Mason turned with me so we were both facing our father. And I knew without looking that we wore matching expressions. Scowls.
James took a breath in, his shoulders lifting up and moving back down in a slow motion. His hand came to the desk, resting there, before he nodded like he came to a decision. He stood then and slid his hands inside his pockets, mirroring Mason. I started to smirk because I knew what would happen next, and it did.
Mason pulled his hands out and crossed them over his chest instead.
James glanced at me, and I raised an eyebrow. “You going to do that, too, now?”
The slight blank mask on his face fell away and exasperation showed. “You two will never completely forgive me, will you?”
Mason asked, “For what, Dad?”
I added, “For being a douchebag father?”
Mason was next. “For all the women you brought into the house?”
Me again. “For not being there, ever, for us?”
Mason. “For leaving Mom and falling in love with someone just like you?”
Me. “Or for deciding to be our father when we really don’t need you anymore?” I leaned forward, placing my hands on the desk. “Too little, too late…Dad.”
He sat back down and leaned forward, folding his hands together on the desk. His eyes went from Mason to me, and back again. In that moment, he gave in. I felt it from him. He sat down while we both towered over him, and we were united. This was how it was supposed to be, and how it would always be. Me and Mase, together, as we were against him.
“Okay.” He gestured to the chairs behind us. “I get it. I do. Please, sit down.”
We remained standing.
He let out a small breath of air, shaking his head. “I told you guys two years ago that I was going to make everything up to you—”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “You left. Thank you.”
He threw me a dark look. “Oh, come on, Logan. Analise is sick, was sick. I went to be by her side. I was doing what a devoted fiancé does for the woman he loves, and I know you both hate her—”
Mason cut in, “With good reason.”
“—but she’s better now, and we’re back. We’ve been back, and I’ve done what you both wanted.” He held a hand toward me. “I stayed away because that’s what you wanted. I can’t do that anymore.”
“Why not?”
I kept quiet. Analise hurt Sam and while Sam was my family, she was Mason’s soulmate. This was his fight, more than mine, but only by a little.
James didn’t answer, not at first. He focused on Mason, his jaw clenched and his Adam’s apple moved up and down.
Shit. This was it. This was the favor he was calling in, and then he said, “Because we set a date.”
Mason closed his eyes, leaning back on his feet, away from the desk. His arms fell down, going to his side, and he let out a defeated sigh, half turning away.
I frowned. “A date for the wedding?”
Mason said, “That’s the favor.” He looked back and glared at James, speaking to me, “He’s going to make us be his groomsmen. Aren’t you?”
“What favor?” I snorted. “Rankin still went after Taylor.”
“That was a miscommunication, and you know it. He was told to stay away from my sons. The girl should’ve been included, yes. That was a misfortunate mistake, but I still reached out and took some highly unethical and illegal risks for my sons. So, yes, I’m going to be a bastard father to you, too, because I’m still holding you both to the favor I did do for you.” He paused, then continued, “I know I’ve not been a great father to the two of you, and I know you might not realize it, but I’ve been trying to make things right. I love Analise, and I’ve been at her side. I’ll be a devoted husband, and now it’s time for me to be a devoted father to you guys.” He stood up. “It’s time you for guys to let me be that father to you again.”
He was right about one thing. We’d been shutting him out since high school, since he brought that woman into our home, but he was wrong about one thing, too.
I shook my head. “I’ll be your groomsman. That’s the favor I owe you for helping us with Rankin. You did that for Taylor, so I owe you.” I paused before adding, “But that’s all I owe you. You’ve been less of a father to me than Helen’s been a mother to me. Mason got the happy family experience for a little bit. It was already falling apart by the time I knew what was going on, so no. I don’t owe you the chance to be a dad. No child will ever owe a parent their own obligation. You cannot demand to be let in. It doesn’t work that way.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I knew what that text said. Taylor was done with her own father/daughter/new girlfriend dinner. She was ready to be picked up. I sent her a text back. I was heading over soon before I put my phone away and locked gazes with my father one more time. I shook my head. “I can’t speak for Mason, but that’s my deal. I’ll be your groomsman, but nothing else.”
I said to Mason, “I gotta go. I need to pick up Taylor.”
He nodded. “See you at the house later?”
I nodded back and left. I was at the door when James called after me, “Logan.”
I paused, glancing back.
He said, “I won’t demand to be your father, but I think you do owe me a chance to be your father again.”
He already knew my answer. I opened the door to go.