Chapter 18
Harper
Iwas happierthan I’d ever been in my entire life.
It had been two months since I’d moved in with Bas, a month since I’d started working with Bird, and two days before, we’d put an offer on a dilapidated house on five acres that was about half a mile from my parents’ house and that Uncle Tommy told us had good bones. I couldn’t really see the vision yet, but Ihadfallen in love with the crown molding and large bay window that Uncle Tommy had assured me he could restore.
Everything was falling into place.
“I probably should’ve driven the rental truck,” Bas said, glancing at the rearview mirror in my new SUV.
“Contrary to popular belief, Forrest is no longer twelve years old,” I reminded him. “He drives the wrecker all the time. I think he can handle a box truck.”
“You sure?” he said, smirking at me. “He can’t be older than thirteen.”
“I don’t know why he lets you guys give him so much shit,” I mused, leaning forward to turn on my heated seat.
“It’s when we stop givin’ people shit that they should be concerned,” Bas replied, switching lanes.
“True.”
“Did you ever find out who’s meetin’ us up there?” Bas asked, a little nervously.
We were finally going to go through his childhood home, and he’d been on edge since we’d started planning.
“Myla and Cian. Frankie and Gray. Brody. Titus.” I counted off on my fingers. “Everyone else had stuff going on this weekend.”
Bas nodded.
“And you told Arlo we’d be there,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, he wasn’t sure if he’d make it out.”
Reaching over, I set my hand on his thigh.
It was a huge fucking day.
When we’d discussed going through his mom’s house, he’d debated whether or not he should use that to reach out to his brothers and hadn’t come to a decision until the last minute. He’d sent a letter to Mateo in prison, but he hadn’t heard back yet, and my poor man had been jumping out of his skin every time his phone rang since then.
“If he shows, he shows,” I said pragmatically. “If he doesn’t—you’ve already made the first move. Now it’s up to him.”
“I’m worried we’re not gonna get through it all today. There’s a whole life in that house.”
“Probably not,” I agreed. “That’s why we got the storage unit. Relax, baby.”
Bas nodded, but he didn’t relax a single iota.
“If it’s too much, we’ll just come back a different day,” I said, running my thumb back and forth over his jeans. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Everyone’s already headed up there,” Bas argued. “Drivin’ for two hours and wastin’ an entire Saturday.”
“They won’t mind,” I assured him. “They just want it to be okay foryou.”
God, he was strung as tight as a wire. It hadn’t even been this bad when we’d gone to the meeting with the attorney.
“So, do you really think that Tommy can fix up that house in our budget?” I asked, trying to distract him.
“Yeah,” Bas replied. “Especially with the Hawthorne boys pitchin’ in after work to help me. Plus, Bishop is going to deal with the foundation and the structural damage on the east side at cost.”
