He laughs. “I’m sorry I doubted your skill.” His eyes soften on me, and damn, that fluttery feeling comes back.
I clear my throat and set the cake on the rack to cool while we’re gone. “I used to have tea parties with Lianna. We’d make little mini cakes and set them out on trays. Haven’t done that in a while, though.” Soon. I miss her so much. “When we get back, we can frost it.”
“Why haven’t you done that with her in a while?” I look down at my leg. “Oh, yeah.”
It’s been about four months since the accident, and I just want to live again. I want to be me again. “I think I’m pushing them all away because I don’t want to tell them I can’t play.”
“It won’t make it any less real.” It’s a truth, I know, but it still hurts. “Maybe the doctors are wrong. Maybe you can?—”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to do that. I have to make peace with reality.” The thing is, for the first month after, I thought maybe I could defeat the odds. I saw the X-rays, and while I’m not a doctor, I’ve had plenty of medical professionals poke at me over the years. I know a shitty X-ray when I see one. I’m lucky I can even walk on the leg at all with my knee.
“Well, it smells good. Great job, Uncle Greyson.” Felix smiles down at the cake, his warm eyes taking it in. Damn, he’s got pretty eyes. Okay, maybe this day has less to do withhis birthday and more to do with the warm feeling I get when he’s around me. It’s like this soft heat that just fills me up.
Felix is easy to talk to, soft spoken and reasonable. When I don’t listen, he gives me this scrunched look that makes me smile. He doesn’t put up with my shit anymore either, and I love the confidence he’s gained by putting me in my place.
Like it maybe a little too much. “I don’t think anyone has ever made me a cake.”
That catches me. “Not your ex?”
Felix chews his bottom lip. “No, he never did,” he says softly. “There’s a reason he’s my ex.”
And I’m sure it has nothing to with not making him a cake.
“I do have one more present for you before we go.”
“Grey, you’ve done enough.” I ignore him, going into my living room and grabbing the small gift bag. “What is this?” Felix peeks into the bag, frowning. “A phone?”
“Just in case I need you. I didn’t think you had one for work.” After the way he reacted to the clothes, I’d wanted to give him time to adjust before I gave it to him. I don’t want to overwhelm him. “This one has my number in it. I just put it on my family plan. Alyssa’s number is in there, and it’s connected to the ring cameras around the house just in case I can’t get to the door. Make sure to check who it is before you open it.” I peek around his shoulder. “If it’s one of my idiot friends, you can unlock the door from here.” I show him how it works. “I have to be careful. It rarely happens, but I sometimes get fans who find my house. It freaks me out. If you don’t know who’s at the door, do not open it. Okay?”
I wait for him to freak out, but instead his eyes meet mine, hitting me with the full force of that bright brown gaze free of any fear. So clear. It’s like over the last month all the light pollution faded away leaving behind a clear sky bursting with stars. “Thank you.”
“No problem. It’s nothing fun, I know, but I thought you could use one.”
He shakes his head, looking at it, thinking things I can’t read on his face. He looks back up at me and shocks me by wrapping his arms around me. It takes a moment for my brain to wake up and hug him back. My hand lands on the small of his back, and I have the urge to pull him forward. “Thank you.” His hands trail down my spine leaving tingles in their path.
My dick takes notice.
I break the hug, pulling away, needing space. “Anytime.”
“Did you grow up around here?”
It’s been about half an hour and nothing is biting. I don’t mind, though. I can fish all day and not catch a thing. Just sitting out here is good enough. I love nature. I love warm days, a soft breeze, and nothing but trees in front of me.
I wish I could say my attention has all been on the fishing, but I can’t stop thinking about that hug. It was just a damn hug, but I swear I can still feel his hands on my back. Right. Felix asked a question. “No. We’re from Raleigh, North Carolina. We moved when I got drafted.”
“You and your sister?”
“And my mother.” I like that he’s talking to me. He was a little weird while we were driving around town. I could feel the anxiety coming from him. I don’t know what’s up with him, but at least he’s out of the house. I can tell he’s nervous, but he’s trying.
“Where is your mother?”
“She had MS; she died a few years ago.”
“Oh, I’m really sorry about that.” He waits a moment. Ialready know what he’s going to ask. “What about your father?”
Maybe I should tell him. “My father was the chief of police in a small town near where we grew up.” I sigh. “He died in the line of duty.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry.”
