Second Chance Boyfriend

happened between you two?”
    “It’s too hard to explain.” I wave a hand, dismissing my past with Drew. Like I’m going to tell my brother any details. “Besides, let’s talk about the fact that you punched him. What the hell where you thinking?”
    “That was amazing. My hand still fucking hurts. Sorry.” I smack him on the head before he ducks out of my reach. “I can’t believe I actually threw a punch at Drew freaking Callahan and he didn’t knock me out for it.”
    “I think he was too startled by the fact a little kid tried to kick his ass,” I said wryly.
    Owen shakes his head. “I’m not a little kid anymore, Fabes. When are you going to realize that?”
    I roll my eyes but refrain from making a remark. Let him think fourteen is all grown up. He’ll know the truth someday. “I’m starved. Still want to go to breakfast?”
    “Yeah, sure. But how are we going to get there? We don’t have wheels. Should’ve kept your boyfriend around and made him drive us there.”
    “We can walk to that little diner down the street. It’s not too far,” I suggest. I need to talk to my brother alone, not with Drew as a witness. I’m eager to have him back in my life but I need to ease him into the chaos that is my immediate family.
     
    Drew
     
    Ever been on a complete and total high, only to have it come crashing down within a matter of minutes?
    Yeah. Me too.
    All morning I’ve felt amazing. Like I’m walking ten feet off the ground. Even getting punched by Fable’s brother doesn’t faze me, though my jaw still aches. The kid is packing some strength, I’ll give him that.
    I head back to my apartment and crash out, my face buried in the pillow Fable used last night. I can smell her, her scent fills my head and I want her. Bad.
    She has a life, though. A job she needs to go to, a brother she needs to take care of. I understand, I get it. I’m just damn thankful she’s allowed me back into her life and is giving me the opportunity to make up for all the stupid shit I did to hurt her.
    I drift off to sleep with her scent surrounding me, her face in my thoughts. I wake up to my cell phone ringing and I’m hopeful it’s her but it’s not.
    It’s my dad.
    Great.
    “What’s up?” I try to infuse some cheeriness into my voice but I’m afraid it sounds false. I saw him only yesterday morning. What happened that he needs to call me within twenty-four hours of leaving me?
    “I had a long talk with Adele last night,” he says, his voice grim.
    My stomach lurches. Just hearing her name makes me sick. “Yeah?” God, what could she have said? What did she tell him?
    “I’m reconsidering the divorce proceedings.”
    Damn. Just when I thought we could have her out of our lives for good. “Why?”
    “She swears she’s never been unfaithful to me. It’s all a bunch of vicious rumors spread by some women at the country club who hate her.” Dad pauses, takes a deep breath. “Should I believe her?”
    “That’s not for me to tell you,” I automatically say because hell, no. I’m not playing any part in his decision.
    Besides, I know she hasn’t been faithful to him—from personal experience.
    God, I feel like I’m going to throw up.
    “She’s messing with my head. She called me when I was driving back from seeing you and when I told her where I’d been, she freaked out. Demanded that I come and see her right away. So I went home and she…attacked me.”
    I close my eyes, wishing he would shut up.
    “She was crazed. Like she couldn’t get enough of me. I know you don’t want to hear it, but it was the best sex we’ve had in…years. I don’t get it. I don’t get her.”
    “She’s using sex to keep you with her, Dad.” My voice is tight and I feel completely strung out. I hate hearing all of these details. Worse? I hate hearing that she attacked him after she knew he’d spent time with me.
    What did that mean? I can only assume that maybe she thought of me when…
    Fuck. I can’t finish the thought.
    “She probably is,” Dad readily agrees. “But if she keeps it up, I might not be ready to let her go yet.”
    He’s an idiot. I want to tell him that, but I keep my mouth shut. Their problems are none of my business. “I guess that’s up to you,” is all I say in response.
    “Listen. We talked a lot last night, Adele and I. She wants you to come home for the summer. She says she misses you and wishes you were around more. And I agree. Could you consider it? For