AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Wait, you can’t just stop there,” Alice said.
“You’ve been working on an app this whole time?” Lucas asked.
Dragan shrugged. “I taught myself programming in high school, took a couple classes at community college before needing to work more at Will’s. I kept it up on the side, and Archer’s been helping me, finishing it up.”
“So, the profits would be split between you guys?” Leon looked between them. “How much do you think it’ll sell for?”
Archer glanced at Dragan, his shoulders stiffening. Dragan took another sip of his drink. If he said too much, and it got to the wrong hands…
“Enough to make life a little easier, but nothing crazy. And it doesn’t matter — all of you Carter’s are going to school.”
Leon scoffed and Cas stared at the coffee table. Kasia and Alice gave each other an uneasy look, Grandma getting the translation from his mom.
“School isn’t the only answer, you know,” Leon said.
“Obviously I know, but it sure as hell opens a lot more doors.”
“Just because you didn’t go doesn’t mean we have to.”
“I just want things to be better for you, why can’t you see that?” Dragan sighed, Leon tensing as they quarreled.
“You’re not our dad.” It came as a mumble, but Leon didn’t break his glare.
The room was eerily silent, tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. It hang in the air, the family avoiding looking at each other. Dragan took a deep breath. The last thing he needed — any of them needed — was for him to fly off the handle. They’d had enough of that when his dad stopped by last night.
Archer cleared his throat. “Hey, I wish I had an older brother that looked out for me. There’s no replacement for family.”
Adrianna translated to Zofia, and Zofia said something in Polish.
“When they’re as good as the ones we’ve got, we better hold on,” Nadia translated. Her voice was soft, and she stared into space while nursing her wine.
Leon rolled his eyes but didn’t push back, instead downing his drink.
“So,” Dragan said. “Is everyone still okay with June coming for dinner tomorrow night?”
Anything to make things normal. Even when his dad wasn’t around, his presence lingered for a few days. This time was no different, and every time Leon was worse after.
“That still going on?” Arch asked Dragan, his smile knowing.
“Dragan’s new giiiirlfriend,” Alice sing-songed. It made everyone laugh, cutting the tension a bit. Hell, Dragan could stand to be the butt of a bunch of jokes if it meant mending some of the fractures in their family.
Archer’s mouth was wide-open, playing along. “No, shit! Finally, Jesus Christ.” He burst out laughing. “How long have I been telling you to make a move?” He jostled Cas, who was sitting beside him, with his shoulder. “You’re brother is the biggest bag of bricks, can’t see what’s right in front of him. When did it start?”
“Um, kind of recently,” Dragan shifted. He’d rather the jokes than the sincere questions; he didn’t want to have to lie. “We’re going slow.”
Archer’s smile was genuine and he raised his glass. “I’m happy for you, man. Seriously.”
“To Dragan finally getting someone who’ll put up with him!” Alice cheered.
They all raised their glasses as the door off of the kitchen opened, Chief running in for pets and Michael and Lucas laughing.
Dragan raised his glass and finished off the drink. He didn’t know how he’d tell them when the thing with June ended. He had known they’d be happy for him — hell, his grandma had said enough times she loved June and couldn’t wait for great-grandkids — but he could never have guessed they’d be this happy. Tomasz had said something about doing their family proud, and Dragan realized they’d hung a lot of hope on him. His dad had been shit, and it was up to him to redeem everything James had lost.
His family continued with light conversation, laughing and drinking in the firelight as Archer and Kasia stood to get the delivered pizza from the front. The amounting pressure of all he was meant to accomplish was feeling more and more like a noose, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold it all together.
22
June looked in the mirror. She fluffed her hair, hoping the curls wouldn’t fall since it took almost an hour to get them. Reapplying her lipstick and re-powdering her face, she was more excited than she expected to be. She smoothed her high-waisted satin pants, turning to make sure they did, in fact, make her ass look good. They were a deep purple, like the skin of a plum. The sparkly black bustier was tempered by a boyfriend blazer, and she slipped her heeled Mary Janes onto her finger.
