It was tense and awkward before I let out a harsh breath and let his words sink in, not realizing how much I’d needed to hear them. With a sharp, manly pat on each other’s backs, we let go.
Miller scratched the five o’clock shadow on his cheek. “That’s the spirit. Now what are you going to do about Summer?”
I thought about her, and what I wanted, knowing the answer before I opened my mouth. “I’m going to go all in. Maybe.”
“No maybes about it. Fuck yeah, you’ll go all in. Should we head out and grab a beer?”
“Good idea. Go see what Magnum is up to while I finish up here.”
“You got it, boss.” He saluted me and sauntered out the door before I slumped back into my chair, determined to update the work in progress log and then have a beer or three with my brothers.
Chapter 30
“So, Tuesday’s thebig day, right?” Dad asked, holding his empty coffee cup up and arching a brow from his recliner.
I smiled, standing from the couch and taking his cup and mine to the kitchen to refill. “Yeah. I have to be at the courthouse at ten.”
“You? I know you don’t think you’re going there alone, do you?”
“Of course not,” I said, adding creamer to my coffee but leaving his black before bringing them both back to the living room. “Maverick is coming with me, and I hope you are too.”
“Goddamn right I’m coming with you. I wouldn’t miss your lawyer giving Trey the old one-two.”
“This isn’t a ringside fight, Dad.”
“It might as well be with all the hoops he’s making you jump through.”
“Tell me about it,” I said, making a face as I took a sip of the bitter coffee before getting up to add more creamer. “I wasn’t expecting him to have character witnesses and subpoena our joint bank statements.”
“He can’t honestly think he’ll win though?”
“Who knows what he thinks, Dad. I’m just trying to stay positive.”
“Good for you. We’ll stop for breakfast before court and make sure you’re getting there with a clear head and full stomach.”
“You won’t hear any complaints from me,” I said, wincing as I sat down, the motion making my thighs ache. I knew I wasn’t in shape, but it was pathetic how sore I was after the latest round of naked yum-yum time with Maverick. I’d used muscles I didn’t know I had and still felt the pleasant stretch days later.
I turned back to the morning news, frowning as the weatherman updated the county on the tropical storm heading our way. By the time it made landfall outside of Savannah, the storm would become a tropical depression, and Charleston would feel the outer bands of heavy rain by Tuesday.
“So, you and Maverick?” Dad said as I side-eyed him from the couch, furrowing my brows. “That’s a thing now?”
I hadn’t expected that question, so I snatched a slice of toast from Dad’s plate on the table and took a bite before drumming my fingers on my thigh to buy some time while I chewed and thought of an answer.
“Yeah. I think it could be. He does too.”
“Are you happy? I mean—” Dad sighed and muted the television, turning to face me. “Does he make you happy?”
I wanted to answer with an immediate yes, but I paused, weighing his words and thinking about our short but intense time together. This thing with Maverick wasn’t simply a fling waiting to run its course. And with that simple question, I knew that not only was I happy, but I was excited to have finally found someone who sawme.
“I’m happy, Dad. Happy and terrified and hopeful of what’s to come.”
“Okay. Then I’m happy for you,” he said, rubbing his chin and taking the last piece of raisin toast from his plate. He hummed around the bite, for once not complaining about the low-fat cream cheese spread.
“Thanks.” I held my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop—I knew this man way too well to think that was the end of things.
“Yeah. Before you get too filled with gratitude, I should warn you… I, uh, might have made a mistake.”
And there it is.
