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“What’re you gonna do?” Declan scoffs.
Pops moves toward him, and I have to hold Dexter back as the old man grips Declan’s arm. He’s not rough or aggressive, but he’s firm.
“He raised four kids,” I murmur in Dexter’s ear. “He’s a hard-ass, but you know he’s not abusive.”
Dexter swallows thickly and leans back into my chest.
“I’m going to teach you some goddamn respect if it kills me. And I’m old; it’s a legitimate possibility,” Pops says, guiding Declan over into the corner. “Stick your nose there.” He points to the corner. “When you’re ready to come out and treat the adults around you with some decency, then we’ll continue this conversation.”
Declan tries to shove around Pops, but the old man holds his own. He doesn’t shove or push back. He’s just a giant wall of old man.
“You’ve never had anyone give a shit about you,” Pops says. “I get it; that sucks. You want to hear a lesson I learned the hard way? Life isn’t fair. You got dealt a shit hand, but things are looking up. Don’t ruin it because you don’t trust a good thing.”
Dexter leans into my chest, blowing out a heavy breath. His hands are fisted like he’s physically holding himself back from going over there.
“Are you sure this is the right way to handle this?” he whispers.
“Not really,” I murmur in response. “Then again, my parents were a lot more lenient with my younger brother, and he ended up in juvie.”
Dexter nods. My eyes fly to Declan, who is standing in the corner with his nose to the wall. Pops stands directly behind him. Even though I know his legs ache when he stands for too long, he still stays right behind the boy letting him know he’s not alone.
I pull Dexter over to the couch, and he leans into my side as we watch the showdown between youth and old age.
“I can’t believe he was stuck with her while I was out touring the country,” Dexter murmurs, shaking his head.
“Did she ever reach out to you?”
“Fuck no,” he scoffs. “She dipped out to a different state before I turned seventeen. I worked two jobs in high school to keep that rat trap apartment so no one would know I was on my own. The only thing worse than being on my own was the possibility I’d get sent to foster care or a group home and have to leave Issac.”
“She left you alone when you were sixteen?” I ask, running a hand over his back.
“She was barely around as it was; it wasn’t like I missed her,” Dex says with a shrug. “Life got significantly better once she abandoned me.”
“Jesus Christ,” I whisper. My chest throbs with a painful ache. My life couldn’t have been more different growing up.
“I know it’s fucked up, but it’s really hard not to get high right about now,” Dexter says. His head hangs as it shakes.
“You need a meeting,” I tell him, tipping his chin up to mine. “And there’s nothing wrong with having cravings. It’s normal. What you can’t do is shut out the people who love you. Let us be here for you.”
“That includes you?”
“Yes,” I agree. My lips find his. It’s a light fluttering of a touch as his tongue brushes my lips, demanding entrance. My hand wraps around the back of his head as he melts into my side. Dexter is a fabulous kisser. He’s playful and sensual as he licks and bites. “You know I love you, right?”
Dex licks his lips blinking up at me from behind blond lashes.
“Yeah?” he asks. “I think I love you, too, Grandma.”
I groan. That fucking nickname will never die.
Dexter laughs.
“I lost my wife a few years ago,” Pops says, drawing my attention across the room. He’s hugging Declan, who is wiping a hand over his red face. “It seems we both could use some company. I’m getting lonely in my old age.”
Dexter looks up at me with his bottom lip poking out. “Okay, I guess the old fucker isn’t so bad.”
Epilogue
Baby Love McKinley
