“So, she’s pretty much kicked your ass to the curb this time?”

“Seems like it.”

“Are you still in love with her?”

I frowned, opened my mouth to protest his use of still and in love, then thought better of it. I didn’t know if what I felt for her as a teenager was love or lust or a combo of both, but it’d been real and intense and all-consuming in a way that only teenagers could love. This thing I felt now was more mature and scarier in its ability to deeply hurt me. Then there was the complication of the kids.

“I don’t know if what I feel is love.” I was being brutally honest or so I thought. “Besides, I’m a Puck Brother.” I grinned at him, attempting to lighten the mood.

“Yeah, so? You need to protect your interests in those kids. You said you have some temporary papers signed?”

“Just outlining the amount of monthly support until we settled everything.”

“Have you considered adopting them?”

I ran a thumb over the stubble on my chin, considering his words. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

“You want them to have your last name, don’t you? You need an undisputable claim to them as your children, don’t you?”

Possessiveness swelled within me. They were my kids, damn it, even if they didn’t know it. “Yeah, I do.”

“And when are you going to tell them you’re their father? Time’s a wasting, buddy. As long as they don’t know, she maintains the ultimate control. You need to get a handle on that. You’ve waited long enough. Waiting much longer is only going to make it worse.”

“You know, Zig, you’re right. I’m glad you were hanging out here tonight. I needed someone with a fresh perspective to help me see through this mess.”

“I’m your man.” Ziggy raised his beer glass, and we toasted, each taking a long pull before setting down our glasses.

“She’s going to hate me when I approach her with all this.”

“Maybe, but put the kids first, not her feelings. She’s collateral damage.”

I didn’t like his words. He made this sound like a battle, and I didn’t want a battle. I wanted us to be on the same page and supportive of each other’s decisions. Maybe I was dreaming and that’d never happen.

“What’s the deal with Kaden?” Ziggy swiftly changed the subject, and I was grateful for the respite. I needed more time to think this through, figure out the right approach that’d do the least amount of damage.

“No one knows. He has a secret lover. They sneak off to hotels together at the oddest times, and no one has seen them in public.”

“She’s married. I’ve had a few relationships like that. All the telltale signs are there, especially the secretive meetings and minimal information about who she is. All red flags.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.”

“A hookup is one thing, but he’s gone way beyond a couple nights. Getting mixed up with a married woman leads to nothing but grief. I don’t have too many rules when it comes to dating women, but avoiding the married ones is at the top of my list.”