“When’s your sister’s funeral?”
“This afternoon at the Lost City Bar and Grill.” A Grave Sons hangout, naturally. “My sister always said she wanted something small with just friends.”
I wasn’t sure how Colter planned to pull that off, given what kind of man he was, but I’d be there. Someone needed to remember her for the joy she brought to the world, not the nightmare she’d been trapped in. Showing up might not help my custody case, but I needed Colter to see that I wasn’t backing down. I was here, and I was ready to fight.
“What time?”
“There is no way Ari, your brother, or I would allow you to come to a funeral at a bar.” Especially Ari. That man was protective of her before she got pregnant. He’d become militant the last time I saw them.
“Fine,” she said with a groan. “How’s your nephew? Is he okay?”
“I haven’t met him yet. Ms. Chen is supposed to send me an email with all the information. All I know so far is that I have a court hearing tomorrow at nine in the morning.”
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Anna said, her voice full of hope. “What’s his name?”
“Elias.”
Anna sucked in a soft breath. “Oh, it’s beautiful. I love it.” I felt a sudden shift and I could almost see her smiling. “Our kids can grow up together.”
I swallowed hard. “That sounds… nice.” But the ache in my chest reminded me how impossible everything felt.
“Call me after the funeral,” she said gently. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I will.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
The line clicked off just as I returned to the French doors to catch the sun beginning to peek over the fence, lighting up a baby blue sky dotted with puffy clouds.
I took a deep breath, trying to let the beauty of the morning ease the ache in my chest. Perhaps there was comfort in knowing Maya loved bluebonnets, and the patio was bursting with them. Maybe, in some small way, she would’ve smiled seeing this. I couldn’t change the past, but I could give her son a chance at a better future. The thought settled something inside me, if only for a moment.
“It’s gorgeous.”
I screamed and jumped, then turned to face Jason.
“Don’t sneak up on people like that!” I squeaked.
He held his hands up. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d heard me approaching. It wasn’t like I was being stealthy.”
“It’s okay.” I palmed the spot over my heart and took a deep breath. “I was just lost in thought.”
“I smelled the coffee…” His eyes roamed over me. “And I was awake…”
It suddenly dawned on me that I’d wandered into the kitchen in a midriff T-shirt and shorts. I hooked a thumb towards the stairs. “I’ll go get on something more appropriate.”
His gaze traveled from the top of my head to my bare feet. “You look pretty great to me. I’m not complaining.”
Heat traveled up my neck, lighting my ears on fire.
“My hair is a mess. I have morning breath. I?—”
He grinned. “You’re fine.”
No,hewas fine. This was the first time I’d seen him in anything other than dress pants and a button-down shirt. He was delicious in his gray T-shirt and pajama pants. Even his mussed hair looked styled on purpose.
“It’s also okay if you want to change if you’re uncomfortable.” As he spoke, he drew closer until he was standing right in front of me.
