Page 4 of A New Chapter
“No one’s snoot-punching,” Chad said. “UnlessIget to do it first.”
“Get in line,” Rom said. “Ihave dibs.” After Rom brought Clayton another glass of water, he stood off to the side, arms crossed over his chest. “We’ll go on Tuesday. I want to leave early in the morning. We can be back by late Tuesday night, as long as they don’t fight us on this. We can go to a bank and pay a notary there to witness them signing whatever Ed gives us for him.”
“Please don’t make me go back to them,” Clayton said.
“We won’t,” Colton assured him, “but legally, they could come after any of us right now. You’re a minor. Besides, we need to get you enrolled in school.”
“They didn’t have me in school there. Mom was supposed to be homeschooling me but she wasn’t.”
* * * *
Just when Rom didn’t think he could feel any angrier, they hit a new bottom. “Wait a minute. You haven’t been inschool? For how long?”
“No, sir. Not since last year. When they moved and changed churches, and the pastor told them they should homeschool me.”
Rom exchanged a dark look with Chad and was pretty sure his older brother’s thoughts mirrored his own—that hereallywanted to have a talk with the supposed parents of this boy.
Who were also the parents ofhisboy.
Oh, boy.
This had just infinitely complicated their life, but no way would Rom turn his back on Clayton.
He was family.
“I’m going to go down and get your stuff from the office,” Rom said.
“I’ll go with you,” Chad said.
They weren’t even halfway down the stairs when Chad said it. “We’ll take him. He can have your old room.”
“Bro, I appreciate it, but he’s Colton’s little brother. He needs to live with us. We’ll turn the office into a bedroom for him, so that’ll take us a day or so.”
“We’ve got the room, Rommy. He can live with us.”
Rom stopped and turned to face him. “I know Ina wants more kids, and I love you to death for the offer, but Colton and Claytonliterallyjust found out about each other. They need time together to bond. They told Clayton that Colt was dead. Theyneedeach other.”
“I’m just saying, the offer stands.”
“I know. And I appreciate it. I’ll definitely want your help going to get his stuff. We’ll rent a truck or trailer or something. Just remember that bail is expensive.”
Chad finally laughed as he shook his head. “Why can’t things ever be easy?”
“I don’t know.” Rom resumed his trek downstairs. “Let me know if you figure that out, bro.”
Chapter Two
Well, there goes our Monday plans.
Colton hoped it didn’t make him a shitty person or brother for thinking that, but there it was. They were supposed to go file their marriage certificate tomorrow, and then had planned to come home and literally spend the rest of the week naked and mostly horizontal.
It figured that he’d finally found the love of his life, married him, and his parentsstillmanaged to fuck up his life, without even showing up in person to do it.
Worse, they’d fucked up another boy’s life.
A little brother he’d had no idea even existed.
“This is good, thank you,” Clayton said as he ate.
