Cain sat and glanced over to the table where Archer sat, and they looked at each other. Robert walked back in, minus Anton, and Cain sat up straight in his chair, waiting for Robert to tell him what happened.
“How can he be my son?” he asked wearily as he slumped in the empty seat next to Cain.
“I’m sure Lydia will sort him out.”
Robert snorted. “That’s if she doesn’t kill him first, Cain.” Robert shook his head, his eyes far away. “He’s changed so much recently. He was always a little difficult with you for having gay friends but never to this extreme. That church he goes to...” Robert glanced over at Lydia and smiled. “Gareth made it.”
“Said they had an emergency.”
“He works too hard, but it’s good to know we have someone like him at the hospital.”
“He seems to like Lydia.” Cain watched Gareth lean toward her as she spoke. “I think he missed having a mom, and I’m not picking on you.”
“I know you’re not. It was hard when she left. I had no idea how to look after you all, and I had a full-time job. I sometimes wonder...”
“She loves you, Dad.” Devon wiped some sauce from Savannah’s mouth. “And she’s taken on all of us with her own family.”
“She loves kids. She wanted to foster but couldn’t after Grantham died.” Robert sighed. “I feel for her, the loss she endured, but if he were still alive, she wouldn’t be in my life.” Cain saw the look on Robert’s face when he mentioned Grantham. “Sounds selfish.”
Cain smiled. “But honest and you love her, Dad.”
“What about you, Cain? What’s going on?” Robert nodded toward Archer.
Cain glanced at Archer. “We met on vacation. Had something unexpected—“
“I’ll say,” Robert muttered. “When did you become bisexual?”
“—and then left.” Cain finished. “I honestly never thought I’d see him again much less become related to him. It’s awkward right now, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”
“Do you have feelings for him?”
Cain looked at Robert and bit his lip. Robert shook his head slowly. “Dad, I don’t know what to say.”
“I can tell from the look on your face you do. What about Archer?”
“We’ve agreed nothing’s gonna happen.”
“Can you both keep to it?”
Cain looked back over at Archer. Now, that was the question.
Chapter Ten
“THAT WAS INTERESTING.”
Archer nodded at Knox’s comment. Breakfast had been an eyeopener. He’d gone outside as soon as he could to escape the tension. “Wonder what his problem is?”
“Don’t care but Mom’s stuck with him now, so whatever it is needs to stop.”
River strolled over, a champagne bottle dangling from his fingers. “Fun morning.”
“We were just saying that.” Archer crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you hear what he said to Robert?”
“Oh man, I wanted to deck the fucker.” River lifted the bottle and grimaced. “Need a fresh one.”
“Didn’t you get enough last night?”
“Fuck off, Knox. If you had a bitch of an ex-wife like I do, you’d drink too.”
“What’s happening now?”
“She’s trying to stop me seeing my kids. Bitch.” River spat on the ground.
“Do you have a lawyer?”
“Of course I do.” River glared at Archer. “What do you think I am, an idiot?”
“River.”
“Archer. Stop. Just because you’re older, doesn’t mean you get the right to interfere.”
“I’m not interfering. I want to help. They’re my nephews, and she has no right to stop you from seeing them. You pay maintenance, and you’ve done everything the court ordered. You need to take her back to court and have her dealt with.”
“And it’ll achieve fuck all. She doesn’t follow the court order now. How do you think she’ll react if I drag her back in there? I could lose my kids because of this.”
“She’s not fit to be a parent.” Knox kicked at a stone on the ground. “You should try for sole custody.”
“And how would I look after them with the hours I work?”
“That’s what family is for,” Archer reminded him. “You’re not alone. We’re here for you. All you have to do is ask.”
River nodded and look away. “I’ll think about it.”
“Anyway, Archer banged our new brother.”
River’s mouth fell open as Archer rolled his eyes. “What? When? They only got married yesterday? You dirty fucker.”
“Thanks, Knox. Remind me not to tell you anything again.” Archer punched Knox on the arm.
Knox grinned and threw his arms wide. “It’s a scandal!”
“No, it really isn’t.”
“Tell me,” River demanded.
As Archer told River about the vacation, River furrowed his brow. “No scandal really. You both didn’t know. It’s no big deal. You’re not real brothers, so if you two wanna carry on doing the deed, go for it. Though I like the fact you made a straight man like dick. Good for you.”
Archer rolled his eyes and ignored the dick comment. “It would complicate things.”
“How? You’re both adults and capable of making mature decisions. Fuck anyone who says something else.” River stared intently at Archer. “Do you still like him? Still want to suck his dick?”
“Yeah, I do still like him.” He again ignored the dick comment. Archer was always honest with his siblings, something that had gotten him in to trouble a number of times over the years.
“Then go for it. We only live once, so live the best life you can.” River grinned. “That’s my supportive brother shit out of the way. Now, it’s alcohol time!”
River walked past them and into the hotel. Archer followed him inside, with Knox behind him. “I need to check out and go into work today. I have a sick Lab to check on.”
Knox nodded and slapped Archer on the back. “And you need a break from all the shit the wedding has brought up.”
Archer nodded and waved as he went to grab his bags and check out. He needed to get away from here and sort his shit out. He was still playing catch up with everything that had happened over the last couple of days, and he needed way more coffee than he’d had. His head was pounding, and he was sure his stomach wanted to evict its contents.
After checking out, he drove home and dumped his bags in the living room before collapsing on the sofa. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply and then sighed, the previous day replaying in his mind.
“Shit.”
It was shit. He hadn’t wanted to leave Cain when his vacation had ended. He’d wanted to continue the relationship, see where it went. Maybe if he’d been more honest with his deepening emotions for Cain, seeing him wouldn’t have come as such a shock.
Still if they had decided to try any form of relationship, yesterday would have blown it out of the water.