“Be nice.” Veronica grinned and headed toward Dallas, who was now talking to Brooklyn.
I gave Bryson a sideways glance. “Do I have something to be worried about?”
He shrugged. “Why do you ask?”
“She told you to be nice. Are you not nice?”
He waved a dismissive hand toward Veronica, who waved at him as if she knew he was about to talk about her. “Time has changed me. When Ronnie met me, I was a little quiet. But never mean.” He stared ahead. “My father wasn’t the type of man anyone would want to know, especially if you were his son.”
“Everyone keeps telling me that.”
“‘Cause it’s the truth. We’re good because of each other.”
I thought about his words and wondered if I’d ever get to the place whereIwas good because of them. My heart wanted the relationship, but years of being Kenya’s son had made an indelible mark on me. “I’m not used to all this family.”
Bryson lifted a brow. “And you’re with Dallas? Her family is huge.”
I chuckled. “It’s kind of complicated.”
“It doesn’t look that complicated to me. She’s here with you. And you haven’t let her out of your sight since you’ve been here.”
“Noticed that, huh?”
“Something tells me we’re alike in that way, me and you. We observe, learn everything we need to know while everyone else is talking.”
Bryson’s assessment was spot on. I’d rather observe than talk any day of the week. It’s one of the reasons I’d made it this long. “You would be correct.”
“Yep.” He clasped my shoulder. “I knew it.”
Parker walked over to us. “What do you know?”
“That some Wells genes are actually helpful,” Bryson said. “I have to check on the twins. They’re a little too quiet. I’m sure they’re tearing some shit up somewhere.”
“How’s it going?” Parker asked me. “Ready to run screaming yet?”
“Not at all.”
“It’s always hard to come into a situation like this. Veronica handled it with grace when she did it, and you have too.”
Curious, I asked, “How doyoufeel about this?” Up until now, Parker Jr. had been the big brother of the group, the first-born. “I’ve only been here for a couple of hours, but I can see you’re the leader of this family.”
“Honestly, I was a bit uneasy about this meeting. But now I welcome the opportunity to get to know you. It’ll be cool not to be the oldest.”
“I want you to know I’m not here for money.”
He frowned. “Oh, I know. Prescott-Hayes is a pretty successful company—and growing.”
I smiled. “Did your research?”
“Always. But I’ve spoken to everyone, and we all agreed you’re entitled to something.”
Shaking my head, I reiterated I didn’t want any money from them. “I’m not here for that. I just wanted to come here and meet you all.”
Parker and I talked a little about the business and he invited me back to Wellspring for a longer visit next month. Soon, Dallas and I said our goodbyes and started the three-hour drive back to Ann Arbor.
“Thanks for convincing me to come,” I told her.
She laughed. “It took a lot to get your stubborn ass in the car.”
