Hechuckled gently. “Nah.I don’t think—”
“Wait.Hold on,” Ty cut in, stepping forward. His big, beefy fingers stroked gentlythrough my hair, pulling it all to one side. I watched in silent awe as hishands worked with gentle care, weaving a braid to cascade over my leftshoulder. It was complicated and perfect, far better than anything I could domyself, and when he was finished, he reached ahand outto Sebastian. “Give me one of your things.”
“Oneof mythings? Bro, I’m very committedto my wife.”
Tygroaned exhaustedly. “I’m talking about those rubber band things you use foryour hair.”
“Youmean myhair ties?” Sebastiancorrected, an obnoxious lilt in his voice. He pulled a black elastic from hispocket and dropped it into Ty’s waiting palm.
“Thankyou,” Ty grumbled before quickly securing the braid. He smoothed the sleek ropeout against my shoulder and stood back, holding his bearded chin in his palm,assessing and scrutinizing with narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow. He steppedforward again and loosened the weave, giving it a stylishly messy appearance,until finally, he nodded with approval. “Okay. You’re good.”
“Thankyou, Ty.” My eyes threatened to leak, and I couldn’t understand why.
“Um…” Sebastian blinked, stunned. “And where the fuck did you learn to dothatshit?”
“Ihave a daughter,” Ty replied plainly.
“Yeah,and so does Jon. You ever see those train wrecks he calls ponytails?”
Tyshrugged. “What do you want me to say?”
Sebastianguffawed. “Uh, that you have a fucking gift, bro! You’ve been holding out onme! Youwannagive me pigtails?”
“Nope,”Ty grumbled, dropping into his seat at the table.
Greysonstepped forward and muttered, “Um, so you know when you wear the darker lipstuff?”
“Lipstick?”
“Yeah,”he nodded, “whatever. That stuff. You should wear that. It looks nice. Withyour hair.”
“Okay,”I replied softly, nodding. “Thanks, Grey.”
“Sure.”He shrugged, lifting the corner of his mouth in a smile.
“Goodcall, Grey,” Sebastian praised. “The dark stuff looks best on you. You’re paleas fuck. Gives a nice contrast.”
Tytipped his head and studied my face before nodding with approval. “Yeah. Iagree.”
“Although,honestly, you’regonnaknock the guy dead no matterhow you look,”Sebcommented casually, dropping downto the couch. He grabbed the remote and began to flip through channels. “Youcould wear a paper bag and Chaddington would blow a fucking fuse. I’ve neverseen a guy get so googly-eyed over a girl before. He’d make me puke, if itwasn’t so fucking adorable.”
“Right?”Ty laughed, shaking his head.
“Oh,wait,” Sebastian raised a finger and turned to Ty, “let’s not forget Devin. Devmight be worse, with all that poetry and shit.”
“Oh,I don’t know …” Ty shook his head. “Chad’s pretty fargone,I think. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he gets a load of herright now.” He turned and smiled at me, and it was all I could do not to throwmy arms around his neck and cry into his shoulder.
Iwas born to a man that never cared about me. He’d never said as much, in the limitedamount of time I’d known him, but I knew that I was his mistake. The thing he’dtake back if he could. He’d made that abundantly clear when he deserted mymother and me, to start over with another woman. A new kid. A whole new family.Mama had tried her best to make me feel wanted, enough for two parents, butsomething was always missing.
Ihad wanted a father. Not the one carrying my DNA. I didn’t want him. I wouldneverwant him. But I wanted fatherly love. I craved it and when I couldn’t find it,I found the next best thing: food. I ate and devoured and never found anypeace, so I eventually gave up. I gave up wanting and dreaming for thatfatherly figure I’d never have, and I forced myself to accept all the thingsI’d never have in order to better myself.
Mamamet Hank when I was nineteen and married him a few years later. I loved him,and he helped to fill that void with amore quietaffection. Yet, it never quite felt full, until now. Now, I stood frozen,staring at these unlikely heroes. Tyler Meade, burly and bearded, and SebastianMoore, long-haired and unfiltered.Both of themtattooed to excess, both of them equally intimidating in their own right. Butwhile neither of them was old enough to be my dad, I found a comfort in themthat I’d craved my entire life. Love and acceptance, support and compassion.
Sebastianglanced my way and quirked a brow. “Oh, Jesus, are you on the rag again?”
“What?”I swallowed my emotions and shook my head. “No, I—”
“Thatwas last week, bro,” Ty chimed in, smacking a hand against his shoulder. “God,get with it.”
