Come Home to Me Read Online Free Page B

friends,” he added with a shrug. “We had fun together. That was it.”
    Dylan didn’t seem particularly swayed by this speech. “You know she’s had a rocky past. We don’t want her getting mixed up in the things she used to do, that’s all.”
    “ I’m one of those things? You’re blaming me for her drug use?”
    Drawing up one leg, Dylan rested the hand that held the remote on his knee. “You partied with her a lot.”
    “But it’s not like I introduced her to drugs, or even encouraged her to take them. She was a coke-hound. She would’ve partied with someone else if not with me.”
    “Maybe, but you weren’t in the best place back then, either. It’s not like you ever dis couraged her. You both played fast and loose. But whatever. That’s in the past. We’re hoping it’ll stay there. Life’s difficult enough for a woman trying to support a kid all on her own.”
    Aaron frowned as he remembered his conversation with Presley at the bookstore. “She’s not doing it ‘all on her own.’ Wyatt’s father helps out, doesn’t he?”
    Dylan made a sound of disbelief. “You kidding? She knew Wyatt’s father for...what? An hour or two? He was just some prick who took advantage of her when she was high and running from everything she didn’t want to feel. If there was any hope of finding him, I’d rearrange his face. But she’s not in contact with him, doesn’t know how to reach him. When I asked, she couldn’t even give me a name.”
    “She told me he pays child support,” Aaron said tightly.
    “Pride talking. She doesn’t want you to realize how desperate she’s been, that she’s barely getting by.”
    “Why would she feel she has something to prove to me? I’ve never looked down on her.”
    “She’s putting on a brave face, what else? People do that.”
    “Not people who know each other as well as we do.”
    “Things have changed, Aaron.”
    That was the second time tonight he’d heard essentially the same thing. “To hell with change. Why does everything have to change?”
    “Just let go of the past. The two of you aren’t good for each other—especially now that she has a child.”
    The old anger welled up. “Wait a second. Who the hell are you to make that decision?”
    Dylan shot him a dirty look. “Chey and I were here when you were together, remember? We know what the two of you were like.”
    “So what? You have no right to tell me who I can and can’t see. Even after all these years, you’re still trying to be my father?”
    Dylan paused the Lakers game. “Don’t start on that tired old argument—”
    “I’ll start on it if I want to. I’ve had enough, Dyl. There’s only three years between us. It’s time you remembered that.”
    Fortunately for Aaron’s peace of mind, Dylan didn’t deny that he had the tendency to be too controlling. “Old habits are hard to break, I guess,” he grumbled. “Anyway, when will you finally get past whatever you hold against me? We can go over my mistakes until we’re blue in the face, but that won’t fix them. The bottom line is this–Chey and I care about you and Presley. We want to see you both continue to—”
    “What?” Aaron broke in, throwing up his hands. “Live our lives as you see fit?”
    “Stay off drugs, if you want the truth, damn it!”
    Aaron got to his feet. “I shouldn’t have come by.”
    Dylan tossed the remote on the coffee table and stood up to follow him out. “Maybe you don’t want to admit it, but you have one hell of a chip on your shoulder. It’s time to grow up. Time to understand that I did the best I could. I was eighteen when Dad went to prison. Do you think I wanted to take his place? Hell, no! But I didn’t see anyone else who was willing to do the job. Were you going to do it? At fifteen? ”
    “Kiss my ass,” Aaron muttered, and that was all it took to snap Dylan’s restraint.
    “Shit, you know how to enrage me like nobody else!” he roared, and smashed his fist through