AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Kylie said that the kits I gave the swim team were really cool. She asked me to buy her one next time I’m in Riviera View, but I explained it was a popup booth and gave her mine.”
“That’s nice of you. You like her?” Finn forked his side salad, pretending the question was as casual as taking a bite.
Max took a moment to reply, and Finn noticed he blushed.
“She’s a year older than me, and Eli doesn’t always get along with her. Even if I asked her out, and even if she said yes, I don’t think Eli would like that.”
“It’s complicated.” He nodded sympathetically. He should know.
“Do you think I’m too young for her?”
“Hmm … Like you said, at your age, a year counts, but when you’re older, it won’t count as much.”
“Mom is two years older than you,” Max said with his mouth full.
“Yeah.” He didn’t really know what to say. He wanted to say that their age difference never played a part, but it sort of did, because if they had been closer at age, he might have known her before he got together with her. He might have known she was Jane’s cousin.
“Did you ever … you know, date someone who was your best friend’s sister?” Max asked.
“No.” But I married the love of my life’s cousin.
“How long did you and Mom date?” Max took a sip of orange juice.
“Not long.” They never told Max why they had married.
“You must have really been in love to marry fast.”
He just smiled, hoping the way his throat clogged didn’t show on his face.
“Did you have lots of girlfriends before Mom?”
“Not lots.” Maybe lots, but only one counted. He sipped his coffee to alleviate the desert in his throat.
“How come you don’t date anyone now?”
“I don’t know. Do you want me to?”
“Um … I don’t want you to, but I don’t don’t want you to, you know?”
Finn chuckled. “Yeah, I think I do.”
“I mean, if it’s someone nice, and she made you happy and all, then I don’t think I would mind.”
“That’s good to know. Same goes for your mother?” He suspected that Avery had been dating. He didn’t care, as long as she made sure any man she’d let near Max was good.
“Yeah. I mean, lots of kids in my class have half-siblings and all.” Max shrugged. “It might be weird at first, but then … you know, people get used to everything.”
How about half-siblings who are also second cousins?Is this something people can get used to?
“They do?” He smiled, looking at his clever, sensitive son, his heart melting.
“Yeah, like how we all got used to me living with you and seeing Mom on the weekends.”
“Is that bothering you?”
“No. I love living with you. I …” His cheeks reddened, and he hung his head.
“What?” Finn’s stomach flipped.
