Page 14 of Keeping it Real

He lunged toward his agent, but Collin was already out of his chair, reaching for Sheridan, who’d gone deathly white.She swayed on her heels before Collin steadied her.He gently led her to his empty chair and guided her down into it.Alek’s mum quickly uncapped a water bottle as she knelt by Sheridan’s side.The only action Alek seemed capable of was dragging both hands through his hair.It was either that or punch the filing cabinet.

Dammit to hell, Jamie.

“Trust me, I’d kick Jamie’s skinny ass if I could, but he’s not here,” Collin spoke quietly to Sheridan.“Don’t shoot the messenger.”He leveled a glare at Alek.“This can all be worked out in the courts.”

“I-I don’t understand,” Sheridan whispered.

Her aunt stood on one side, rubbing Sheridan’s shoulder, while his mum remained on the other side, gently stroking Sheridan’s arm.Alek felt an overwhelming urge to shove both women away and comfort Sheridan himself.

“He left you each a letter.”Collin dug back into the envelope and pulled out two folded sheets of paper.He held one out to Alek, but for some reason, Alek couldn’t make his arm move to reach for it.

“This is ridiculous,” he said.“This is some sick prank Jamie thought up after getting wasted when he realized fatherhood was for life.”

“Alek,” his mother chastised him.She rose to her feet and took the letter from Collin.

“You know my dad, Alek,” Collin insisted.“He wouldn’t have followed through with this if he didn’t think Jamie was of sound mind.”

His mum arched an eyebrow at him in question.When Alek still didn’t move, she unfolded the paper and cleared her throat.

“Ice-Berg,” she began.“If you’re reading this, then I guess I’m no longer here.I hope that you’ve finally answered my phone calls by now.I hope that you’ve forgiven Madison and me for falling in love.”

Alek rocked back on his heels as if Jamie had physically punched him.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen.”His mother’s voice cracked when she continued.“But I hope you’ve come around and can see how happy we are.Orwere, as the case may be.”

He swore under his breath when Aunt Eileen gasped out a sob before covering her mouth with her hand.He still couldn’t find the strength to pull the letter back from his mum, though.

Mum sucked in a breath.“I’ll bet you’re thinking this is some kind of messed up joke.Why would the guy you hate leave his kid for you to raise?I’ll tell you why.Because, even three days into fatherhood, I want the best for my son.And you, my friend, are the best.My dad barely managed to survive after my mother passed.I can’t leave Finn in his care.God knows if Ed will survive this.”

His mother paused for a moment as she glanced over at Sheridan.

“And leaving him for Sher to raise is out of the question.”

Sheridan slammed her lips together and wrapped her arms around her stomach.

“You were right,” his mum read on.“I’ve been taking advantage of my little sister’s tender heart all this time.It was selfish to depend on her to do everything for me.I should have forced her to live her own life years ago.”

“Amen,” Aunt Eileen murmured.

Alek couldn’t tear his eyes off Sheridan.Her normally expressive eyes had gone flat as if she’d mentally checked out of this conversation.He wished he possessed the ability to do that, too.

“So tag, you’re it, Ice-Berg,” Mum continued.“You’re the only dude I know who will be the perfect father and role model for my son.Even if we haven’t made up and you still hate me, you’d never take it out on Finn.I know you too well.Your honor is bigger than your bluster.You grew up in the perfect family, with a pair of great role models.”Mum’s voice cracked again.“Even if Finn turns out to be half the man you are, I know I’ve made the right choice.You probably won’t believe this, but I love you, man.”

Alek’s temple was beginning to throb.He dragged his gaze away from Sheridan, afraid of what she might see in his eyes.Anger.Confusion.And something else he couldn’t quite name.

His mother carefully folded the letter and tried to hand it back to Collin.The agent gestured for her to keep it.She glanced over at Alek before tucking it into her bag.

“Shall I read yours?”Sheridan’s aunt asked her.

Sheridan’s chin bobbed slightly.Her aunt heaved an anxious-sounding sigh, then began.

“If you’re reading this, you probably want to rip me a new one.But hear me out, Sher.A very wise man has been riding my ass for several years about how I take advantage of you.About how I let you pick up all the tasks Mom would have done when you should be out enjoying your teenage years.Well, that ends here.”

You picked a fine time to listen to me, you jackass, Alek thought.

“I know no one will love Finn like you will.Full stop,” Eileen continued reading.“Like me, he’ll be a better man for having you as his mama bear.But not if you haven’t taken the time to discover whoyouare first.You’re too young to be saddled with raising another Cobert hellion.”

Her aunt nodded vigorously as she read on.

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