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Wyatt’s eyes burned. “I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t want that. My grandparents built you up to be this bogeyman and you’re not. Ramie told me about how my grandparents forced you to give up all your rights, and you did your best to move on. You’re as flawed as anyone else and that’s okay. But you are definitely a person I want in my life. Even if I’m not sure about calling you Dad just yet.”
Brand smiled warmly and circled to the side of the bed. Rested a firm hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “Call me anything you want except a cuss word.”
“Deal,” Wyatt said on a snort of laughter that hurt his already tender nose. “Ugh. Wish they’d give me the good drugs instead of super-strength ibuprofen.”
“I’ll try not to make you laugh anymore. At least until your nose heals.”
“Thanks.” Wyatt gazed at his father, and a pang of gratitude slammed into him. Gratitude that his gamble in coming here had paid off, that Brand was a great person he genuinely wanted to know, and that they’d all gotten through his insane ordeal alive and mostly well. “Thank you, honest. How, uh, do you want to go about telling people?”
“I’m not sure. Ramie knows because she was there when I read the report, and I told Jackson because I thought he should know, since he’s involved. For now, we can wait on telling my family until after you’ve had a chance to rest. Let’s deal with this whole Antonio Walters situation first before we subject you to my family’s scrutiny.”
“I like that idea.”
“What about telling your stepfather and grandparents?”
As much as Wyatt craved the satisfaction of telling his stepfather that this wasn’t a waste of time, and that his bio dad was a great guy after all, he had no energy to gloat right now. “I’ll wait on that, too. All I really want to do is sleep for a month.”
“I don’t blame you. After I got stabbed last year, the couch was my best friend for a long time.”
“I keep forgetting that happened to you.”
“Feels like a lifetime ago. And like you protected Ramie tonight, I was protecting Hugo. I wonder if hero complexes are hereditary?”
Wyatt grunted, which saved his sore nose from another amused snort. “Maybe. Brand, when I’m feeling better, I’d really like to talk to you about my mom. She never wanted to talk about her past, about my father. She didn’t bad-mouth you the way my grandparents did, but she just...didn’t say anything. I’d love your perspective on that time of your lives.”
“We can do that. I don’t hold any grudges against your mother. She was doing what her parents told her to do. I am just grateful we’ve gotten a chance to know each other.”
“Me too.”
“Hugo knows a bit about what happened tonight,” Brand said. “I didn’t need him panicking when I didn’t come home, but I didn’t tell him about us or the test results. I mean, he knows we took the test but...yeah.”
“Tell him,” Wyatt replied. “He’s your partner, he deserves to know.”
“Thank you. I’ll tell him in person tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
They’d sat together in silence for a while, until Jackson returned and took over. Wyatt told Brand to take Ramie home, that he’d be okay until he was released. Jackson stayed, no matter how many times Wyatt insinuated he should go home, too. That Wyatt would call a taxi or something when he was released. Jackson’s truck was outside the entrance ready to pick him up when the time came, and Wyatt relaxed into the familiar passenger seat.
Wyatt wasn’t surprised to find Brand asleep on the living room couch when they got back. A quick peek into Ramie’s room showed her snoring softly in her bed. Wyatt trudged into his own room and nearly fell face-first onto the mattress before remembering his nose. Breaking it again so soon was a terrible idea, so he eased onto his back on one side of the bed. Patted the other side so Jackson knew it was okay to stay.
“I could have lost you last night,” Jackson said. “As if I’d go anywhere.”
They curled together on top of the covers, facing each other, their hands tangled together beneath their chins. Existing in the quiet of the morning before others on the block began to wake and go about their days. Before more intrusive phone calls would inevitably begin. Before Wyatt had to face the entire Woods family as one of them and not just a rustler.
Wyatt dozed and woke with a dry throat and intense thirst, probably because he couldn’t breathe well through his nose right now. Jackson had rolled onto his back but one hand still rested possessively over Wyatt’s forearm. More than realizing what he could have lost if things had gone badly last night, he understood everything he’d gained since he’d been here in Weston. He loved Jackson more than he’d ever loved another human being. Even if Jackson didn’t love him back anymore, Wyatt would do his best to prove he was worth a second chance.
His chest was sore as hell from the seat belt and air bag collision, but he also really needed to pee so movement was necessary. The second he tried to roll to his side and to sit up, Jackson came awake with a start. “What’s wrong?” Jackson asked.
“Nothing’s wrong, I just need to pee. I’m a little stiff and not in the fun way.”
Jackson snorted. “I bet. Give me a second.” He wriggled around until he was sitting next to Wyatt and able to help Wyatt lever into an upright position. “Better?”
“Yeah. Fuck, I never thought driving into a wall would hurt so much. Not that I ever really gave it that much thought until last night, and that was a pretty last-minute decision.”
“Hopefully, you’ll never do it again. Come on, let’s get you up.”
“Yes, please.” Sitting up hurt like hell and made it a touch hard to breathe for a few seconds, but Wyatt managed. Jackson grasped his forearm and helped him stand. Wyatt wobbled a few times as he regained his balance, and then he was good. Jackson still followed him to the bedroom door and waited there while Wyatt did his business. Then Jackson took his turn.
