Page 56 of The Hang Up

I scrubbed my face. “I know you wouldn’t cheat on me. And I hope you know I would never—” I shook my head. God, I was a mess.

“I know. It wasn’t about that. Not really.”

“It’s the hiding,” I said, thinking about Vincent asking Brock if I was his dad. I wanted to kiss Brock. Claim him. Show everyone that he was with me.

“I hate that this beautiful woman gets to touch you, and I can’t and—” He covered his face.

I gently pulled his hands down and held them in mine. “I’m sorry, Brock,” I said, catching his gaze and letting him see how much he meant to me. “Please don’t leave me.”

His face softened. Then he glanced around, checking all the windows. Everyone was gone. Either home or to the bar. And then he turned to me, his eyes full of emotion. “I’m the one who should be sorry,” he said, and then he kissed me.

We drove separate cars to my place and then spent the night apologizing to each other while knowing we weren’t solving anything.

* * *

Mitch and Brockplanned the party and mostly told me to stay out of the way. I made sure the words REDEMPTION TOUR were not on the invite, but otherwise, I gave them free rein. It was late October, so that time between a way too hot fall and the chill of early winter. It was perfect. And it felt like an omen. Either things were going to be great, or take the good while you can because it wasn’t going to last.

Mitch seemed intent on inviting everyone we knew. I invited Victoria and her husband, but thankfully, they were unable to attend. My joy at that seemed to belie the theme for the night.

The house was decorated with a fall theme. Candles and lanterns around the room. The buffet table had fall flowers and small pumpkins. And it looked beautiful. Sean and Ben took charge of the drinks. I had a bar—of course, you do, was Brock’s response the first time he’d realized—so the kitchen area was there for Brock to make his magic happen. My staff was on hand to assist him, and the way he directed them reminded me of a symphony conductor. Brock had been in awe of Esmy as a kid, and now that seemed to be mutual. I’d worried she would be upset at having someone else in charge of her kitchen, but they worked seamlessly together.

I’d wanted to cater or let Esmy handle it all, but Brock had assured me this was the easiest way to explain him being at my place before and after the party. I hated that we had to explain it at all.

I played host, welcoming the guests as they arrived. Ben introduced me to his brother, Roan, who was Ben’s complete opposite with his pink spiked hair and freckles. It was only in the face that I could see the resemblance: his strong jaw and full lips. Matthew, Ben’s assistant and Roan’s roommate, had on jeans and a light sweater.

Ben watched as they headed over to the bar for drinks. “I want to apologize beforehand for anything that gets broken or said or—I don’t even know.”

I laughed and shook my head. “They’re so young. I don’t remember being that young. Selective memory, I guess.”

“You know they’re the same age as Sean, right?” Ben said. “Or close to.”

“True.”

“And Brock.”

“Ouch. You don’t hold back, do you?”

He shrugged. “I’ve been told I need to work on my people skills.”

“Ben?” I said when he started to follow them. “Thank you for…helping with Sean. I’m not sure he would have given me a chance.”

“I’m glad I could help.” He glanced over at where Sean, Matthew, and Roan were huddled together. Probably planning something. “Family is important. And you need to give yourself and him more credit.”

Before I could respond, more guests arrived. Regina and Angel. Angel brought a friend. A guy friend who barely spoke, and I wondered how Brock would feel about that.

“Let me guess. Brock is in the kitchen,” Nevaeh said when she arrived with her wife Missy and their two kids, both elementary school age.

“I tried to have it catered.”

“I can imagine how well that went over,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll go coax him out.”

After she left, Missy shook her head. “Now we’ll need someone to drag them both out.”

Thankfully, Esmy pushed them out to join the party, saying she could watch over things. As I made my rounds greeting everyone, my gaze went to Brock again and again. We were doing okay, but I was so tired of pretending. He caught me watching and smiled.

“Will you excuse me?” I said to Todd. He was telling me about plans he and Mitch had, probably so I wouldn’t mess them up, but I’d had trouble focusing. I walked over to Roan and Matthew, who were talking to Brock. Matthew had his hand on Roan’s back, and I wondered if they were a couple. They’d been close all evening, but they didn’t know everyone, so I might have been imagining it. But it wasn’t what was utmost in my mind. “Hey, guys.”

“Great party, Mr. Miller,” Matthew said, standing straighter.

---