“Just because you’re so loved. Gotta make sure that you’re safe.”
He snorts. “More like trying to suck the fun out of everything.” This gets an actual laugh out of me because the man is entirely full of shit.
“Listen, I know for afactthat you and Ellison got the big tractor stuck this week.”
“Don’t be telling all my secrets.” His grin is full of mischief. And even though the cat’s out of the bag, it’s still a lot of fun watching Montana’s eye twitch every time he hears the call that the tractor’s stuck.
“Haven’t seen you around much. What have you been up to?”
“I saw you last week,” I say, turning my head just to look at him. His smile is wide as if I didn’t know damn well that he’s trying to push my buttons.
“Got tangled up over that girl, huh?”
“More than a little,” I say, unable to stop myself from smiling. “I met her parents tonight.”
“That’s a big step,” he says, sounding a little surprised.
“Yeah, I’m exhausted,” I admit. “We got into it a little bit, she and I. Things with her ex are messy, and she was trying to handle it on her own.” I swallow hard. “She tried to push me away. We talked it out eventually, but it was that and then her parents brought Beck and Holland home and we had dinner.” I stare at him out of the corner of my eye. “It was a whole thing.”
He chuckles. “Sounds like it.” But when I don’t say anything, he adds, “So why the long face?”
“It’s the first time in my life I have more than me and my brother to worry about. The choices I make affect them too.”
“Part of growin’ up, son.”
“I know, but”—I fight back the wave of emotion and count to five before forcing out the words—“I’m scared I’ll fail them. That I won’t be enough.”
“Pull over up there,” he says, motioning ahead with his hand. Following his direction, I ease the truck onto the side of the road and put it in park. He grunts, unbuckling his belt as he turns to face me. “You should be scared.”
The words are like a punch to the gut, his eyes serious as he stares at me. “Thanks for that,” I manage, trying to infuse some levity as my lungs constrict in my chest.
Grandad rolls his eyes and pokes his finger against my chest. “If you’re not scared, you’re not doin’ it right. Be a good partner, father, and friend. Tell her she’s right even when she’s not, and for the love of all that is holy, look for your damn keys before you ask her where they are.”
“Sage advice.”
“Don’t be smart with me, boy.” He delivers the line with a straight face, but it’s not long before a smile splits his cheeks. “Age means nothing when it comes to the miles on your boots, and you,”—he nods toward me—“have done a lot of walkin’.”
“Yeah,” I whisper as his bear of a hand settles on my shoulder.
“You bring ’em to the house when you’re ready. Celeste and I would love to meet them.”
“Celeste, huh?” I tease, getting us back on the road as he puts his seatbelt back in place.
He shrugs. “Nan will always be my girl, but it’s nice to have some company now too.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Me too. Just remember what I said.”
“Which part?”
“All of it, son. Remember all of it.”
31
MASON
I’d taken Grandad’s advice and tried to rememberall of itin the week that had passed since I brought him home. I’d split my time between Bodhi and our dogs and Lana and the kids.
