Page 112 of Alec’s Dream

“Yeah, that was cool.”

“Bud, I need you to look at me.” Alec waited for Caleb to stop fiddling with his backpack and his gaze to meet his before he continued. “There’s a lot going on. A lot of changes. I know everything is happening fast and its gonna take a while for all of us to settle in, but the one way to help that along is by talking about things that are weighing heavy on us. So I’m gonna ask you again, what’s going on?”

“My dad’s weekend is coming up. Do we have to go?”

“No. You and Aurora will not be going anywhere.”

“But—”

“Caleb, you expressed your concerns to your mom and she heard you.”

“Dad has a way of making mom do what he wants. I hear what he says to her. I know he’s mean to her then she gives in.”

The list of reasons why Alec wanted to beat the holy shit out of Spineless Dickhead Doug, he’d lost count. Caleb’s shock that Alec had followed through with a promise was one. The second one of the day was that Caleb was worried the man who was supposed to love and protect them would be mean to his mother.

Fucking dick.

“Your mom doesn’t give in, bud. She’s been trying her best to see the good in your dad so you and your sister can have a relationship with him. Your mom’s a strong woman, she also loves you and Rory so much she’ll take more crap than she should if it means you guys get what you need. But even before you talked to her, she’s been seeing some things she doesn’t like, things that are not healthy. You confirmed that. So now she’s doing what she needs to do to protect you and Rory.”

Caleb remained silent, but to the kid’s credit, he didn’t break eye contact.

“Do you think I’d allow your dad to hurt your mom? You? Rory?”

The boy shrugged his shoulders and Alec wanted to roar with anger. Fucking Doug taught his son not to trust.

“Fair enough. This is one of those things that’s gonna take time. Something you need to know about me, I do not make promises I cannot keep. Also when I make a promise I follow through—always. So when I tell you I promise to keep you, your sister, and your mom safe, you can believe that. But since you can’t trust me yet, you have to know your mom wouldn’t have moved in with the two of you if she didn’t trust me.”

“Is Mom your girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

Alec tried but failed to think back to a time where he’d referred to a woman as a girlfriend. He figured he had in high school, but couldn’t think of a single girl who’d held the title. It also wasn’t lost on him he was having this conversation with his woman’s twelve-year-old son who’d assumed the position of man of the house years ago.

“Good. She needs someone looking after her.”

His lips twitched at the boy’s comment, but he still needed to correct him.

“No, son, your mom can look after herself and the two of you just fine. She’s been doing a damn fine job of it. What your mom needs is a man to stand beside her, to love her, to show her how beautiful, smart, capable, and strong she is.”

“Isn’t that looking after her?”

Caleb Spencer was no fool.

“In a way, yes. But I want you to understand it’s my pleasure to look after all of you and I’m not stepping in because your mom can’t do it all on her own. I’m stepping in because I care about your mom. I care about you and Aurora. I want the three of you here, so we can start building a family, not because your mom needs someone to look after her, though, yes, I will be doing that, too.”

“Okay.”

“Now, you got anything else on your mind?”

“No.”

“Right. Before we go into the house so I can meet your grandparents and we can see where your mom’s at with dinner, I need one thing from you.”

“What’s that?”

Caleb’s expression turned funny and Alec didn’t like one fucking thing about it.

“I want you to think about something and if you can’t give it to me right now, I understand. But when something’s weighing on you and you need to talk, you come to me. I got all the time in the world for you. Even if you don’t wanna talk, you just need to throw a ball, go for a run, jump on a four-wheeler to clear your head, you come to me.”