Page 145 of What About Us

“Of course you need toast.” He winks at me. “How’s my boy?”

I sigh and sit at the table in the eat-in kitchen, bracing my chin in my hand. “Stubborn.”

Greg lets out a chuckle and gives the potatoes a stir in the cast-iron skillet.

“All of my kids are stubborn,” he says. “Are you two fighting?”

I lift a shoulder. “I don’t know what we are.”

Greg lifts an eyebrow and begins plating our food. “Maybe you should start at the beginning, and we’ll figure it out together.”

Why couldn’t my own mother have been this good?

I had Chris, but he had so much to deal with, given who he was married to, that I didn’t want to burden him with my problems.

I never had this kind of a relationship with a parent.

Greg sets my plate down, and I immediately salivate. “This smells so good.”

“Breakfast is my specialty. Go on, don’t let the potatoes get cold.”

I take a bite and moan. “I’m coming over every morning.”

He laughs and takes a bite of his own breakfast.

“How have you been feeling?”

He nods and waves me off. “I’m fine. We’ve got it all figured out again. That seems to happen every few months.”

“You scared us.”

“It wasn’t fun for me, either, but I’m grateful that you and Xander came so quickly to help me. Now, no more evading. What’s going on with you?”

“I think I screwed up.” I shove a bite of eggs in my mouth and chew while Greg watches me. “I’ve been anxious about Xander playing. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

“I understand that. None of us wants him hurt.”

I nod, but then I frown.

“It’s not just that.” I take a deep breath. “I love him. So much. I’ve loved him since I was a teenager.”

I take a sip of coffee, and Greg just waits. There’s no judgment on his face, no concern. Just patience and acceptance.

I love Greg too.

“Did you know that Xander used to stick up for me in high school? I was bullied really badly, and if he was ever around, he’d protect me.”

“That’s my boy,” Greg says. “That’s exactly what I raised him to do.”

I smile softly and nod. “You raised a whole bunch of really good people.”

He reaches over and covers my hand with his. “I know. They’re my favorite people.”

Who’s your favorite, Red?

Did I ever tell him?

Fuck, did I ever tell him?