Page 65 of Angel

The sudden image that came to mind made Bree snort.

Angel raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Kinda sounds like the start of a really twisted joke. Two gay kids and two special needs kids walk into a high school…”

Angel rolled her eyes at her. “Glad to see you found your sense of humor.”

Aaron looked to Cage. “Who’re Ollie and Scotty?”

“Your new cousins,” Cage told him. He gestured for everyone to come sit at the table. Bree pushed her chair up to her spot. “Scotty just turned seventeen. He has Downs and goes to the special education classes at the high school. Ollie is a foster kid Steel and Jenna are seeking adoption for. He’s also gay and was treated poorly because of it.”

Though Bree saw plenty of syrup already on his plate, Aaron picked up the bottle and poured even more onto his cut-up pancakes. “Are there a lot of kids here? I didn’t really know what to expect when I found out you were a member of a motorcycle club, but you guys don’t really seem that badass.”

Bree caught the look Angel and Cage exchanged, as well as the way Angel’s lips twitched.

“You met Steel last night,” Cage told his son. “He’s married to Jenna. They have three kids, Carter, Jordan, and Melanie. Carter is married to Lucy and they have a son, Drew. Jordan is mid-twenties and works in Philadelphia and Melanie is eighteen. She just started college. They recently took in Ollie.

“Then there’s Lucky?—”

Bree stopped Cage with a hand up before he could list the entire club. She knew from experience how daunting that could be. “I have a cheat sheet on my phone. I’ll get it for you.”

Aaron gave her an appreciative smile. “Thanks. I really hope there’s not a quiz at the end of the day.”

In spite of her earlier feelings, Bree felt herself smile back at him. “I’ve been where you are. But, you know, there’s no one more badass in this club then that man right there.” She pointed her fork at Cage. “He gave me a kidney when he didn’t even know me.”

Aaron’s jaw dropped. “What?”

The rest of breakfast was filled with laughter and astonishing stories as the tension in the room completely died away. Cage threw Bree the occasional wink, which assured her that she was in no way displaced by the new presence in their lives. Furthermore, Cage made it known that he was adopting Bree.

Angel was silent most of the meal but watching with a look of adoration as the man she loved got to know his long-lost son. Aaron told them about being on the football team and his plans to join the Army out of high school. At Cage’s aghast and heartbroken expression, Angel made a cheer and told Aaron that he’d chosen the “better” branch.

Hours passed before Bree realized it. She was just starting to think that, perhaps, having an older brother wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world…when Cage pulled out his phone to show her all the Pride Ally paraphernalia he’d already purchased.

“I got the rainbow socks. Even ordered a patch for my cut. Next time I’m in the shop, Angel’s going to tattoo ‘Pops’ on me in rainbow colors.”

Angel snorted. “I am, am I?”

“You are now,” Cage informed her.

Aaron dropped his face in his hand. “How is it that I haven’t even known you twenty-four-hours yet and somehow you’re already embarrassing me?”

“Trust me,” Cage said in a warning tone, “I haven’t even begun to embarrass you.” He clicked on his phone and then turned the screen around to show them. “This is the shirt I will wear on your first day of high school here.”

On his screen was a black t-shirt with a dinosaur graphic. A large outline of a t-rex was in white and he was fist-bumping a smaller t-rex that was colored with rainbow stripes. There was even a rainbow heart above their tapping fists. Underneath the dinosaurs were the words Papasaurus Rex.

Aaron’s jaw dropped as his cheeks flamed. “Oh God.”

Cage smiled wickedly. “I also got a book called The Joy of Gay Sex. I got a lot to learn before I can give you the birds and the bees talk.”

If possible, Aaron’s face flamed even redder.

Carlos had one of his deputies bring a camera to record Aaron’s interview. Angel took Bree out for a ride on the trike to give Aaron some privacy. Though Angel had offered to stay, Cage encouraged her to go. This was Bree’s last day of summer before she started school the next day. The original plan had been for the three of them to take the hogs out once more, so it was only Cage backing out that changed Bree’s day.

Aaron and Cage were sitting next to each other on the couch. Carlos pulled up a chair so he was in the video but not prominent.

“This is Sheriff Carlos Santiago of the Mount Grove Police Department in Mount Grove, Pennsylvania. Today is Tuesday, September 10, 2024, and it is 11:34 in the morning. I am interviewing Vasileios Georgiou and Aaron Banks, minor, age sixteen. Vasileios Georgiou is the suspected biological father of Aaron Banks. Cheeks swabs were taken this morning at 11:04 and are being submitted for a paternity test.

“Mr. Georgiou, please tell us in your own words why you believe that Aaron is your son.”

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