Page 135 of Best Served Cold

“Absolutely,” Hannah says, giving Travis a wink.

Then Sophie squeezes my hand and releases it, and she follows Hannah and Ollie into the living room, to the left of the front foyer.

Travis tilts his head toward the kitchen, and I join him in there. He grips the edge of the kitchen island, leaning on it, his jaw tense.

“This is what that Lilah business was about,” I say, putting the pieces together. “The kid she had…he was yours.”

“I swear to God, I didn’t know,” he tells me. “She just…she fucking left him at my doorstep, Rob. Said it was my turn, as if I’d been avoiding my duty. She’s going to Australia for three months to follow her new boyfriend’s band while they’re on tour. She said it was my fault her marriage failed, so this was the least I could do for her. I don’t know what to do with a kid. I…” He runs his hands through his hair. “We play shows at night. The program is in the afternoon, and he’s too young, and school’s already started for the semester?—”

“You’ll get a nanny,” I say. “You can afford a nanny. You’ll work it out.”

I’m still in shock. The situation also burns a little, to be honest. I was a kid who got left behind, passed from one parent to the other. Used as fuel for arguments. That kid in there has got to feel worse than Travis does. But I know my buddy is nothing if not capable. He’s a stand-up guy who’s saved my life more than once. If he’s really this kid’s father, he’ll be a good one.

I say as much, and Travis clenches the island even harder, his entire body tensing. And then he lets go, relaxing his posture. He turns to me and claps me on the back. “I’m sorry about the show. I know this is a big day for Sophie.”

“It is. Which is why I’ve got to get back there.”

He looks a little panicked but nods. “Yeah, of course.”

“This’ll work itself out,” I promise, trying not to sound shell-shocked. “It’ll be good.”

“I don’t know how to be a father,” he mutters.

“You’ll do fine,” I say, because I want to believe it as much as he needs to. Maybe fatherhood is not the kind of thing anyone knows how to do, until they’re called upon to do it. Even then, some people don’t figure it out. My father was never much of one, and I know Travis’s dad wasn’t either.

“Thank you, brother.”

We walk out to the living room together, but Travis stops me just before we step into view. From our position in the foyer, we can see them, but they can’t see us. Something’s playing on the TV, and Hannah’s talking animatedly to the little boy, who’s grinning, while Sophie smiles at them.

“Holy shit, he’s smiling,” Travis mutters.

“From what Sophie said, Hannah raised her little brother,” I say. “She must be good with kids.”

“You think she’d stick around for an hour or two? Maybe help him get settled in?”

“No harm in asking.”

He does, and Hannah winks conspiratorially at the little boy. “Heck, yeah, I want to watch some toons with Ollie. You got any mac and cheese?”

“No,” Travis says, frowning slightly, possibly overcome by all the things he’s not prepared for.

“Well, they invented Instacart for a reason.”

“We should go,” I say, wrapping an arm around Sophie’s waist. “This is a big day for Sophie.”

“Yes, leave. We’re great here,” Hannah says, shooing us away.

Travis looks concerned that Sophie and I are leaving, but I give him a hug goodbye, pat him on the back, and then we’re on our way. Sophie leans into me, and I hug her tightly as we walk out to the car. Neither of us says anything until we’re inside.

I turn to her. “Ollie’s his kid. He didn’t know about him until a couple of hours ago.”

She shakes her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe it. You’re anuncle, Rob.”

A smile stretches across my face. “You think?”

“Yes,” she says, placing her hand on my thigh. “Travis is more your brother than Jonah ever was. And we’re going to be there for him. For both of them.”

“God, I really fucking love you.” I lean in and kiss her good—hoping the kid isn’t peeking through the curtains at us.

---