Page 80 of But For You

“Me? He’s the one with seagull dress shoes.”

“Jory!”

The doorbell rang.

“Maybe that’s his missing date.” Jude sounded hopeful. “Please, God, deliver us.”

“Oh, it’s not that bad,” Aja chided him.

We all looked at her, and Dane kissed her forehead.

Maybe Randall Erickson was a nice guy who was simply very nervous in the company of such a successful group of people. But he went to the bottom of my list when I emerged from the kitchen and saw my husband’s ex standing there.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Dr. Kevin Dwyer. He⁠—”

“Jory,” Kevin greeted me, smiling, and I didn’t miss the way his eyes swept by me, searching for my mate.

I was instantly pissed.

“You know Jory?” Randall asked, and he looked concerned.

“Not Jory. We have a mutual acquaintance.”

Breathe in, breathe out.

“Oh? Who’s that?” Aja wanted to know.

I cleared my throat. “He knows Sam.”

“Really?” Dane said like that was the most fascinating news ever.

“Really, really,” I muttered.

The mock cheerfulness was not lost on him.

“I see.” He nodded, his eyes meeting mine. “Shall we eat?”

“Yes.” I forced a smile for him.

I remembered, as I took a seat at the long table next to Jude, facing Rick, that before I’d had kids, I had been a follower. It was not a revelation; it had come quite some time before, but at times like the present, I could actually see changes in myself. In the past, I had looked to Dane or others to make me comfortable in stressful situations. I had relied on the physical presence of my brother to steer me to the table or talk to me over dinner. But I wasn’t that guy anymore. Yes, I still counted on my brother for the big-ticket items, like shelter so hit men couldn’t get me and my kids when my other half was missing, but I didn’t need him to direct my life anymore and make me feel better in my own skin. I didn’t need to call for backup anymore unless there was something external, like my kid was hurt and there had to be police or a lawyer. I wasn’t a child anymore; I had two of my own.

The meal was fine, nothing really memorable about it. The waitstaff was efficient and courteous. The chef must have been great because everyone remarked about how good the food was, and the wine, from Dane’s collection, was apparently a triumph. It all tasted fine to me, but nothing extraordinary. If Sam’s father had been there, making his world-famous bacon cheeseburgers, then there would have been something to gush about. As it was, I was ready to go home. Even though I loved my brother and his wife, I realized that us mixing socially just didn’t work. My idea of a sit-down dinner was Sunday night with Sam’s parents or the evenings I had with Dane and Aja and their kids. I was no longer a cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and a four-star meal kind of guy—if I ever had been.

When dinner was done, as the staff asked if the guests wanted coffee with their dessert, I stood up and walked to the end of the table and squatted down beside Dane’s chair.

“Yes?” His brows were furrowed.

“No, nothing, just”—my voice dropped low—“I’m worried about Kola, and my brain’s not here, and I was really douchey to Randall, and it’s not his fault. I normally make allowances for everyone, but I just wanna go.”

“Of course, I understand. Sunday, when you bring the kids back, we’ll have dinner just us somewhere,” he said, his hand dropping gently to my shoulder. “Are you sure you’re still up to taking them on Friday?”

“Oh, absolutely. You guys pack overnight clothes for them, and I’ll grab them after school.”

“Thank you,” Aja murmured, turning me to her as she took hold of my hand.

“Course,” I said, kissing her as I stood up before going around the table to Rick.

“Hey, where are you going?” Aubrey asked me.