“Hey.” I slid onto a bar stool next to Dex. “I hate that you two can’t talk about this.”
Blake leaned against the counter. “It’s really tired, Duke.”
Duke frowned. “So does he. Man, I’m sick of this shit. He comes into town and acts like he doesn’t have to address anything. Mom and Dad go all out when he gets here, then he leaves without a word.”
“Okay, but what does that have to do with you?” I asked. “He’s not hurting you. Just let Tristan do him. And you continue to do you.”
“You know better,” Blake added. “So do better.”
Dex drummed his fingers on the bar top. “Bottom line, Tristan has to work through his shit. We know that. But you don’t have to make it your problem.”
“Exactly,” I agreed. “Just love him and be there for him when he finally needs us.”
Duke dropped his head. “You’re right. I’m just trippin’. I’ll shut my ass up.”
“Good.” Blake looked at me. “So, Dallas…you and Preston hanging out when there’s no Color of Law event?”
I shot her a sidelong glance. “It’s complicated,” I said with a shrug. “But, yes. We’re friends.”
“Notsortafriends?” Duke asked.
Preston and I had surpassed that sometime between the hot counter sex and that softball game. “No, we’re friends.”
Dex smirked. “That it?”
At this point, I was unwilling to admit anything more—to them or myself. “That’s it,” I repeated. “He’s going through something, and I wanted to be there for him.”
Blake sipped on the glass of cognac Duke had just poured her. “Is he okay?”
I didn’t particularly want to discuss Preston’s issues with my siblings, but I knew they’d keep my confidence, so I told some of what I knew about the paternity issue. “Brooklyn called him today with the results.”
Blake’s mouth hung open. “Whoa! That’s a lot.” Her brows furrowed. “But it makes sense. I knew he was too fine to be true. Those Wells brothers… Just hot for no good reason. Preston fits in perfectly.”
I cracked up. “You’re a nut.”
“Seriously, though, they’ll welcome him in.”
I hoped she was right. It was totally different to meet a friend of a friend than meeting a long-lost sibling. The Wells family had already been there, done that when they’d discovered Veronica was their sister from another of their father’s affairs. “Let’s hope for the best.” I stood. “I’d better get out there before Mom and Dad ask him too many questions.”
I left my siblings in the basement and made my way back outside. When I stepped onto the deck, Preston was playing chess with my father. I leaned against the door and watched him. He was comfortable, engaged. And I was…smitten?
I inched toward them, placing my hand on Preston’s shoulder. “All good out here?” I asked.
Preston peered up at me and nodded, before turning his attention back to the board.
Dad grinned. “I think Preston is miles better at this game than his softball game.”
Laughing, I said, “That’s a good thing, right?”
“I can see I’ll never live this down,” Preston said. “I might need to practice so I can redeem myself.”
My father shook his head. “Son, sometimes it’s better to let it go.”
Later,Preston walked me to my door. “Thanks for coming over,” I told him.
“Thanks for helping me forget.”
“Did you really forget?”
