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Randy cocked a brow as Harper lifted her loaf of bread threateningly at Deacon. “No way. They haven’t been asking that.”

Harper sighed and lowered her bread baseball bat. “Only now and then. They don’t care if you are. They’d be cool either way. It’s just that you never seem to be seeing anyone, period, and you know how they worry.”

“No, I don’t.” Randy started to laugh it off, then he caught the tightness around Deacon’s mouth.

“Lawless, maybe you should let the poor guy get all the way into the house before you start interrogating him.”

“First it’s the inquisition, now I’m interrogating. Fine. Whatever. I don’t care if you have a girlfriend, but I really wish you’d brought wine with the bread.”

Despite everything, Randy smiled. “You told me you didn’t need any.”

“I lied. So much lying.”

Randy fumbled for something to say. He should have prepared for this moment, dammit. It wasn’t surprising that his protective older sister wanted details about his relationship with Juliet. The parental bit was a little shocking, yes, but he supposed if he bent his brain a little he could see their point of view. Though why a lack of known relationships immediately translated into him possibly being gay, he wasn’t sure.

But you’re in a relationship with a guy, aren’t you?

Except it wasn’t like that. It wasn’t. They were focused on Juliet. And sure, they loved each other like brothers, but it wasn’t sexual.

He wasn’t sure his parents would see it that way, however.

The outside world might not either.

Hell, friends and family and everyone they knew might have questions. It wasn’t as if he could just drop that bombshell casually and move on. It would be a thing.

I’m involved with a woman and a guy, but the guy is just my best friend. We both have sex with her, but not with each other.

Right. That would raise as many questions as it answered, especially among those who would never have expected such a thing from him, a relatively conservative guy in a world of people who weren’t.

The sudden pounding of little feet down the hall followed by a jubilant “Unc!” meant salvation had arrived in the form of a tiny brunette with twin ponytails. Lex charged across the hall and crashed into Randy’s legs and held up her arms. “Up!”

Knowing his role, Randy passed the bag of stuff for Lex to Deacon and then hauled his niece up onto his hip. “Hey beautiful. Happy turkey day.”

“Turkey and stuffing and canberry and yucky green beans.”

Lex’s wrinkled nose made Randy laugh. “Cranberry,” he said, sounding out for her. “You forgot the pie. The pie is the important part.”

“Very important, since she already sneaked about ten cherries out of the bowl of them, didn’t you, little girl?” Deacon tugged on one of Lex’s pigtails and made her giggle.

“Mommy said I could.”

“Mommy says you can do just about anything.”

Harper rolled her eyes. “Not hardly. Lexi, tell your Uncle Randy that we need his help in the kitchen while Daddy pretends to watch the game, though he knows absolutely nothing about sports and just wants to get out of helping.”

Lex’s little mouth pursed. “Unc, we need help in the kitchen because Daddy doesn’t know…anything,” she finished finally, making her parents and Randy laugh.

“Wow, kid, you just knocked me down three pegs. Maybe five.” Deacon tugged her out of Randy’s arms and tipped her upside down, making her squeal with laughter. “C’mon, let’s go watch the game. You can school me on the ways of ball since you probably know more than I do.”

“Pfft,” Harper said as Deacon carted a still giggling Lex into the living room.

“She’ll be bored in a minute and he’ll dive into that bag of stuff you brought her,” Harper said. “You spoil that girl.”

“She deserves to be spoiled. I only have one niece, you know.”

Harper gave him a long, thoughtful look that made him quirk a brow, but she turned away and headed down the hall to the gigantic kitchen before he could bombard her with questions.

Not that he would. He was sensitive that way. No question deluges, no probing glances.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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