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Stacking the boxes, Justin nodded. “I’ve made arrangements with his foster parents to spend some extra time with him. He seemed excited that I was picking him up.”
“No wonder. He idolizes you.” Stan grinned. “Have you told him yet?”
Justin shook his head. “I didn’t think it would be fair to tell him before all the papers were signed, just in case something changes between now and then. If all goes well, he’ll be mine next Monday.”
Stan nodded as if he understood. And as the man had adopted Stephen, perhaps he did.
“I kept worrying that something would go wrong, that no one was just going to give me a kid as great as Stephen to love forever. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I could tuck him in that first night, knowing he was mine and we were his.”
Yeah, that pretty much summed up how Justin felt. Like he was holding his breath.
He’d managed to turn his spare room into a decent boy’s bedroom. Soon he and Kyle could go house-hunting and the kid could help him pick out their new home. Justin already had an agent looking, but so far nothing had appealed.
Because nothing had a magical back yard.
Ugh.
He had to get past everything to do with Riley.
“What’s up with you and Riley?”
Turning toward his friend, Justin grimaced. “Not you, too?”
Sta
n laughed. “Kyle grilling you?”
Justin nodded and took a sip of his water.
“That kid is crazy about her and Daisy.”
There was that...
Stan gave him a brotherly slap on the arm. “Maybe you should just marry her and keep her around permanently.”
Justin choked on the drink he’d just taken and coughed to clear his throat. “That’s not happening.”
Stan looked disappointed. “Too bad. I thought you made a good couple. Is that why she’s not here?”
“You have it wrong. She’s the one who won’t commit. Not me.”
Not him. He wanted a committed relationship with Riley. Had wanted. Because he was past that now. Now he just wanted to give Kyle a wonderful life. Not to be with someone who shut him out with their first fight.
Wrong. She’d shut him out from the beginning. He’d just been too foolish to accept it.
Stan appeared shocked. “I’ve seen how she looks at you. She’s in love with you. I’d bet money on it.”
Justin’s chest tightened at his friend’s observation. “You’ve got that wrong, too, pal. That was lust in her eyes, not love.”
“Maybe...but she sure fooled me.” Stan looped his thumbs into his pockets. “I take it you’re not together anymore?”
Justin shook his head.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“It was inevitable.” Riley had never wanted anything long-term.
“Again, I’m surprised. You two were much better suited than you and Ashley ever were. You never meshed.”
