"I'm so sorry, Iago," my father said from across the line. "I'm sorry for putting you, your mother and your brothers through this."

        We sat opposite each other with a glass between us, talking through the phone. This was surreal, seeing my father in a jail suit. We were awaiting his trial, but we all knew the likely verdict.

        Guilty.

        "How are you holding up?" I asked.

        He shook his head. "The food isn't great. The people are worse. The guards don't seem to care." He forced a chuckle. "On the bright side, when I leave jail for prison it'll get better. I may even be able to get help for my drinking since we're required healthcare. Hopefully that includes rehab and mental health."

        "I hope so, too."

        "Speaking of mental health, you boys need to help your mother with her depression," he said. "Her drinking, too."

        I smiled. "You believe me now?"

        He shrugged. "I've been reflecting. Priscilla isn't happy. I want better for her. For all of you."

        "I want you to be okay, too, Papa," I told him. "You did something awful, but you're not a monster."

        There was a narrative going around about my father, but I knew better. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't a bad man.

        He smiled. "Thank you, Iago. I know things haven't been perfect between us, but I need all the support I can get."

        "You'll get it from me," I reassured him. "From all of us." He pressed his lips together with a nod. "Why did you confess?"

        He sighed. "I couldn't do it anymore. All the guilt. Keeping it all in. Knowing that family didn't have closure. The tension between us, between our whole family. It was all too much. I needed to do this for myself, for our family. This has impacted all of us, so I need to free us. Even if that means I have to spend some time in prison."

        That was the scary part. We didn't know how much time my father would get. The justice system could be lenient or brutal. I didn't want to think about my father getting thirty or more years. He was being charged with manslaughter, but people have gotten longer sentences for only selling drugs.

        "I'm proud of you," I said, "but I'm also scared. I don't want you to spend the rest of your life in prison."

        "We'll face that when it comes," he said. "I have to face the consequences of my actions."

        "If you have a parole hearing, Estella and her father aren't going to be against it," I told him.

        "How do you know?"

        "They said so."

        I talked to Estella, and she told me that she and her father weren't going to hate my father or prevent him from his freedom. They forgave him. They were just relieved he came forward. I appreciated it.

        "That's kind of them," he said. "All I have to do now is forgive myself for what I did."

        "It'll take time, but you will," I said. "That's all we can count on—time."

        "I love you, Iago."

        "I love you, Papa."

        I did. It didn't matter what he did or how much we fought or didn't speak to each other. I loved my father, and I knew he loved me, too.

        When I got home, I saw two cars I didn't recognize. When I entered my house, that was when I saw two familiar faces.

        Santiago and Diego.

        "Jax," Santiago said as the two approached me.

        They each gave me a hug. "Cómo estás?" Diego asked.

        I shrugged. "Hanging in there."

        My mother stood up from the couch to approach us. "Your brothers are going to stay here for a while."

        I glanced between my brothers. "You're not abandoning us again?"

        Diego shook his head. "We're a family." We snuck glimpses of one another. "It's time we started acting like it."

        "With everything that's happening with your father, we need each other more than ever," my mother said.

        "Diego and I are going to be staying here as long as we need to," Santiago said. "We're not going anywhere this time. We're sticking together."

        That was all I wanted—a family. It was terrible that it took my father being arrested for us to come together, but at least it happened. It was never too late for family.

        I guessed they all loved me after all.

        I spent some time with my family—talking, laughing and eating. Then I got a text from Brice.

I didn't really feel like it, but I knew I needed it. With that, I said my goodbyes to my family, and I hopped into Verda, heading for the Galbraith's residence. It didn't take me long to get there, and before I knew it, I was walking into Oliver's backyard.

        Brice grinned when he saw me. "Velasco." He pounded my fist. "Great to see you, man."

        Oliver and Tyler came over. "I cannot express the relief I'm experiencing knowing the boys are back together," Tyler said.

        Oliver clasped a hand on his shoulder. "Couldn't agree more, Tyler."

        "Velasco," Brice said, getting my attention. "You said a lot's going on. What's happening?"

        "You all know," I said. "My father getting arrested. I visited him today, and it made me feel a little better. My brothers are also back." Their eyes widened. "After who knows how many years, they're here. They're staying with me and my mom for a while. Things suck with my dad's arrest and upcoming trial, but at least it's brought my family together."

        Brice bobbed his head. "At least one good thing came out of this."

        "We're here for you," Oliver said. "You know that, right?"

        I nodded. "I know. I'm sorry for being so distant with you guys. I need to give you more credit."

        "We're not going to judge you, Velasco," Brice said. "We're your boys. Boys don't judge. You don't have to hide anything from us."

        "I know that now," I said. "And you're right. I need to live. I'm gonna throw a party."

        They grinned at each other.

        I hated parties, but they brought people together. I wanted to bring my friends together and show them that I trusted them.

        "The party is going to be at my house."

        "Finally," Oliver said. "We get to see your place."

        "It's nothing fancy," I told them.

        "Like I said, boys don't judge," Brice reminded me. "I'm pumped for this party. We're gonna help you set up. Just tell us what you need."

        "I'll really appreciate that."

        "Who occupies this party's guest list?" Tyler asked.

        "The boys, of course," I said. "Estella and her friends. Sabrina. Tyler, you can bring Bree. Even Ximena."

        "Ximena?" the boys said at the same time.

        "Yeah," I said. "We're not dating anymore, but Ximena is pretty cool. There's nothing wrong with us being friends. Plus, I think she needs a friend."

        Brice crossed his arms. "How'll Estella feel about that?"

        "There's nothing to worry about," I said. "Ximena and I are over. Estella doesn't have to worry about me and any other girl. I love her."

        Oliver's eyes bugged out. "Love?"

        I nodded. "Estella is the girl for me. I'll never give that up for some other girl."

        Brice bobbed his head. "I guess you really do like her more than I do." He put his hands up. "Who am I to get in the way of love?"

        I was more than grateful that Brice was taking this so well. I was glad it wasn't getting in the way of our friendship. I looked at the boys, and it really hit me how much I wanted them in my life.

        "Anyway, what are we doing?" Brice clasped his hands together. "We got a party to plan."

        "Let's head to the man cave." Oliver led the way.

        We turned and headed for the basement. The boys and I compiled a list of all the things we needed and who was going to bring what. It was nerve-wracking, knowing all these people were coming to my house, but it was a part of who I was.

        There was nothing to be ashamed of.

        After a couple hours of hanging out with my friends, I headed home. I spent some more time with my family before heading upstairs to do some homework. I was almost done when I received a call.

        Sabrina.

        I was so taken aback that it took me some time to answer. "Hello?"

        "Hey, Jax."

        "Sabrina," I said. "What's going on?"

        "Nothing," she replied. "Just wanted to talk."

        "Because of my dad."

        "No," she said. "I bet everyone wants to talk about that but not me. You need a break, and I know you'll be okay. You have a great support system."

        "Your parents and brother may suck," I said, "but you have Mi Yun."

        "I know," she said. "We're back together."

        "That's great," I said. "What changed your mind?"

        "Mi Yun was never an experiment," she confessed. "I guess I'm not as straight as I thought I was. She's good for me, and I care about her. The only person who was getting in the way was me. I'm tired of getting in the way of my own happiness, and Mi Yun makes me happier."

        "You deserve to be happy."

        "So do you," she said, "which is why I'm so glad you found Estella. I could never make you this happy."

        For the first time, I was glad Sabrina and I didn't work out.

        "I guess the same goes for me," I said. "I'm not Mi Yun."

        "We didn't work out," she said, "but it worked out alright in the end. We found the people we're supposed to be with."

        "We did."

        "Do you know why I broke up with you?" I waited for her to answer. "It's the same reason I broke up with Mi Yun. I liked you too much, and I thought you deserved better. Now, I know. I deserve Mi Yun, and you deserve Estella."

        "We'll be okay, Sabrina."

        "We are okay."

        "You're right," I agreed. "It'll all work out, even the situation with my dad."

        "Like I said, you have a strong support system."

        I did. I never realized it before, but I had great people in my life. People I could trust and count on. Estella. The boys. Even my family.

        It would all be okay after all.

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* What do you guys think will happen next?

* I'm so sorry for the late update. My life has been hectic lately. I'll never take that long to update again, especially when I'm this close to the end. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. 😊