"Why not?"
"Haven't met anyone."
"Bullshit." Luke sets down his drill and looks at me. "You've been here six years, man. You're telling me not one woman in this town has caught your eye?"
I keep my face neutral. "Not really my priority."
"Maybe it should be."
"You dating anyone?" I counter.
He grins. "Touché, but I've got an excuse. Someone's gotta look out for Callie."
My chest tightens at her name. I focus on hammering the next board into place.
"She seems like she's doing fine on her own," I say carefully.
"She is. Doesn't mean she doesn't need someone watching her back." Luke pauses. "You know she works seventy-hour weeks? Hasn't taken a day off in three months?"
"Sounds familiar."
"Yeah, well, she gets it from our old man. She’s as stubborn as hell, too focused on work to see what's right in front of her."
I don't ask what he means by that. I don't want to know.
We finish the south side and move to the railing. Luke hands me a water from the cooler. We sit on the steps and look at our progress.
"Can I tell you something?" Luke asks.
"Sure."
"I'm glad you moved here. After everything that happened over there, I wasn't sure you'd make it."
I take a drink of water. "Wasn't sure either."
"But you did. You built yourself a good life. Got your head straight." He glances at me. "You're one of the best men I know, Ethan. I trust you with my life. You know that, right?"
The words hit harder than they should. I nod because I can't speak.
"I mean it," Luke continues. "If I ever needed someone to look out for Callie, if something happened to me, I'd want it to be you."
I force myself to meet his eyes. "Nothing's going to happen to you."
"I know. But if it did." He claps me on the shoulder. "You're the only person I'd trust with her. The only one."
He gets up and heads back to the deck. I sit there with my water and the weight of his words pressing down on my chest.
Luke trusts me.
Luke trusts me with his life, with his sister's safety, with everything that matters to him.
And I'm sitting here wanting things I have no right to want.
We work until noon. The deck is finished, and Luke is pleased with how it turned out. He offers me lunch, but I decline. I need to get home. Need some distance.
"Thanks for the help," he says, walking me to my truck.
"Anytime."
