“A minivan would suck on this road. Make sure it’s all-wheel drive.”
I scowled. “I’m serious.”
“I am too. Do the emotional work. I doubt Summer’s moving on anytime soon from the funk I heard she’s in.” He smirked. “That’s why I’m not there cheering her up. She’s dated some doozies. You saw that asshole Boyd? He was the most ambitious of the bunch.” Teller shuddered.
The anger was back, but the target wasn’t Teller. Nameless, faceless men who weren’t good enough for Summer Kerrigan. My blood boiled hot enough to cook them all alive.
“She’s doing okay overall though?” She shouldn’t have to be as miserable as me. I was the one who’d done this to us.
“I’ll make sure of it. How about we unload these barrels and go grab a bite to eat?”
He said it so casually, so easily, it was almost like we’d gone back in time. His question shouldn’t be a big deal, but it was. The last time he’d asked, I’d probably had some caustic response likeDo I look like I can just go grab a bite?
I didn’t deserve Teller as a friend, no matter what he said. But I might need him. Just like I needed to talk to my parents. And I’d needed to hear what Jackie had had to say.
I was a long way from giving Summer everything she wanted. I had some work to do on myself, or I’d be just another nameless, faceless dick who didn’t treat her right.
And when that work was done, maybe I could inspect that longing every time I thought about how this house was supposed to be for so much more than me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Summer
My hand was in the grip of little Brinley as she toddled around the yard. I had Darin in a carrier, but he was getting squirmy. They’d both need a snack and a nap soon.
I was at Scarlett and Tate’s place. Tate was working somewhere on the ranch, and I was giving Scarlett and Chance time to go to town on their own. Tate was meeting them in town for lunch and then she’d send Chance with him to work and come home to talk.
I was ready to... I didn’t know. In the weeks since Jonah and I had broken up, I’d been listless. I’d wake up, go to work, work well past when everyone else left, then go home and watch movies. I’d learned to keep my morning alarm on even on the weekends, otherwise I’d fall asleep on the couch and sleep too late.
On the weekends, I went to help Wynter and Myles.Since I was around more, Myles would take his Denver trips over the weekend. Between me, Mama, and Autumn, we made sure Wynter got some sleep. Little Elsa wasn’t a fan of sleeping at night.
As for today, I had reached out to Scarlett since we didn’t get too much time together and she’d jumped on the chance to have some one-on-one time. I got the impression she wanted to check on me. I also got the impression everyone was worried about me.
I was worried about me, but not in the way everyone thought. Mama had said I might need time to work through what I really wanted, but mostly, I had needed time to reflect.
Darin wiggled his arms and legs. Brinley tripped, but I held her up.
“I go down,” she said.
“You almost did,” I agreed. “Snack?”
“Da!” Darin said.
I smiled and put my arm around him. My shoulders were aching, and my back was wondering why my cargo was moving so much, but I loved every minute. In the few months I’d been wrapped up in Jonah, I’d missed these kids. I’d missed having time with my sisters and Tate. While I saw Teller and Tenor at work, or at least talked with them on the phone or through email, I didn’t get to hang out with them as siblings.
I couldn’t put the blame solely on Jonah. I had wanted to spend every spare moment with him. After being with a guy who wasn’t invested in me like Boyd, it’d been nice to think someone was as tied up with me.
My heart hurt again. I took the kids inside. Someday, I would get over my heartache. I’d quit wondering what he was doing and if he’d continued getting out of his house. I’d quit obsessing if he’d started dating.
That last part piped caustic fuel into my veins. Only a month had passed. He couldn’t have moved on yet. Right?
I was splitting a muffin with Brinley when a car pulled up. Scarlett came into the house through the door to the garage. Her smile faltered as she took us in. “It’s definitely close to nap time.”
I tried to see the picture we made. Darin was sleepy eyed and he was pushing his muffin crumbs around on his highchair tray. Brinley had her head in one hand and was close to losing the battle with slumber. I was subdued. Fun Aunt Summer had been Mellow Aunt Summer lately.
“I was just going to clean them up and lay them down.”
She gestured for me to keep sitting. “I’ve got him. Brinley was chanting your name all morning, so I’ll let you tuck her in.”
