“See you in a bit.”
Stone disconnected the call but didn’t move for several minutes. Hope now flared hot and bright in his chest. It was almost enough to make him turn around and head home, but he forced himself to turn off the truck. Seeing Stevie was the only thing he wanted to do, but this was important. After all, this was the only way he could secure his future so that he could give Stevie and Nico everything they deserved.
The longing and hope he’d been feeling morphed into confidence as he walked into the restaurant. It wavered slightly when he saw Kaleb and Sawyer but not Travis.
“Look at you, boy,” Sawyer greeted with a wide grin as he got to his feet. “All grown up and shit.”
Stone couldn’t remember ever seeing his wild-as-fuck cousin without one of those grins. Back in the day, Sawyer had been the troublemaker every wild boy in town wanted to be like.
Sawyer pulled him in for a back-jarring hug. When he stepped back, his grin widened.
Kaleb was standing now, holding out his hand. Stone shook it but ended up in another brotherly embrace.
“And you two,” Stone said as he pulled out a chair. “All domesticated and shit.”
Sawyer flashed a proud grin as he ran his hand down his shirt like he was showing off his new duds. “Looks good on me, huh?”
“It does, actually.” Stone looked at Kaleb. “You don’t look half bad either.”
Kaleb snorted a laugh. “Thanks. I’ve got twice as many kids as he does. I expect to look a little more worn.”
“How are those rugrats, anyway?”
“Wild and untamed,” Kaleb teased.
“Mason’s what? Ten now?”
“About to be. In a few days. He’s countin’ down.”
“Double digits is a big deal,” Stone joked.
“That’s what they tell me.”
“That makes Kellan what? Eight? Barrett seven and Gabe Six?”
“You do read those Christmas cards we send.”
“I keep track as best I can.” Stone looked at Sawyer. “Matthew’s seven and Brody’s five, right?”
“I’m impressed, Jameson.”
“What? That I keep track? Or that I can count to ten?”
Sawyer barked a laugh, which drew the attention of several people.
Stone looked around, expecting Travis to walk up any second.
“He’s not comin’,” Kaleb finally said. “He doesn’t leave the house much these days.”
Stone knew his cousin had a lot going on, so he decided to leave it at that.
The waitress appeared, so the three of them rattled off their orders.
“He said to tell you to do whatever you want,” Sawyer informed him when she was gone. “And just to ease your mind a bit, we’re right there with him.”
“Well, hell. I worked on a presentation and everything. I was gonna have the waitress bring out a projection screen. Got my laser pointer.”
Kaleb looked at Sawyer. “I don’t think he’s kiddin’.”
