Summer Son by Anna Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

asked me outright.”
    “That must be hard,” I said, running my thumb back and forth over his hand. “Not being out to them.”
    He shrugged. “It’s easier than you think. I’m too young for them to be expecting me to get married yet. I’ll have to tell them eventually.”
    It took all my self-control not to pull him in for a kiss. I guessed he wouldn’t want that.
    “This is us,” I said, coming to a stop outside my mom’s place.
    I knocked on the door, feeling Zane step back and slightly behind me. Leo answered, looking strangely calm for someone who had been burdened with his nephew unexpectedly for close to an hour.
    “Hey,” I said. “Is he okay?”
    “He’s fine,” Leo said, stepping aside to let us in.
    “Oh. Leo, this is Zane. I was with him when you called….”
    “Oh,” he said, giving me a knowing look. I decided not to dignify that with a response.
    “Hi.” Zane waved awkwardly.
    “Nice to meet you,” Leo said, being far nicer to Zane than he was to me. “You’re Nae’s friend, right?”
    Leo and I shared a lot of the same friends, so I was almost surprised that he’d never met Zane before. There was probably a time when their paths had overlapped. Social circles with us tended to be fairly small.
    I left them to chat and quickly walked through to check on my baby. Harrison was on a blanket in the middle of the floor, watching TV, surrounded by toys. He looked around when I walked in and made a little happy sound, then started crawling toward me. I met him halfway, picked him up, and gave him a big, smacking kiss.
    “I changed his diaper,” Leo said, his voice telling me I was going to pay for that. “It was dirty when he got here.”
    “Did Oliver say anything? Did he even call before he came over?”
    Leo shook his head. “I was working on the laptop when he knocked on the door. He handed Harrison over and said something about being busy today. Then he left.”
    “Fuck’s sake,” I muttered, letting Harrison squirm around in my arms to watch TV over my shoulder.
    “I didn’t want to argue with him.”
    “No, that’s not your job,” I said with a sigh. “It’s mine. Sadly. Thanks for watching him, though. I really appreciate it.”
    “There was someone in the car with him,” Leo said. “I don’t know who, though. They stayed there while Oliver brought him in.”
    “Okay.”
    Zane had stood silent, watching our exchange, and I was reminded that he wasn’t exactly talkative most of the time. I gave him a smile and shuffled Harrison around again, trying to keep him balanced while he used me as his own personal climbing frame.
    “Are these Mom’s toys?” I asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “Ollie has his own things for Harrison,” I said for Zane’s benefit. “At least, I’m guessing he does. I don’t even know where he’s staying these days.
    “Here,” I said, passing Harrison to Zane. “I’ll just tidy this stuff up.”
    If he was surprised to suddenly be given a baby, he didn’t show it and expertly transferred Harrison to his hip. It didn’t take long for me to gather everything up and pack it away in the plastic box where it was stored. Then I folded the blanket on top and tucked everything away in the hallway closet. I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, Leo making conversation with Zane.
    “Thanks again,” I said to Leo. “If he tries anything like this again, I’ll call the lawyer, but at the moment I don’t think it’s worth it.”
    “Don’t blame you. And you know I’m happy to look after him anytime, right? I know you never say yes, but….”
    “I know,” I told him and pulled my brother into a brief, tight hug.
    “You want a ride home?” Leo asked. “It’s pretty cold out there.”
    “I think we’re all right,” I said, looking to Zane, who nodded.
    “See you later.” Zane nodded to Leo, who smiled back.
    It was only my brother for now, but I was pleased he’d already met someone in my family.
    I wrapped the fabric that made up