“That may be true, but like I said, she’s got things going on, so you’re stuck with me.”
He leans back in his seat, and I can still see his wheels turning.
“So, did you make it worth her while?”
I almost spit my shake across the room, fighting for my life when a laugh slips. “Damn, right to the point, huh?”
He shrugs. “Seems like a fair question.”
No wonder my brothers and I are so crass.
“We didn’t actually do anything that would make itworth her while,” I explain. “We just slept together.Literallyslept together.”
The look of disappointment on his face has me smiling again.
“Well, what’s your next move?”
I take another sip, then shrug. “Honestly, I’ve been scared to think too far ahead.”
He looks at me like I’m an idiot. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what he’s thinking.
“Do I have to tell you how to do everything?” He rolls his eyes and rests both elbows on the counter. “She decided to stay last night, which means her heart’s soft toward you right now. This is when you have to be the most careful. This is when a move in the right or wrong direction can either make or break you.”
I hear him, but I’ve fucked things up one too many times to trust myself making big decisions like this.
“Since you seem to know how all this works, I’m open to suggestions.”
He rolls his eyes again. “Well, for starters, you need to commit to putting in the work to not only get your wife back but also fixing whatever’s broken insideyourself. That’s the key to keeping her.”
He means for that to sit heavy with me, and it does. I have a lot of work to do, and that isn’t lost on me. Basically, my shoulder isn’t the only part of me that needs to heal. My head and my heart need just as much work as the rest of me.
“I’m trying, but it feels like it’s never enough. I’ll think I’m doing the right thing, I’ll think I’m making progress, only to realize I’ve been completely delusional.”
Grandpa sighs. “Take out your phone.”
I arch a brow at him, but he doesn’t explain, so I do as I’m told. Then, I await further instruction.
“Send her a text,” he says. “Ask if she’ll have dinner with you.”
I go to my text thread with Blue, but don’t start typing right away. He doesn’t know the full story about last night, so I’m wondering if he’d still think this is a good idea if he did.
“There’s something you should know first,” I speak up. “I… was arrested last night.”
I can barely meet his gaze, but when I do there’s no judgment there. Only concern.
“What happened? Why didn’t someone wake me?”
“There wasn’t any point in ruining your night, too,” I explain. “But as far as what happened… Blue’s contactor stepped out of line, and I handled it.”
Doesn’t seem like I need to say more than that when Grandpa gives a thoughtful nod.
“And I take it Blue wasn’t too happy about you flying off the handle.”
I sip and shake my head. “Nope. She was not.”
Grandpa’s silent while he thinks some more.
“Well, I can see how this might complicate things, but even after all that, she still stuck this out with you.”
