"It's good to be back. I feel like a functioning member of society again. When I was wrapped up in Oakley's drama, everything felt different. I was exhausted all the time. I wouldn't have had energy for a project like this." I flicked a hand in the direction of the staked-off maze.
"That's good that you've contained her involvement in your life then. She wasn't good for you," Elena observed.
"Not the way Blake is. We support each other." I didn't even have to pretend anymore because what I felt for Blake was real. "You should take Blake out. She's been making excuses, saying she has to stay home with me and Lilliana, but I told her she needed a night away."
Elena smiled. "We can do that. I figured she was busy with you and Lilliana."
I met her gaze. "She needs a night out. I want her to make connections here so she'll be more inclined to stay."
"You're worried she'll leave?" Elena rocked her chair.
I nodded, looking out over the property. "Things feel a little too good to be true right now."
"I remember what that felt like when Hudson and I were new. I was too happy. Surely, something had to go wrong."
"And it did," Hudson said with a raised brow. "That article came out and the social-media posts. All of it threatened our relationship."
Elena reached over and took his hand. "But we handled it together."
"I was stupid about it," Hudson grumbled.
I barely remembered that drama because I'd just found out that Oakley was pregnant. Everything seemed uncertain, but now I'd mostly managed life as a single dad. Things were finally working in my favor. "Hopefully, I'm not going to be stupid."
Hudson leveled me with a look. "Trust me, all guys are."
Elena laughed. "Every time one of your brothers screws up their relationship, they come to our house."
Hudson puffed out his chest. "And I straighten them out. I give them the advice that I needed when I wasn't thinking clearly about Elena."
I scowled. "I hope I won't need that advice."
"That's because I'm giving it to you now. Talk to her. Don't assume she knows how you feel or what you want."
"That's good advice," Elena said softly.
That made sense, but I was still scared to be upfront with Blake. I was worried I'd scare her off or she'd say she didn't want to be with me anymore.
We finished eating, and Elena cleaned up. "I'll let you guys get back to it."
We continued staking the maze, and the more we placed, the better I felt about the project. If I could handle something this big, then surely I could handle a healthy relationship. I had my parents and Hudson and Elena as examples. There was no way I could screw it up.
I snapped a picture of the maze and sent it to Blake.
She sent a picture of her playing in the sand with Lilliana. Suddenly, I wanted to be with them. "Let's clean up. I want to go to the beach and hang out with my girls."
Hudson nodded in approval. "We got a lot done today."
"I appreciate you helping out."
We placed the string and stakes in the bed of my truck, and Hudson hesitated as if he wanted to talk about something. "What's up?"
"Have you talked to Shep much lately?"
I sighed. "You know I've been wrapped up in this thing with Oakley for a long time. I'm ashamed to say I'm not as involved with anyone, even Brady."
I used to live with Brady until he moved Hazel in. When Oakley would kick me out, he finally sat me down and told me that I couldn't keep doing that. It wasn't good for his relationship with Hazel or mine with Oakley. I was grateful, but I didn't think I'd properly returned the favor.
"Shep's supposed to be renovating the house, but he's not asking any of us for help. I'm worried we gave him too much shit over the years."
