She’s grinning way too big. “Oh my god, Rhett. That’s great.”
“It’s with a guy,” I say stupidly, and she laughs at that, all kind and accepting.
“So? Do you know how many girls have turned my head over the years? There was even this one, right after I graduated from high school. She had the softest—”
“Okay.” I hold my hand up to stop her. “You’re making it weird.”
She laughs at that and thankfully stops. “I’m just saying. Guy, girl—whoever. If you love them,” she turns to Rhys with a smile and then back at me, “we will too. Is there love and respect between you both?”
I nod dumbly, my chest filling with pride, so damn grateful for these two people who took me in. People I never felt worthy of, not because of them, but because of me. “Yeah. He’s great.”
She smiles at that and places a hand on my knee. “That’s good, Rhett. I want to meet him. Right away.” I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop smiling because of course, she does. She snaps her fingers. “Oh. You’re being safe, right? I know I gave you the whole condoms speech to prevent pregnancy, and you don’t have to worry about that part. But diseases are still a thing.”
I catch Rhys’s lips curving in an amused smile, and I groan, “Blair, I know.”
She’s in super serious mom-mode now though. It’s too late. “Damn, I guess I should have mentioned lube too. You know. It’s important. And you need to know that. And prep. You have to take your time.”
“Jesus.” I stand up. “You’re really making it weird now, Blair.”
She laughs and stands up too. “What? I’m dead serious. It matters. And if you have any questions at all, let me know.”
I’m definitely not asking her about sex, and I’m not telling her I know from experience either. But still, I pull her to me and hug her. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a shithead.”
She looks genuinely surprised by that, holding onto my shoulder but pulling back enough to look into my eyes. “You are not a shithead. You’re my sweet boy.” She uses one hand to push my hair back, and her look intensifies. “Rhett, I have known you were meant to be my son since the day Bree brought you home. We wanted you. You are wanted, and you are loved.”
Goddammit, Blair. Tears form in my eyes, and my throat is thick with emotion because I know that. Deep down, I’ve always known that. But I’ve fought it. “I’m sorry I pushed you away. And I moved out. It wasn’t anything you guys did.”
Rhys stands now, joining us. “This is your home. Forever, kid. No matter what, but I’m damn proud of you for making your own way too.”
I should tell him, but I’m afraid of messing up this moment. Something I didn’t even know I needed. “I’m grateful to you guys. I really am.”
“We know,” Blair says as if it’s the easiest thing in the world. “You’re ours. Whether you fight it or accept it, you are ours. Whether you’re eighteen or fifty. It doesn’t matter. We love you.”
“I love you too.” She smiles and hugs me.
“This is gross.” She sniffs, and I realize she’s crying.
“Yeah. It really is.” But I only hug her tighter.
“Let’s do a Moore family day, okay? Soon.” I agree, but it sticks in my gut when I hear the name Moore I fought against.
“I want to change my last name.”
They both look startled, and Blair leans back again, searching my face. “You do?”
I nod, feeling like a stupid kid until I see Rhys wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face. “Finally.”
I laugh at that, and then, so does Blair. “I’ll go with you if you want.”
I nod and smile at her.
I’m finally ready to be a Moore and maybe even let them love me, like they always have. But this time, without fighting it.
THIRTY-SIX
I’m not sure how long I’ve been here, but I’m relieved when I see headlights and then Rhett’s car before he climbs out, looking surprised I’m here but not upset.
“Hey,” he says as he reaches me.
“Hey.”
We stare at each other for a few moments before I follow him up the stairs to his place. He lets us both in and closes the door behind us, his body language tense in a way I don’t like.
“I’m sorry.” His green eyes meet mine, a darkness in them.
“It’s not your fault.”
He flops down on the couch, tossing his keys on the table. “It is. You trusted me, and I trusted her. I never thought she’d ever say anything.”
I sit next to him, wanting to pull him to me, but also knowing Rhett pretty well by now. Physical contact isn’t what he needs. Not yet. “Shit happens. I know she didn’t mean to do that.”
“She didn’t.” He says it fiercely, but then backs up quickly. “I mean, it was fucked up, I’m not trying to defend her, but . . .”
“But she’s Bree. You’ll always defend her, and you should. She’s your sister.”
He looks so damn conflicted. “She’s really sorry.”
I smile at that. “I know. It’s okay. Josh was . . .” I think again about my goofy-ass friend. “He was fine, and I don’t know.” I lean back against the couch. “I’m not as upset about it as maybe I should be. I think I’m even a little relieved.”
He looks stunned by that. “What?”
I turn my head to look at him—this mystery guy I’ve totally fallen for. Who I can’t stop thinking about. Walking across that stage today, I knew I was one step closer to leaving him, and goddammit, I don’t want to. “You know I want . . .” I take a break, swallowing away the emotions clogging my throat and make myself try. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I want so badly to have what my grandfather built and to return it to what he meant it to be. But I don’t know, Rhett, maybe the price is too high.”
He still looks conflicted, and I imagine the war inside that head is more than I can handle. Instead of begging me to come out or to be with him, he moves a little closer to me and clears his throat. “My parents know about us now.”
“Really?”
He nods. “Blair wants to meet you. And she offered a course on lube.”
I laugh at that, free and light. I’m sure he was trying to lighten the dark mood of the room. “I want to meet her too.” I grin. “Not sure about the lube lesson though.”
He groans and leans back next to me, covering his face. “She’s a lot.”
“But you love her,” I say definitively because there’s no question. I can hear it in his voice.
“I do.” He drops his hands and turns his head to look at me. “I couldn’t tell Rhys about the job yet, but I want to.”
I nod, knowing it’s a burden on him. “I think it’s going to be okay. They love you.” I think back to the love my grandfather showed me—like I could never do any wrong, even when it seemed that’s all I did when I was around my father. If Rhys loves Rhett half as much as that man loved me, I know it’ll be fine. “You should tell him.”