“You do not sound happy.”
“I am. I just… I don’t know. I don’t want to fuck it up,” he mumbled.
“Because you have no one to model being a father after,” I finished for him, my throat tight. “I am sorry, Levin.”
“It’s whatever. You’re… you’re not that bad.”
I wiped at my eyes.
“I mean, you were a cocksucker, but you’re not bad now.”
I laughed sadly at that. “I am still learning. For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you, son. You will make a great dad.”
“Thanks,” he murmured, his voice thick. “I want you to know, since you’re on the phone, that Cole Scott is losing his mind over this Rosalie stuff. Anson marrying her and all that.”
Levin did not know that Fox survived. I felt like shit lying to him, but I made a promise I intended to keep to Evan.
“I assumed.”
“I just think you should be careful. I’m friends with the horsemen, and if they find out I knew about this Rosalie stuff…” his voice trailed off. “I don’t want to cause problems for any of us. Dom and the horsemen get on really well for the business side of things. I don’t want a situation where we’re turning on our friends. That never ends well.”
“I understand,” I said gently. “If it gets out, you can say I lied to you, and you didn’t know. They’d believe that.”
He scoffed. “That’s true.”
I swallowed hard. I’d been such a terrible father. I wish I could outrun my past, but I vowed I’d face it and be better to my boys.
“We-We are trying for a baby,” I said softly.
“What?” Levin sounded shocked.
“Yes. I-I think Anson will beat Evan and I to it, but I didn’t want you to be in the dark about it should it happen.”
“Are you sure you want a kid?” he ventured.
“I am afraid, yes, but Rosalie has said on repeat she wants another, and so we agreed. I fear I will fuck it up as I did with you and Stefan.”
“We came out OK. Little damaged, but Vin says it gave me character.” He laughed softly.
I smiled at that. “I like the silver lining.”
“Vin is good at pointing it out.”
“He’s like his father.”
We were both quiet for another long moment.
“Well, I best be going,” I said. “I don’t want to keep you. Let me know if you need anything for Bianca and the baby. I will be here for you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“Talk later?”
“Yeah. Later. Bye, Dad.”
“Bye, Son. I love you.”
“I-I love you, too.”
