“So, you and Ford, huh?” Dad says as he turns onto the main road.
The inside of the cab is silent, not even the radio on. His question somehow brings me back to my teenage years, when he’d grill me about something he heard I’d done around town. Like I’m in trouble… Even though I know I’m not. Maybe it’s because I’ve never talked to either of my parents about people I’ve been with. Sure, they knew about my high school girlfriend, and she came over for dinner sometimes, but I never discussed our relationship with either of them.
“Me and Ford,” I say. “Think it’s weird?”
He breathes out a small chuckle, grip tightening on the steering wheel. “No, not weird, but I can’t say I ain’t surprised.”
“Nobody’s more surprised than me.” I snort, glancing out the window.
“How’s Remi feel ’bout all this?”
“He’s…okay with it?” I don’t know why I phrase it like a question, but it makes me laugh to myself, thinking about how long we kept it from him under the fear that he wouldn’t accept it. Although, maybe deep down, I always knew that. Maybe Remi was simply the excuse I gave myself to keep from falling for Ford, because even from the beginning, I could tell he was different. “I think he just wants to see me happy.”
“And you are?” he asks, turning his head toward me for a moment. “Happy?”
I huff a breath through my nose. “I mean, I’m not happy about my bike, and that my arm and leg are out of commission for a while, but yeah… I think I am.”
“Never thought I’d see the day,” he says teasingly.
“Me neither.” Jabbing him in the arm with my elbow, I add, “Now, it’s your turn.”
“My turn?” His furrowed gaze finds me.
“You heard me.” I chuckle. “Find you a…person to spend your life with.”
“Oh, lord,” he grumbles. “Who are you, and what have you done with my son?”
I laugh, and he does too, but deep down, I do hope he finds that soon. Gentry Moore has spent so much of his life caring for others, putting the needs of others before his own. He spent most of his adult life in a marriage meant to appease other people. It’s about damn time he does some things for himself.
As he pulls into my driveway, my gaze fixes on the truck parked next to mine. My head snaps toward my dad as he parks behind it. “What’s Ford doin’ here?” I ask, confusion furrowing my brows as I undo my seatbelt and reach for the door.
“Don’t you get out on your own, Hollis,” he growls as he climbs out, ignoring the question altogether. After he grabs mycrutch out of the back, he comes around to my side and helps me out.
“I can do this myself,” I grumble.
Before we reach the stairs, the front door opens, out walking Ford. He’s wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans, but there’s a navy-blue baseball cap on his head flipped around, and it makes my stomach flutter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in a hat before… And I’m digging it.
“Howdy, Cap,” I drawl as we reach the top step. “Ain’t you supposed to be at the station?”
Ford takes the crutch from my dad, as well as the duffle bag he brought to the hospital for me, before we step inside the house. The air conditioning is cool as it washes over me; it feels nice compared to the already blazing sun beating down on us outside.
“I was,” he offers, but gives me nothing else.
Alrighty then.
After my dad gets me settled on the couch, he strolls into the kitchen and comes back with a bottle of water for me, setting it on the coffee table. “Need anything else while I’m here?” he asks, flicking his gaze from me to Ford.
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m good. Thanks, Dad.”
Giving me a terse nod, he says, “Your mom’s runnin’ up to the pharmacy to get your prescription soon, and then she’ll be by this afternoon to drop it off and bring you some food.”
Ha! I knew it.
“She didn’t need to do all that.”
He huffs a breath through his nose. “Try tellin’ her that.” Then he looks at Ford. “Give me a holler if you need anything, or you gotta go. Finn or I will run on down here.”
“Will do, sir.”
