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“Catherine is, to put it nicely, a bitch.”
“That’s putting it nicely?”
“Trust me, it is.” He cleared his throat. “Just don’t get your hopes up, kid. Know that your story is yours, not the ones who gave you up. No matter what, you get to make a good life for yourself. If you need to see her in order to make your life better, do it. But don’t expect much of her being a part of your happy ending. She’s not built that way.”
I thanked him for his advice.
He scratched at his hair. “We aren’t like, hugging brothers, are we?”
“I mean, we could be if—”
“I don’t like hugs,” he cut in.
“Oh. Well, okay.”
He held his hand out toward me. “Handshake?”
I shook it. “Night, Damian.”
“Night, brother.”
That morning,I called Hailee to wish her a Merry Christmas. “I’ll be home in no time,” I told her.
“I’ll be waiting here,” she replied.
I woke up early, but clearly so did the rest of the household. Kids were screaming downstairs with excitement. Santa must’ve come that morning. As I collected my things to leave, I walked downstairs and came into the living room with three families dressed in matching pajama sets.
“Merry Christmas!” everyone shouted the moment they noticed me. Connor gave me a hug, Jax and Damian kept with their handshakes, and it felt oddly normal being in a household with strangers who made me feel like family.
I was, after all. I was their family.
“Nice pajamas,” I told Damian with a smirk. He was wearing a red set with reindeer all over it. Funny enough, I doubted that was his normal go-to attire.
“Don’t laugh too hard. This will be your future one day.”
Oddly enough, that didn’t freak me out.
“Did you hear from Catherine?” he asked, walking me to the front door.
“Yeah. I’m going to meet her for coffee before my flight.”
“Just be careful, all right?”
“Will do. Thanks for your hospitality. It’s been great meeting you and your whole family.”
He gave me another smile. “Stella wasn’t lying. I’ve always wanted a brother. You have my number now. Use it.”
“I will. It goes both ways.”
“When you’re back in Los Angeles filming, we’ll meet up again.” He took my hand for a shake and pulled me into a hug.
“I thought you didn’t do hugs?”
“Whatever. It’s Christmas.”
I thanked everyone for a final time before heading out to my car and driving to meet up with Catherine. My nerves were shot, and I wasn’t quite certain how to deal with the anxiety I’d been feeling. As I parked the car, I climbed out. Standing in front of the shop was a woman in a luxury coat and red bottom heels. She looked at me, and my stomach knotted up.
“Catherine?” I asked.
