Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
When I walked up to his office, I’d paced back and forth for a good while. I could see him up in his office space working. The way I was lurking outside of his building made me feel like a stalker. I hadn’t built up the courage to walk inside to converse with him. My nerves were too shaken up for that.
So it was a knock to my system when Damian came out. I panicked as he was locking up the door, and I called out to him. “Hey, Damian? Are you Damian Blackstone?”
He turned around to look at me. He seemed confused at first but stood tall and confident. “Yes, I am. Do I know you?”
I laughed nervously, probably looking insane as the palm of my hand rubbed my neck. “No, you don’t. Well, I mean, shit.” I was fumbling my words, making the situation more awkward than it had to be. “Honestly, I didn’t even know you existed.”
“Then why are you here?”
“It’s insane, actually. I should be back in Chicago with my family getting ready for the holiday tomorrow, but I had to fly out here. A few weeks ago, I received a letter from a woman named Catherine. She told me about you, and then told me about…me. I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m Aiden.” I took a deep breath and tossed my hands up in surrender. “Your younger brother.”
Damian blinked a few times in disbelief before muttering to himself, “Fucking Catherine.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at me. “So we’re kinfolk?”
“I suppose so.”
“A brother?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh.” He cleared his throat and had a somber look as he stared my way. Same blue eyes. Same nose, too. “I’m not good at this kind of shit. Emotions and stuff. Or being blindsided,” he confessed.
My heart sank a little. It was clear that my surprise attack was the wrong idea. “No, totally. I get it. I’m sorry. It’s also Christmas Eve, and I’m sure you have stuff to do. I’ll let you be.” I turned and started to walk away.
“Aiden.”
I turned back toward him. “Yeah?”
He slipped his hands into the pockets of his peacoat. “I wasn’t done.”
“Oh…”
He walked in my direction. “I’m not good with emotions and shit, but I have a house full of people who are better equipped to help us figure this out. Do you have plans tonight?”
“Um, this interaction was my only plan.”
“Good.” He patted me on the back. “I’ve got three women back home cooking enough food for an army, two best friends who are in touch with their emotions—well, one at least, and a spare bedroom with your name on it. Let’s go, brother.”
Brother.
He didn’t know how much hearing that word leave his mouth healed the panic attack I was in the middle of.
“You always have those?” he asked.
“Have what?”
“Panic attacks?”
How did he…?
“Don’t overthink it,” he said as he reached his car. “I’m just really fucking good at reading people. You can follow me to my place in your car.”
Damian lived on a huge coastline property, with a massive mansion, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a gigantic swimming pool. The landscaping was stunning, and even though the property was large, it had an odd warmth to it. You could tell it was an actual home as opposed to a mansion. There was a lot of love within those walls.
Cars were parked all around his driveway as we pulled up, and after we parked, he looked over at me. “Are you a people person?” he asked.
“Yeah. I can be.”
“What are your thoughts on kids?”
“I love them.”
“Good, because there are like fifty million rugrats running through this place, a hormonal pregnant wife named Stella who will probably cry when she sees you, and our two best friend couples who have a collection of their own kiddos.”
“Sounds like a good time.”
“Or a circus, depending on how you look at it. Come on.” Damian walked me up the front porch, and when he opened the front door, two kids went dashing through the space. “Slow down, jerks!” Damian hollered.
“Sorry, Uncle Damian!” the girl shouted.
“Yeah, sorry, Dad!” the boy responded before they continued their journey.
“You’re home!” a beautiful woman said as she walked over to Damian. She gave him a kiss and then turned to me. “And you brought a…friend?” she questioned, smiling my way.
“A brother,” Damian corrected. He gestured toward me. “This is my brother Aiden.”
“Brother?” Stella asked, stunned.
“Apparently good ole Catherine had another kid,” Damian explained. “You know how good she is about keeping shit to herself.”
Stella’s eyes glassed over as emotions hit her fast. Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh my goodness, you have a brother!” she exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Don’t be dramatic and cry,” Damian told his wife.
“Don’t call me dramatic!” she replied, hitting his chest. Then she turned to him and cupped his face in her hands. “You always wanted a brother.”