Stepbrother Bad Boy's Baby Boxed Set(42)

"Speaking of exercise, I wanted to tell you guys about some things," I said, taking my tea with just a squeeze of lemon. "I don't want to shock you too much Dad, but I've decided it's time I got a job."

"Really?" Dad said, sipping his tea and trying not to grin too much. "You know, if you're looking for a place to start, I can certainly find you a spot in our management program."

I shook my head, chuckling. "No offense Dad, but that's the last thing I want to do. Not that learning the Castelbon business wouldn't be interesting at some point, but I'm not you, and we've got a lot of work to do on our father-son relationship before I start reporting to you as my boss too. Also, I want to stand on my own feet, like Krystal has."

"I can respect that," Sandra interjected from her seat. "It takes guts to try and make it on your own, Julian."

"Well, not totally on my own, you know. Let's face it, even now I'm better off than ninety-nine percent of the population. But thank you. Anyway, I've decided to try and make a go of it as a personal trainer. Training is about the only thing I've done well over the past few years, outside raising hell."

"You'll learn a lot there son," Dad said, "Lot of sales and customer service. Not to pile on, but what about going back to college? Even someplace online or something would help when you want to move on to a management position."

"I've thought a little about it, but first I have to see if I passed my certification exam," I replied. "But at least I'll have someone to help keep me in check and show me how to be a good worker."

"Oh?" Sandra said. "How's that, are you getting a mentor or something?"

"What Julian's saying is that he's moving to Chicago, and is going to live with me," Krystal said, trying not to gush. I could tell she wanted to just blurt out what we came to say, but she also could tell how I was guiding them. It wasn't that we were trying to play them, but this was the sort of subject to be approached carefully. "I have a big apartment after all."

"Hmm, won't that interfere with your social lives?" Sandra said. "No offense honey, but since meeting John I've kind of been hoping you'd meet someone like him, and find some happiness outside the kitchen. I know you love it, but there's more to life than fine dining."

"Yeah.... well, about that," Krystal said, looking at her mom and then at me. "I kind of already have."

Sandra looked from her daughter to me and back, realization beginning to dawn on her face. "Well then.... uhm, wow. Excuse me please, I think I need to go think about this for a little bit before I say something I'll regret."

She got up to leave the room, Krystal standing up to follow her before I put my hand on her forearm. "Don't, babe. She needs some time alone, or at least with her thoughts." I looked over at Dad, who was watching the two of us impassively. "Dad?"

Dad shook his head slowly, and took another drink of his tea. "Julian, I lost you once years ago when I didn't tell you the truth. I missed years of your life, years I'm not going to get back. I'm too damn old to have that happen again. So for me, I'm just going to take this in stride. Now, part of me is surprised, not that you'd find Krystal attractive, but that she'd reciprocate. Krystal, I'm going to say something that might hurt Julian, but I need to ask. Are you sure? My son, as much as I love him, has not been the most consistent guy over the years."

"I love him, Johnathan. And he's a better man than history suggests. I've seen that over the weeks we've been living together."

My father finished off his tea and set the cup down, his face having the same expression I'd seen numerous times as a teenager when he'd tried to show me how his work went. Johnathan Castelbon was a thorough thinker, and when he said something, you knew he'd put his mind behind his words. It commanded respect when he was in the board room, and I respected it now.

"Krystal, your mother is the finest woman I've ever known. She's raised a wonderful daughter. A daughter so good that she appears to have rehabilitated my only son and brought him back into my life. If it was your love, or his love of you that caused it, who am I to argue? Despite what I've tried, I've not been the best father in the world myself. If I was, I would've told the truth to Julian long ago. For that Julian, I'm sorry, and I should ask you for forgiveness. But that's beside the point. Point is Krystal, if you love him, and he loves you, I'm happy for you both. This will take some getting used to, and I'd ask that you two take it a little slow around here for a while, but I'll have Yuki move your bags in together. I assume that would suit you?"

I blinked, somewhat surprised. I hadn't even thought about it, honestly. "Yeah, I guess so Dad. Seriously, you're okay with this?"

My father looked down, then laughed once and looked up at me. "I'm okay with it. Now, do you two want to stick around while I do some work, or would you like to relax? It's a Monday afternoon, you're a young couple in love, and it's late summer. Dinner will be at six in the small dining room, if you're okay with that."

I got up and walked over to my Dad, pulling him up and into a hug. "Thank you Dad," I said softly, squeezing tight. Dad returned the hug, clapping me on the back.

"Okay, okay. Let go before you break some ribs," he said, mock coughing. "Damn boy, I must have done something right raising you, even if it was just getting you enough milk and protein to turn you into Hercules."