I bump his bicep with my shoulder. “Something tells me that doesn’t come naturally for you either.” I glance at him again. “What about you? Do you know what you want?”
His shoulders rise with an inhale. “The guys and my best friend say I need to get a life now that Krissy is moving out.”
That didn’t quite answer my question, but I let it slide. “Is that true?” I want to see if this quiet, sealed-off man will give me more.
“I’ve been on autopilot for a long time, but I’m realizing if I keep that up, I’ll be missing out on everything life could be.”
I swing back around to the original question this man slyly avoided. “But do youknowwhat it could be?”
His green eyes peek at me. “I’m beginning to see flickers.”
I take a deep breath and shiver, tucking myself into a ball. One heavy arm drops around me, his long fingers curling around my side. I don’t even think about it, leaning into him and resting my head on his shoulder.
We sit like that for a minute, and I close my eyes, wanting to stay where he can block all that waits for me.
“Everything is going to be all right, Sarah.”
“You sound so sure of it.” I want to believe like he does.
“At some point, you’re just going to have to trust me.”
I laugh. “You might be underestimating the size of the mess.”
His arm falls away before I’m ready for it to.
“Maybe.” He climbs to his feet and extends his hand to pull me up. “But anybody who’d underestimate you would be a damn fool.”
I look up into those deep green eyes and see he believes what he just said. A burn crawls up my throat with amazing force, and I have to breathe through it.
The only thing I know for sure is that I shouldnotbe thinking what I’m thinking or feeling what I’m beginning to feel for this man. I need to lock that shit down until I know what I’m doing with my life.
I blow out a breath, take his hand, and he tugs me up. I pull open the screen door.
“If they’re still playing those stupid ass games, Ollie and I are taking Grover out.”
I raise my eyebrows, turning to look at him. “You know, now that you’ll finally have a bachelor pad and are looking to explore what life has to offer, you should consider game nights. They’re highly entertaining and create a great low-key opportunity to socialize. It’s perfect for you.”
His eyelids droop. “I’d rather punch myself in the face.”
I laugh, pushing the door open. “Who knew you were so dramatic?”
We step inside to the guys yelling at the game on the TV, with Ollie sitting between them, lining their long legs with planes for a makeshift runway.
“Ma-ma,” Frankie’s eyes brighten as she twists to see me from her spot on the floor with Krissy. She cuts a beeline for me, and I scoop her up.
Her squishy arms squeeze my neck.
“Mama, w-why does my b-butt have a crack in it?”
The room goes still at Ollie’s matter-of-fact question. Then, the snickers break free, and Ol giggles, his small shoulders scrunching to his ears as he grins that mischievous grin.
I smile at him and press Frankie to my chest, kissing her cheek in return. These babies. My everything.
Somehow, I’ll figure this out, and it’ll be ok. I’ve got them, and that’s all I need. I just have to hope that, eventually, everything else will sort itself out.
Chapter 25
SARAH
