Maybe I didn’t really want to know how much Duke knew about what Roy was doing. I’d never been close to either of them so did it matter if both were no longer in my life? But Heston said we had to find out his part—if any—in the scheme and we’d go on from there.
Roy had given the impression Duke was involved but that was his MO, always trying to besmirch someone. We’d find out soon enough.
Duke had always wanted to fit in, especially with Roy. And I got it. I really did. Being the rejected child and sibling sucked. When Roy and Duke were born, I was already less-than in my father’s eyes. They both grew up knowing that—witnessing first hand that love from a parent could be conditional.
“We don’t have to do this.” I’d call Duke right now if my mate asked me to.
“No,” he insisted, “I think this is better. At least we’re not, you know, near Roy and your father. It will just be us.”
“Okay, but if you change your mind—whatever you need comes first.”
“I won’t and the same for you. We can walk away from this conversation.” His words said the right thing, but his face was almost green.
I’d already asked Heston a couple times since we woke up if he felt unwell. He swore he was fine. I had no reason not to believe him and that left his visible discomfort having to do with my half-brother. At least it would be over soon enough.
Roy had nearly cost Heston his father. It would be perfectly reasonable for him not to want anything to do with my family. But he was more gracious than I’d have been, that was for sure.
I finished cutting up the roast chicken and added it to the salad. “Do you want me to put this in the fridge and offer it to my brother only if he’s being nice?” I was teasing… mostly.
“No, he’s more likely to talk if he has food,” which was probably true.
Heston went from the lettuce to cutting up the baguette that we’d picked up from the bakery that morning. By the time he wasdone slicing it and putting it in the bread basket, Duke was at the door. As I swung it open, my heart sank. Duke didn’t look like Duke. He looked dreadful.
“You look so tired.” The bags under his eyes were dark, and tired was the nicest way I could put his appearance. The man looked like shit. “Do you… are you… okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just... I didn’t know… I didn’t know.” His voice cracked as he mumbled that he didn’t know repeatedly.
“I believe you.”
I hesitated before pulling my half-brother in for a hug. We’d never hugged or exhibited any affection for one another but my heart constricted at his obvious discomfort. He was a jerk or had been. But I suspected Roy had terrorized him when they were kids. Perhaps as adults as well. He’d always been weak when it came to Roy, always wanted to be loved by him, always looking up to him even when Roy treated him badly.
“I believe you.” My gut told me he was telling the truth.
“Come inside.” This was a new start for us… all of us. I couldn’t forgive him immediately for how he treated me in the past but I’d get there.
Heston was amazing, accepting my brother’s apology without hesitation. Even so, the conversation was stilted when we first started eating, but as lunch progressed we chatted about inconsequential things. We’d have probably talked for hours longer, but Duke had another meeting to get to.
When he made to leave, Heston and I walked him to the door, only halfway there, my mate bolted into the bathroom.
“Heston’s not feeling well. I’m going to check on him.”
I was only two steps away when my brother said, “Oh, I misread that. I misread that a lot.”
I turned around to face him. “What do you mean you misread it?”
“I mean, I thought he was pregnant and you two hadn’t told me yet because… well things were rough. I didn’t think he was sick. I’m sorry… I wouldn’t have stayed so long.”
My brain was still stuck on the word pregnant.
“What are you talking about?” How would Duke know if my mate was pregnant?
“His scent. I can smell it.” He gave a half wave. “Call if you need anything, Devyn.”
“Yeah. Yeah.” But my mind was focused on the word pregnant. Could Heston be? Would he be happy if he was? I knew I would.
I jogged to the bathroom, the door cracking open as I got there.
“I want to...” Heston opened the door the rest of the way.
