I shook my head and turned to look at all of them, heat creeping up my face. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t even know that guy. For all I know, he was just saying he was my dad. I’ve never actually met him.”
“Seems to me you lucked out having never met him before,” Tanner said dryly.
I snorted, surprising myself that I could laugh. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
“We’ll all make sure he doesn’t bother you again. At least here,” Sanders said, shrugging. “Nobody needs to deal with that. And, hell, I’m pretty sure we could’ve taken him. Even Miles here could.”
Miles flipped the other guy off. “Thanks for that.”
“Sorry, I’m just saying.”
I shook my head, my temples pounding. “Okay, I can’t focus right now. I guess studying’s out.”
“Go see your brothers,” Pacey said softly, and I met his gaze. The others started nodding. “You need to tell them what happened. Is he their dad, too?” Pacey asked.
I shook my head. “We don’t think so since we don’t know who his and Aiden’s dad actually is. How come my family’s so fucked up?”
“Preaching to the choir,” Tanner mumbled, and the other guys just nodded.
I didn’t know their families or where they had come from. We weren’t there yet.
“You should head to the bar,” Miles said, bouncing on his feet. “We can go with you if you want.”
I shook my head. “No, I’ll go tell them so they’re not surprised. And I think bringing you guys to the bar for the first time tonight might not be the best idea. But I’ll make it happen. Though you’re still not going to be able to drink there,” I warned.
Tanner just shrugged. “That’s fine. I like your family. Well, most of them.”
I snorted again, really grateful that I could laugh. “I’m going to grab my phone. Shit, what a day.”
Pacey studied my face, and I did my best to school my features. I had no idea what I was feeling. How was I supposed to work it out now?
Pacey just kept staring, as did the others, and I quickly moved off to the office, put away my things, and grabbed my phone.
“You mind that I’m not going to be able to clean up the kitchen right now?”
“I’m sure we can finish the snacks without you,” Pacey said dryly.
“Did you say snacks?” Sanders asked and headed towards the kitchen with Miles on his heels.
Tanner just rolled his eyes and followed. Pacey met my gaze, and I sighed.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not, but that’s okay. Talk to your family. They’ll help. Or I guess you can talk to a certain girl you’ve been trying not to think about.”
I flipped him off, feeling a bit lighter, and headed out the back door towards my truck. I should’ve called or texted, but I needed time to get my thoughts in order. I’d recognized that chin, those eyes. That man was my father. I supposed he could be a weird uncle or a cousin or something, but I didn’t think so. The texts that had started to come only solidified that fact. I just didn’t know what he wanted from me. I didn’t have any money. Brendan and Aidan did, and so did Cameron after selling the bar that he had built from scratch back when we were living together before we left California.
But I didn’t have anything. I was working on it. But I was just starting out.
I pulled into the back lot of the brewery but didn’t see any of my brothers’ cars. I cursed but hoped that maybe they were all parked somewhere else, or perhaps they’d had one of the girls drop them off. I wanted to see my family. I needed to talk to someone. I knew it couldn’t be my roommates, not when they all probably already wondered what the hell had just happened. I needed to figure it out for myself first.
I walked into the brewery through the back entrance since I had a key and waved at the line chef. I didn’t see Aidan. Well, shit, there went one.
I looked up at the bar and noticed Beckham, his wife Meadow working beside him. She didn’t always work with him, but she sometimes liked to spend time with him at the bar and helped pick up the slack. I looked around more but didn’t see any of my family.
“They’re all off today. It’s a slow night, and they were working this morning. Unless you were here to see my smiling face,” Beckham said.
Meadow hit him in the arm. “Be nice. I’m sorry, honey, were you expecting to see them?”
I swallowed hard, wondering why I was so fricking emotional. “No. Well, yeah, but it’s not a big deal. I was in the area,” I lied. “I’ll head back home since that’s where I was going anyway.” More with the lies.
Beckham tilted his head, stared at me. “Kid,” he began, and I shook my head.
“I’m fine. Really. I’m going to go.”
“Off to meet your girl?” Beckham asked, clearly fishing. This time, Meadow didn’t tell him to stop.
I thought of Elise and the fact that I needed someone to talk to. Hell. Maybe I should.
“Yep. On my way.”
Beckham grinned. “Well, then. That’s good to hear. The romance connoisseur and guru, finding something for himself. I like it.”
“Beckham,” Meadow chided.
“Okay, I’m off,” I said and headed back out. My heart raced, and I knew I probably shouldn’t pick up my phone. So, I wouldn’t. I just needed to figure it out for myself. Or call one of my brothers and head to their place. Anyone would welcome me with open arms. They all had lives of their own, and I didn’t want to intrude, but hell, I didn’t know what else to do.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down at it, the display giving me the answer I needed.
Elise: I just got out of my late class, and I
