Page 92 of My One
“What’s that?” Easton took a pull of his beer.
“Why Doug hated me. Why he stopped talking to me after we opened Halo.”
“Because of Avery Senior?”
“Yes, but also he realized I was turning into the man he’d never be.”
“Thank fuck you’ll never be like that man.”
We laughed. It was good to finally laugh. It just felt good to finally know the truth too.
The whole fucking truth.
Avery Senior walked toward us, shook our hands and waited for his bride. My mother came into view, dressed in short, light pink dress. As she walked down the white runner in the sand, a bouquet of azaleas in her hand, I smiled and looked at our small group. I looked at my family—including Edna, who I now considered family, too.
The family who loved me for being a bartender and not a professional baseball player.
The family who loved me for me and not who theyneededme to be.
I was a son.
I was a bar owner.
I was a husband.
I was going to be a father.
And I was going to be the best fucking dad I could be.
Eight Months Later …
Alot had happened since Avery discovered his mother’s secret.
Brooke’s sister, Bailee, moved into our townhouse. She and Gary continued to deny they had a relationship even though all of us believed differently. Whenever they were both at Halo, their attraction was off the charts. Maybe one day she’d tell her story.
Cheyenne still gave Easton slight heart attacks daily. She had her first boyfriend, and Easton wasn’t happy about it. Everyone found it hilarious, and we had a bet on if he’d let her go to the senior prom. Avery already had plans to get Easton drunk that night. It was still a few years away, so time would tell.
Brooke and Easton still lived in married bliss like Avery and me. They had yet to have a baby, or even get pregnant, but Brooke felt better each day. She went to acupuncture monthly, and she was still tumor free. She was off all of her pain medications and trying to live her best life. Easton, of course, made it easy for her because like Avery loves me and would do anything for me, I knew Easton would do the same for Brooke. We’d definitely found our Prince Charmings, and it was all thanks to a vacation.
As far as Avery and me, we welcomed baby Morris into the world. We decided to name our son Morris after Avery Senior. Even though my Avery wasn’t a Scott by blood, he didn’t want to go through the hassle of changing his name, and I didn’t want to change mine either. So, to pay tribute to Avery Moore, we named our firstborn more or less after him. It was the least we could do. We also gave Denise her jewelry that I’d kept and she sold it all so her and Avery Senior could go on a honeymoon. Somehow—and I didn’t ask questions—they were able to get fake passports and identification so they could travel. For the most part, they stayed in the Bahamas and worked at Zelly’s.
Now, I sat in our living room, watching my parents, Avery’s parents, Easton’s parents, and Edna coo over Morris. Brooke, Easton, Cheyenne, Bailee, and Gary were here too.
“Do you need anything?” Avery asked, crouching next to me.
“Nope. Just taking it all in.”
“Me, too.” Avery kissed me lightly and held out his hand. “Come with me for a second.”
I arched a brow. “To where?”
“Just come with me.”
I took his hand and he led me up the stairs and into our bedroom. “We have a house full of people, and the doctor said we can’t have sex for six weeks,” I protested.
He chuckled. “We’re not having sex.”
“Oh,” I breathed.
