Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“You deserve it. You’ll always be my son, Remy.”
This time, it was me who pulled her into a hug.
The four of us sat there for hours, talking. Leslie and I worked through more of her problems. Mom and I talked about her reaction to rumors of my sexuality over the years. It would be a work in progress, but we were being honest. She asked if who I’d planned to bring home was the man who was important to me. I could tell it was still something she was working through, and while it didn’t seem right that anyone’s sexuality would be something to work through, I was glad she was doing it and knew that eventually, we would be okay.
We spoke more about my anxiety and some of my troubles over the years. She cried more, told me she felt like she’d failed me, but I told her we would get through it, and I knew that we all would. Together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Lawson
Remy had been gone over a week, and the texts had been pretty sparse. He assured me everything was okay. That he’d made some big breakthroughs and had a lot to share with me, but that he still had some things he was working through. Not only that, but it had been like something had opened up inside him, and apparently he hadn’t been able to stop writing for days.
I was happy for him. He’d recently only had the one night like that, when they used to be a regular occurrence for him. I knew it was hard. Writing was his freedom, a way to let out some of the things trapped inside him.
I couldn’t help feeling he was pulling away from me, though, and that scared the shit out of me.
Today was my mom’s birthday, and we were having a small party at the house. Bruno and Mere were going separately, and my sister was picking me up. She was always good at knowing when I needed to talk.
When I saw her car pull up, I told Bear goodbye, went out to her vehicle, and slid in.
“How you doing, big brother?” she asked as I hooked my seat belt in.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “I feel like I don’t really know what’s going on, and that’s tough. I miss him. I want him here with me, but I want him happy and healthy more. So whatever it takes for that to happen.”
“I want to strangle him.”
“No, don’t say that. It’s easy for us to judge on the outside looking in, but we don’t experience what he does. Anxiety plays tricks with your brain.”
She reached over and patted my thigh. “I know, and you just might be the best man in the world, Lawson Grant. No matter what happens, I hope you always know that.”
I chuckled. “You might be a bit biased. Not only am I your brother, but I’m the brother that helps take some of the heat off you.”
Meredith looked at me and winked. “Well, there is that. And I also want you to be my man of honor at the wedding. I know it’s not traditional, but I’m not a real traditional gal. Bruno and I have already talked. He loves it, of course.”
“Mere?” I felt heat radiate through my chest.
“Oh God. Love has made you emotional. Don’t get all sappy on me. Just say yes.”
I couldn’t help smiling. I was lucky to have Meredith in my life. “Yes.”
“Obviously.” She rolled her eyes, and we both laughed.
When she pulled up in front of our parents’ house, Bruno was there waiting. “You’ve got yourself a good man,” I said as he stood from where he’d been sitting on the steps.
“I know. And you do too. I refuse to believe anything else.”
We got out, and Bruno walked over to us. “I wasn’t going in there without you guys.”
“Smart man,” I replied.
“Are we ready for this?” Mere asked. It was sad that we always had to prepare ourselves to visit our family, but I figured most families were dysfunctional. People just didn’t talk about it much.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
There were about twenty-five people there, including the mayor. All the people who were important in Havenwood, if you asked my parents. We set our gifts down on the table, and Mere asked, “Alcohol?”
“Is that really a question?”
The three of us settled on champagne as that was all they had. I found Mom, kissed her cheek, and wished her a happy birthday, before finding a corner to hole up. Bruno and Meredith were right there with me. Alesha and Phil found us shortly afterward.
“How’s everything going?” Alesha asked, rubbing her belly, which seemed to have grown since the last time I saw her.
“Not too bad,” I replied.
“And, um…with the guy? Your boyfriend or whatever?” Phil asked. Alesha grabbed his hand, smiling at him. Phil had never been the type to ask me if I was dating, or about anything personal like that. He was trying. Maybe some of our discussions had changed us more than I thought.