Gosh, she’s cute. But she’s also so much more than that. I pat my chest and the reminder written on my skin. I need to be brave and tell her how I feel. Stop hinting around it and hiding from it, whether or not she has a boyfriend. I can’t keep teasing her like this, can’t keep holding her at a distance, wishing the space between us would just disappear. I need her.
I take a step in the direction of Lennox’s office, but my phone buzzes.
Aunt Megan.
“Hello.”
“Oh, Grant,” she says like she forgot who she was calling.
“Hi, Megan.”
“How are you?” she asks.
“I’m good. I’m working hard.”
“Good. That’s good.” She stalls. “I was, uh, calling to see if you’re free on Christmas.”
I push back the pain that causes me. I used to dream about having Christmas with my whole family. The mom I never got to meet, a sober dad, my grandpa and my aunt. She did her best to be a mother figure in my life, but that’s hard to do when she lives three hours away.
“I don’t know,” I say.
“Well, if you can swing by, I know your dad would love it.”
My scoff cuts her off. “He does not want to see me.” And I’m sure he doesn’t care to see her either. My aunt and dad never saw eye to eye, and my aunt had her own struggles.
She lets out a breath like she’s trying not to cry and I feel guilty. “Time has a way of changing people.”
Not people like my dad. But I can’t take out my anger against my dad on my aunt. “I’ll see what I can do,” I say half-heartedly.
“Okay,” Megan says. “Well, have a good day.”
“You too,” I say.
She hangs up, and I expect to feel relief, but I just feel worse. Who's pushing who away? I’m no better than my dad if I can’t be brave enough to face him.
I turn on my heel and head toward Mark's office. He’s always been the father figure I wish I had. And right now I could use some advice.
He’s on the phone when I enter, so I patiently wait by the door.
“Sorry.” He hangs up a moment later and smiles at me. “What’s up?” Mark asks and pulls a chair over to his computer.
“I wanted to get your advice on something,” I say and pull out my phone to the saved listing of the house. “I want to know what you think of this house?”
Mark’s eyebrows shoot up. “Let’s see.” He takes my phone and looks at everything from the square footage to the bathroom light fixtures.
“This is a great price per square foot,” he says and begins listing all the excellent features of the house. “My only concern is the settling in that area. In the past, they didn’t lay the foundation correctly and the houses around there sunk.”
“Oh.” I fall back in my seat, watching my dream crash before my eyes.
“But it looks to be on the newer end.” He hands the phone back. “Why don’t I make a few calls and then we’ll go out there with a house inspector and check it out.”
My mouth drops. “Wha—No. I can’t make you do that.”
“Son, I’d be honored to go along with you. My kids don’t seem to have the same drive as you do. You’ve always worked hard for yourself and I’m proud of you.”
My eyes burn, but I sniff back the pain. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, son.”
