Page 59 of A Wrench in the Plan
“Away,” he parroted, stressing the word the same as he had before. “Anyway. Iron seems to think that Dade’s my dad. And I can see myself in the image I saw. It’s freaky. Yeah, I for sure need time to deal with that.”
“Wait, that means…” Knowing Dade was no longer with us, I stopped myself from saying it. “I’m so sorry.”
“It is what it is.”
“But you have an aunt!” I said in an excited whisper.
“Iron said the same thing. It’s weird that I know her but had no clue that she could be… related.”
“Think of how weird it’s going to be for her.” Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say. “Actually, I’m sure she’ll be happy. I think she really loved her brother, and it might bring her some hope to know that there’s a part of him that lives on.”
“Maybe,” he said like he was half lost in his head. “I’m sure I’ll need you later when I deal with it. But I’m glad I told you. I hadn’t realized that I did need to say it out loud like that. I think it’s really hitting me.”
I hugged him tightly, but left it alone.
We were quiet for a long time. Then Evan stiffened as he lifted his head to look at the open doorway. I figured it was one of my sisters, so I didn’t bother to move.
“She has a boy in her room!” my dad growled from somewhere in the hall outside of my room. I did not want to deal with this right now.
“It’s Evan,” my mom whisper-hissed. I knew that tone. She used it when my dad was being over-the-top ridiculous with his overprotectiveness. “I know you’re not about to go in there and make a scene. He’s her best friend and she needs him right now.”
Dad grunted. The kind of grunt that said she was right and he knew it, but he wasn’t going to admit it.
“Should I go?” Evan whispered.
“No,” I said, grabbing onto his hand and holding it tight. “Mom will get him under control.”
He let out a silent laugh. Yeah, probably not something the club needed to know about. Mom totally ruled this house and knew how to calm Dad down. Then again, he never hid the fact that she was his queen, so maybe everyone already knew how it went.
“Let’s go downstairs and I’ll make you one of those cake-in-a-mug things you like,” Mom said.
“Fine,” Dad said back, sounding a disappointed in himself that he was giving in so easily.
“I’ll even feed it to you,” Mom said.
“Ewwww,” I called out. “Could you not?!”
They headed down the hall, laughing like teenagers. I rolled my eyes as Evan snickered beside me.
“I want that,” Ev said after we knew they were gone. “Love that only grows with time. To be with someone for so many years we’ve forgotten how long it’s been and still act like it’s the honeymoon phase.”
“Yeah, me too.” I sighed dreamily. “To have that one person to come home to that feels like a lover and a best friend all in one.”
“You want to replace me?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“Never,” I shot back, giving his hand another squeeze. “We’re forever.”
“Good, because I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life.”
“Same.”
There was a moment of silence. I felt like we were both lost in our heads.
“I think I’m going to tell him I love him,” he said.
I wanted more than anything for Evan to be happy. I’d have said it was about time, but I figured Chry was the reason why Evan had held back.
I was torn because there was something I couldn’t hold inside any longer.
