The sound of footsteps inside made Luke’s chest tighten. He wasn’t ready to face Noah again, wasn’t sure he could handle seeing more distance in those eyes he’d grown to love. Instead, he stared out at the darkness, trying to figure out how everything had gone so wrong so fast.
“We’re not leaving, are we?”Eli’s voice carried through the open window as Luke loaded coolers into his truck. The question stopped him in his tracks, his heart aching at the disappointment in the boy’s tone.
“No, buddy.” Noah’s response was gentle but strained. “We’ll stay until after lunch like we planned. Why don’t you go see what Mason and the girls are up to?”
Luke watched Eli trudge across the yard toward where the other kids were collecting rocks along the shoreline. The usually bouncy six-year-old moved with a heaviness that didn’t belong on his small frame, as if he sensed the tension crackling through the morning air.
“He’ll be okay.” Megan appeared beside Luke, her voice low. “Kids are resilient.”
“Yeah.” Luke forced himself to keep moving, to focus on the task at hand rather than the growing distance between him and the family he’d begun to think of as his own. “I just hate seeing him upset.”
“Luke.” Megan caught his arm, forcing him to look at her. “What’s really going on? And don’t tell me nothing—I heard you and Noah on the balcony last night.”
Luke’s throat tightened. “He’s scared. After yesterday, he thinks being with me makes him a bad father because he wasn’t on the dock with Eli when he fell in.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Megan’s grip softened. “Anyone can see how good the three of you are together. And he’s one of the best dads I know.”
“Tell that to Noah.” Luke tried to smile but knew it fell flat. “He thinks I’m just playing at being a family. That I’ll get bored and leave, and Eli will be the one hurt by it.”
“Oh, honey.” Megan pulled him into a tight hug. “That’s not going to happen, and you know it. You’re in love with them.”
“Doesn’t matter if Noah won’t let himself believe it.” Luke pulled back, needing space before he completely fell apart. Across the yard, he could see Noah watching them, his expression unreadable. “I should finish loading up.”
“Luke—”
“Morning!” Drew’s cheerful voice cut through the tension as he emerged from the house carrying another cooler. “Kids want to get one more boat ride in before lunch. You two up for it?”
Luke wanted to go, but he didn’t need the rest of his family figuring out something was up. Noah and Eli should go without him. “Actually, I should probably help Mom with lunch prep.”
“I’ve got that covered,” Megan said firmly. “Go. Have fun with the kids.”
“No, I’m not really up for a ride,” Luke lied. He glared at his sister, silently begging him to let it go. Luckily, she did.
From the dock, he heard Eli’s excited chatter as Drew helped the kids into their life jackets. “Can I ride in the tube by myself? Please, Dad?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea today, buddy.” Noah’s voice carried across the water. “Maybe next time.”
Luke’s hand clenched around the tailgate handle. Next time. As if there would be a next time when Noah had already decided they couldn’t be together.
“He’s not necessarily breaking up with you, you know.”
Luke jumped at Megan’s voice. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“He’s scared,” Megan said softly. “And yeah, he’s handling it badly. But I’ve known Noah since high school—he doesn’t letpeople in easily. The fact that he let you get this close means something.”
“Does it?” Luke knew it wasn’t fair to be pissy with his sister, but he didn’t want her to give him false hope. The boat engine revved, and he watched as Drew, Noah, and the kids took off without him. It felt symbolic in a way. “Because from where I’m standing, he’s already decided I’m a distraction.”
“No, he’s decided throwing everything he has into being a single parent is safer than risking his heart.” Megan leaned against the truck, her expression serious. “Sound familiar?”
Luke looked away, unable to face the knowing look in his sister’s eyes. Because she was right—hadn’t he spent years avoiding anything real, convincing himself he was better off alone?
“The difference is,” Megan continued gently, “you’re ready now. Ready to fight for what you want. The question is, are you going to fight for them? Or are you going to let Noah’s fears push you away?”
Before Luke could respond, a shout of laughter drew their attention to the lake. Drew had the boat idling while the kids took turns jumping into the water, Noah watching from the stern. Even from this distance, Luke could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his attention never left Eli.
“I can’t fight if he won’t let me in,” Luke said finally. “And right now, he’s so caught up in his fears that he can’t see what he’s doing to all of us.”
“Then maybe you need to show him.” Megan squeezed his arm. “Don’t give up on them, Luke. They’re worth fighting for.”
