“Oh, honey, so do I. But I know he’s proud of you. We both are. Now, tell me why you keep sayingthey.”
I chuckled and scratched Lady’s ear. Nothing ever slipped by Mom.
“Rey wants to adopt Harris,” I admitted. “He hasn’t said it, but I know he does.”
Mom sucked in a breath. “And how do you feel about that?”
I pictured the way Reyes looked with Harris on the beach the other day, and smiled. “I think I want it too, Mom. I can see us together, and I care for the kid a lot more than I ever expected to.”
There was a muffled sound and an excited squeal that made me laugh.
“Don’t get your hopes up. Rey and I still need to talk.”
She waited a beat. “You love him, don’t you?” she asked gently.
I closed my eyes and finally allowed the truth to work its way to the surface. I hadn’t said it out loud yet, but I’d felt it in the deepest part of me for a while now. “He’s the one, Mom. He’s the guy I never thought I’d find. Never evenwantedto find really.” I let out an amused laugh. “And to think that if I hadn’t lost that bet with Beckett, I never would have met him.”
Mom laughed. She’d heard the story once already. “I like him too. He’s a good man. Did he tell you he bought into the business?” she asked.
I had no idea how she knew about that, but answered anyway. “Yeah.”
“Good. Just talk to him about this, son. Tell him your fears and let him decide if you’re worth it.”
I bit my lip because I already fucking knew the answer to that. He’d told me more than once.
“I know. I will. It just helps talking to you. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Let me know if you’re coming for Grant’s funeral.”
“I will. Talk to you soon.”
I set my phone down as soon as we hung up. Lady had fallen asleep in my lap during my conversation, and she was so warm and comfortable against the cold morning air that I couldn’t bring myself to move. We stayed there for a good thirty minutes while I thought about my future. Really, I already knew what I wanted to do, even if it still made me feel selfish for accepting it. I wasn’t going to turn my back on it any longer.
Finally, when I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer, I forced myself to my feet and, with Lady at my side, began walking back to town. It wasn’t until I bumped into someone on the sidewalk that I realized how lost in my own head I’d become.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“Someone’s not awake yet,” a familiar voice teased. I turned to see Isaac only about a foot away, bundled in a jacket and beanie. “I said your name twice, and you still walked right into me.” He tilted his head to the side and studied me for a moment. “Are you okay?”
It was an innocent question, yet the sincerity behind it nearly brought tears to my eyes. I was too emotionally raw to be in public right now.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I said quickly.
He pursed his lips, folding his arms over his chest to ward off the sudden gust of cold wind.
“You don’t look okay. What’s up?”
I knew Isaac was the kind of guy who wouldn’t let me go without some kind of an answer. He was a nice guy, but he was also nosy and persistent as all hell.
I sighed. “I just heard a family friend died. He was kind of an uncle to me, so it’s just a bit of a shock,” I admitted. It was only a half truth, but he didn’t need to know the stuff about Reyes and Harrison.
Isaac’s expression fell, and he immediately dropped his arms. “Oh, shit, Jake. I’m so sorry. That’s awful,” he said. He looked as if he wanted to hug me, but only gestured over his shoulder instead. “Do you want a coffee? I was just going to grab one before work.”
“No, I’m okay.” I really needed to leave so I could get home to Reyes.
Isaac clearly didn’t believe me, but he also didn’t try again. “Okay. Well, if you need someone, just call, okay? Or you can call Brad, too. We’re your friends. I hope you know that.”
I nodded and began walking down the sidewalk again but turned back. “Hey Isaac!” He met my eyes. “Thank you.”
Isaac’s kindness stayed with me the rest of the walk home. Making friends was just another thing I hadn’t expected when I’d moved to Reedsport. Besides Beckett and a couple others, I hadn’t really felt needed or appreciated by anyone, and in truth, I’d come to prefer it that way. It was safer being in my own little cocoon. Easier too. It was why I had been able to just pack up and leave as soon as I heard Beckett was skipping town. I’d had nothing to hold me back, no one to miss or who would miss me when I was gone, other than my mom.
That wasn’t the case now. In just three months, the people of Reedsport—Brad, Isaac, and Preston especially—had welcomed me into their fold as if I were family. They had even shown up to watch me play soccer at the fundraiser when I hadn’t mentioned it even once. Whether I wanted them to or not, no matter how much I tried to protect myself and them from it, I knew each of them would stillfeel itif something were to happen to me.
And wasn’t that the same for Reyes? How had I ever expected anything else from him? Reyeslovedme. And all I’d done was hold him at an arm’s distance.
You’re worth it to me. I love you, Jake.
“I love you too, Rey,” I whispered under my breath before picking up the pace.
