Page 163 of Unexpected Redemption

“You don’t have anything to apologize for, Sue,” Tomer offers, giving her the free pass she so desperately craves. Sweet child.

She inhales deeply, expelling it in a gentle stream. “Thank you for welcoming me to the team. And for never once making me feel like I didn’t belong at Redleg. You showed me the grace and kindness that I wish everyone had always shown you. I’m sorry for not putting a stop to it like Mia and Lettie did. That was my bad. In my defense, I hate interacting with most people.” Her cheeks grow ruddy.

“Don’t worry about it, Sue,” Tomer tells her in earnest. “You’ve been a good friend to me.”

Her face brightens, and her shoulders roll back. “We’re friends?”

After a soft chuckle, Tomer says, “Yeah. We are.”

“Cool,” she says, nodding emphatically for a beat before shuffling out of the way. As she passes Tomer, she gives him an awkward pat on the shoulder instead of a hug like the others have done.

“Hey, did someone say my name?” Mia’s voice rings out, melodic and flowy.

She and Klein are hustling down the hallway, holding hands.

“Sorry we’re late. Mom had a little issue,” Klein says with a hint of shyness.

“She okay?” Leo asks, voicing everyone’s concerns.

Klein nods appreciatively. “Yeah. She’s fine now.”

“This is crazy, you guys. Enough already,” Tomer groans. “Klein and Mia didn’t need to make a special trip back here for this. The signs were enough. Why are you making a spectacle?”

“Because you’re fucking worth it,” Mia says with a vehement nod. Jumping to the front of the line, she plants herself in Tomer’s path. “Now, stand here and listen to all the good shit everyone has to say about you, or I’ll fuck up your credit like I’m gonna do to Shep.”

Tomer’s cheeks burn a brighter shade of crimson than Mia’s hair.Hell’s bells,even his nose and ears are rosy. It’s obvious there’s another objection on the tip of his tongue, but Mia sharpens her glare, cutting off his words before they pass his lips.

I like hersoflipping much.

Tomer’s shoulders slump forward, and he makes a show of trying to shake off the praise.

Unwilling to let him escape this, Mia slides behind him, gripping his arms to hold him in place. “Go, Klein. You’re up. I don’t know how long I can hold him.”

As jovial as the first night I met him, Klein saunters up with a cheesy grin splayed across his face. “T, you’re the fucking best of us. You’re smart as hell, steady, and loyal. You deserved better than what I gave you in return. Especially after everything you’ve taught me. I’m sorry. I love you, man.” He opens his arms, canting his head to one side. “Bring it in, buddy.”

Giving his eyes a scenic tour of the inside of his head, Tomer rolls them with a flourish. With obvious reluctance, he accepts the proffered embrace.

When Klein moves aside, Leo comes forward, his enormous frame blocking the entire hallway. Much like the others, his words are sincere. I watch from the sideline, tears raining in rivulets.

“We’re a family, and collectively, we’ve let you down. Even still, you never failed us. Through all the pranks and dumb jokes, you’ve been our rock. Saving our asses and supporting us. You’ve never wavered from that. Recently, two smart, caring ladies told me that you might not realize our teasing was simply well-meaning ball-busting, like we do to each other.” Leo pauses, his gaze bouncing from Mia to me before landing on Tomer’s misty eyes. “I want you to know we never intended to hurt you. And I recognize now, more than ever, that jokes aren’t just playful jabs if the receiving party doesn’t know it’s all in fun. It was stupid as hell for me not to notice it bothered you.”

With a grin tugging up one cheek, Tomer quips, “Maybe you’ve got a touch of the ’tism too.”

Leo beams at Tomer as chuckles dance around the hallway.

The giant presses his gargantuan paw against Tomer’s upper chest, an inch above his heart. “You’re the rock of Redleg. And we won’t ever let you forget that.”

Tomer encircles Leo’s wrist, pulsing it twice before lowering it off his chest. For a moment, he struggles to speak, overcome with emotions.

My sweet man.

Finally, he says the only word he can manage to grit out. “Thanks.”

Simple. To the point.

Entirely Tomer.

As the giant backs away, only one man remains. My father.

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