Page 120 of Feels Like Home

“Right. Boys, from my understanding, one boy made some comments and the other boy didn’t stand for it. The ending result was they used their fists. Preston? Aidan? Would you like to expand onthis?”

Oh, this is rich.Of course,his name isPreston.

I bite back the snort that’s threatening toescape.

“Nope,” Aidan says, full ofsmartass.

“Aidan,” Christine saysquietly.

He shakes his head at her, pleading with his eyes before mumbling, “Not worth it,Christine.”

“I think it is. Care to explain to us?” I ask him, this time my tone is softer, lessangry.

He looks over to me and sighs then looks over at Preston, who narrows his eyes at him, glaring the best he can. Aidan rolls hiseyes.

“He said some bad stuff. I didn’t like what he wassaying.”

“What do you mean, he said some bad stuff?” Amanda asks, disbelief that her boy could do something wrong lacing herwords.

“It was nothing, Mom. Nothing that he didn’t know already.Everybody—”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Beninterrupts.

Aidan’s knee is bouncing up and down until he drops his head and groans. When he gains the courage to speak again he looks at me, the dejected look in his eyes breaking my heart. “He called Heather a whore, and that she’d probably love him better because his name was Preston, and he called Dad a loser who couldn’t keep his wife, and Christine…” He closes his eyes and balls his fist. He stands up, pacing the small room as best hecan.

“Christine what?” I roar, not being able to hide my anger. I hear Ben grumble, scrubbing a hand down his face, and Christine’s gasp, but I want to know exactly what’s been said about Christine. He’s right about Heather. Not that it’s right to call a boy’s motherthat.

“A what?” I ask again when neither boy respond. I look to Preston, who’s shaking his head and glaring at Aidan. I stand up, bracing my hands on Aidan’s shoulders to get him to look atme.

Sad eyes meet mine, and I know whatever I’m about to hear is gonna piss me the hell off. “What was said,son?”

He swallows then looks right at Preston when he answers me. “That Christine was just some replacement whore, and she wouldn’t stick around either because she couldn’t love us, just like our own momcouldn’t.”

“Preston Michael!” Benroars.

“Oh please, like he said that,” Amandascoffs.

“Are you calling my son a liar?” Christine asks, standing from her place and making her way in front of Amanda at a shocking rate ofspeed.

I move to stand slightly in front of her so she doesn’t do something she’ll regret. And by the looks of things, she’s about ready to rip Amanda’s hairout.

IknowI shouldn’t be turned on rightnow.

Doesn’t mean I’mnot.

Pissed off Christine ishot.

“He’s not even your son!” Amanda says, voice a little scared but also full ofsnobbery.

Uhoh.

Wrong thing tosay.

Ben shifts in his seat so he’s leaning away from hiswife.

“Are you saying I can’t love him like he’s my own?” Christine’s voice is low and scary even to my ownears.

She takes a step towardAmanda.

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