#Rev (GearShark #2)(69)
“It was bad,” I said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Drew that upset.”
She nodded. “My father doesn’t understand.”
“He disowned him. Kicked him out and didn’t even try.”
Braeden slapped the coffeepot down a little harder than necessary but otherwise said nothing.
Ivy’s eyes filled with tears. She glanced at Nova in my arms. “I just don’t understand how a parent can do that to a child.”
“He’s been kinda quiet this week. You think he’s taking it harder than he’s letting on?”
She sniffled. “I don’t know. Dad’s approval has always been something Drew always wanted.”
“Does your brother know yet?”
She nodded. “I called him and told him. I know it wasn’t my place, but I wasn’t about to let Drew do it and have him react like Dad.”
“It’s your place,” I told her gently. “You’re his family.”
“You are, too.” She reminded me.
I didn’t think these people knew what it meant to me to have their support. Maybe it was time they knew. Maybe it was time Drew knew. It might make what he was dealing with seem a little less isolating.
“You can butt into my business anytime,” I told her.
Nova made a sound, and I looked down. She couldn’t find any more cereal to feed me.
“All gone,” I said and shrugged.
She pointed to the pile on her tray.
“You teach this kid to be so smart?” I asked Ivy.
Nova pointed again, and Ivy laughed.
I scooped up a handful and held them between us. She proceeded to make me eat more.
“Only for you, midge,” I told her. “You know I love ya, right?”
She leaned forward and kissed me. My heart melted just a little. I glanced at B. “You’re already buying guns, right?”
“Bullets, too,” he quipped.
Ivy rolled her eyes, then returned to the topic. “He wasn’t upset like Dad. He was surprised, but once he has time to think it over, I think he’ll be fine with it. You and Drew don’t need to worry about him.”
“Thanks,” I said, relieved.
“My father, though…” Her eyes darkened. “I don’t know what to do,”
Ivy was in a tough spot. She probably felt caught in the middle of her brother and her parents. I didn’t want that for her, and I knew Drew didn’t either. She wasn’t the one in a relationship her father considered depraved.
“You don’t have to do anything,” I said.
She made a frustrated sound. “If I do nothing, it looks like I agree with my father, and I don’t! I told him what an ass I thought he was being.”
My eyes widened.
Braeden laughed. “Gave him hell, she did.”
“I love my parents. I really do. But they’re wrong. And I want Nova to know her grandparents, but I won’t raise her around people who would disown their own son over who his heart chose.”
I glanced at Braeden, worried. Was Ivy really contemplating severing her relationship with her parents over this? Nova’s relationship.
Braeden shrugged. “She has a point.”
I didn’t want that. I didn’t want the relationship I essentially set into motion to affect not only Drew and me, but hurt everyone around us.
I was about to tell her that when the door to the garage opened and Drew stepped in. The second he was in my sight, my eyes swept over his body, assessing and making sure he was definitely okay.
He was looking sexy in my sweats, uncombed hair, and a coffee in hand. His blue stare found mine first, and I felt something click inside me, back into place where it belonged. That’s how I felt when we weren’t together, like a piece of me had shaken loose and was missing.
Nova was bouncing around in my arms at the sight of her favorite uncle.
“There’s my favorite girl!” he said, grinning at her.
Arrow walked into the house behind him, carrying an identical coffee. Surprise shot through me. So that’s whose voice I heard.
Arrow appeared out of his comfort zone and like he wasn’t sure where to look. Drew gave me a meaningful look, and I understood. For whatever reason, this kid had grown on Drew. I understood why; he was sort of like a stray without a home that just needed someone to adopt him.
Yeah, I knew he had Lorhaven.
Maybe the guy wasn’t as bad as I originally thought, but I still didn’t like him.
“What’s up, man?” I stepped toward Arrow and held out my fist.
He bumped his against mine. “Hey, Trent.”
“You gonna play some football with us today?”
He seemed a little taken aback by the easy way I greeted him, but he recovered fast. “I thought we were watching.”
“I’m going to smash heads,” Braeden quipped and stepped around Ivy to introduce himself to Arrow.
I made the introductions while Drew went for Nova. She held her arms out to him, and he snatched her up.
“Traitor!” I told her.
Nova gave me a toothless grin and picked up a Cheerio out of my hand and held it to Drew’s lips. He ate it of course.
His face screwed up. “Why is it mushy?”
“Baby slobber,” I told him.