were in really good health considering their age.
“What’s happening? You called for a reason.” David sounded amused. “I’m still mad that you’re seeing that Benson boy. Next thing you know, you’ll be visiting Wilsons.”
“GrampsWilsontalkedtomeandsaidIlookedlikehisdad,” Mal said, words running together. “Oh, geez. Please don’t be mad at me. I avoided the Wilsons. I swear I did. He just popped out of a festival stall. Who does that? People shouldn’t sneak up on others. They need to respect boundaries and anonymity.”
“Not sure that’s something you have the right to say,” David said, sounding amused. “Considering all those pranks you play on the Wilsons.”
“Maybe this is a good thing.” Mal’s voice sounded desperate, even to his own ears. “You could finally talk to him. Explain everything. The Wilsons are good people, Grandpa. I promise. Plus, Cain bought a house here. In Hobson Hills. He wants to raise the baby with me.”
“Baby?” David’s voice turned cold. “Did that boy get you pregnant? He better want to help you raise the baby.”
“I’m an adult, Grandpa. Of course, we used protection.”Well, except for the first time, he reminded himself.Grandpa doesn’t need to know that. I’m practically thirty. I know what I’m doing. Feeling better, he continued. “The daughter of my heart is the one that’s pregnant. She wants me to adopt the baby.”
“That sweet girl you talk about all the time?” David sounded even angrier. “She’s a child. Who the hell got her in that situation?”
“She won’t say.” Mal felt slightly bad for using Bianca to turn the conversation away from his own confession. “I need to be here for her.”
“Of course, you do.” David sighed. “Maybe it is time to talk to Gerard Wilson. If you’re settling there with that Benson boy, then I better clear the air. You look just like that picture of my daddy. There’s no way he won’t put it together.”
Mal let out a large sigh of relief and scratched his itchy stomach. It had been bothering him all week. “Thank you, Grandpa. I’m sorry that it’s my fault you have to do this now.”
“It’s something I should have done a long time ago.” David sighed. “The way you talk about that family makes me want to get to know them. Though with all the trouble you cause them, they will probably disown you as soon as they know about you.”
“Worth it.” Mal shrugged and hopped into the truck. It was time to go home and make plans. But first, he would take a look at the house Cain had bought.
He drove to the address on the slip of paper Wally had given him, jaw dropping at the sight of the beautiful two-story home. It sat close to Mal’s favorite lake, the one Old Shakey’s bait shop served. It was a mix of stone and wood, with a wraparound porch and a large, attached garage. The yard was expansive and bordered one of the many state parks that Mal was allowed to forage in.
“Wow.” He walked around the house, peeking in the windows and admiring the sunroom. “Holy shit, this kitchen is huge. I can make so many videos.”
Mal could easily envision himself in this house with Cain by his side. They would be good parents, and he already knew Cain was the perfect partner in mischief-making. Plus, Mal could finally allow himself to say it and think it – he loved Cain. The alpha was his future.
The sun was sinkingbelow the trees by the time that Mal arrived back at his RV. All thoughts of Cain’s house and his grandpa’s upcoming call disappeared at the sight that awaited him. Bianca sat on the steps with Betty, trembling. Her knees were raised, and her head was pressed against them. Her long, brown hair fell in tangled knots, and her clothes were covered in dirt.
Mal hurried and knelt in front of her, panic pushing everything from his mind. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Are you hurt? Is Van okay?”
She slowly raised her head, and he flinched. Her face was bruised and bloody, eyes already swelling. “Mal,” she whispered, voice full of pain.
“Who did this?” he asked, hands shaking with the rage building inside him. He gently brushed her hair back from her face. “Who hurt you, Bianca?”
“Doesn’t matter.” She shuddered and fell against him. “He kicked Betty.”
The piglet stared up at him, seemingly completely undamaged, but concerned about her second favorite human.
