Page 23 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

“You can’t meet him.” Jake stands taller, assuming his bossy oldest brother pose. “Don’t give him the satisfaction. I know you guys had a different relationship than the rest of us, closer or whatever, but he doesn’t deserve to see you. He’ll lie. Infect you with some bullshit. Try to make you feel bad for him, or ask for help with something in his fucking book to make him look better. So tell the asshole to fuck off, then block his number.”

“That.” E hooks his thumb to Jake, nodding his agreement.

Des curls his lip. “Or we could trace the number, find his house, and blow it up.”

“What are we blowing up?” Mom walks in with Sadie and Delilah, the three of them eyeing us with concern.

The rest of us trade here-we-go looks, hating when we have to blindside Mom with unexpected news. She’s dealt with ten lifetimes of heartache.

As expected, Jake steps forward. The leader of our ramshackle platoon. “Dad texted Lennon and wants to meet with him.”

“What? Why?” She clutches her chest, eyes darting to me. “What could he possibly want?”

I chew the inside of my cheek, hating how tired Mom looks. Her gray-streaked brown hair is long and loose. She’s wearing makeup and a cheerful pink top, but there’s no missing the darker circles under her eyes, the sag in her shoulders.

Maybe we should blow up Dad’s house.

“I don’t know what he wants,” I say. “He asked to meet. Said he has something he wants to discuss. With the timing of the early copies of his book being out, I’d guess it has to do with that.”

“Hasn’t that man done enough?” Sadie is breathing hard, her skin mottled. “Why can’t he leave you all alone?” She looks to Desmond, worry plain on her face.

He instantly softens and opens his arms for her. She hurries to his side, wrapping herself around him.

“Don’t worry,” Cal says gently. “Lennon’s not going. Jake told him to block the number.”

Mom’s face tightens, her attention moving from Desmond and Sadie, to Jake’s stern stoicism, to E now tucked close with Delilah, to Cal’s patient head tilt.

The lines around her mouth soften. “What Lennon does or doesn’t do isn’t our choice.” Her eyes settle on me, filled with compassion. “You had a close relationship with your father. As far as I know, you never confronted him, told him how much his deception hurt you. You certainly didn’t forgive him.”

Des growls, and Mom shoots him a look. He glares at us both, then folds in closer to Sadie, their heads bent in quiet conversation.

Mom sits on the end of my divan-chaise-longue-whatever and launches another series of mind-your-own-business looks at my remaining brothers until they give us space.

“You need to do what’s right for you,” she tells me gently. “Your father’s betrayal was brutal and deep and left scars on us all. If you need to meet him for whatever reason, I’ll support you and your decision. The price of closure can be steep, but the price of avoidance is steeper.”

I don’t know if closure is possible with that man, but I’m still having Dad memories—good flashes that remind me how much I loved him before. But also how much he hurt us after. Maybe confronting him about it all will break that cycle and let me get on with my life. Or it’ll make me feel worse.

“I’ll think about it,” I tell Mom.

She nods and pats my shin, then gets up and faces our broody clan. “I don’t want any of you pestering Lennon about those texts. If he has something to share with us, he’ll share when he’s ready.”

My brothers stare at me and give their heads minuscule no-fucking-way shakes. Except E, who mouths Nope. I huff out a strained laugh. My family’s impossible, but yeah. They won’t leave this alone because they’re worried about me, which is fine. I’ll do what I need to do, whenever I figure out what that is, and deal with them after.

“On to more pressing matters.” Mom stands taller. “The publisher of your father’s book emailed me and asked if we want to read it early, while also subtly suggesting we could add a quote for the final print, if any of us feels inclined.”

“Oh, I’ll add a quote.” Desmond’s back to fuming. “Raymond S. Bower is a lying piece-of-shit asshole who doesn’t deserve to make money off our misery.”

Jake’s cheekbones sharpen. “How about, Raymond S. Bower is a low-life traitor who ruins lives?”

The conversation devolves quickly, swears tossed around, one-liners shot out, getting kind of funny as they go. In the end, they agree Mom alone will read the book first. She’ll prepare us for any shocking reveals. Then they’re back to calling Dad names and grumbling about his stupid book.

Still stuck on his text and not knowing what to do, I head to the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water. Midsip, Callahan corners me, but I’m tired of discussing Dad. Since there’s only one way to get Cal off my case, I say, “I saw Jolene.”

He clamps his mouth shut.

“She owns a new bar in town,” I go on, poking his apparent weak spot. “Cool place called the Barrel House. Being your former best friend, she asked about you, said she passed her number to you through E, but you haven’t called her.”

“Right, yeah.” He scuffs his toe over the hardwood floor and rubs the back of his neck. When his gaze slides to mine, there’s tension there. “How is she? Doing well?”