"Uncle Ace, you need to stop being sad now."
I arch an eyebrow. "What if I can't help it, bud?"
"Then come and play in the yard with Gary. He'll make you happy again."
I laugh, and this time, it's real. Because this six-year-old probably isn't wrong. Running around with a crazy goat for an hour might make me feel something.
Watching Gary headbutt Hunter would definitely bring some sort of joy.
"Gary is not coming inside today, Wyatt," Hunter calls out as he walks in.
He wraps his arm around Lola's waist and pulls her against him. I have to look away.
This is one thing I'm grateful for. My family. Because if they weren't here, I'd be even more of a fucking mess.
Violet comes and sits beside me.
"Dad. Please. Ace needs Gary," Wyatt whines.
"Don't bring me into this!" I joke.
Colten hands me a beer.
"I'll come see Gary with you, okay?" Colten tells Wyatt.
Wyatt jumps to his feet and gives me my hat back.
"Colt, I mean it. That damn goat ate my boots last night. I don't want to even look at him," Hunter says.
Violet giggles beside me. And in that instant, Jett's eyes are on her. I clock it. He clocks me clocking it. We both pretend it didn't happen.
"You good?" I ask her quietly.
She's been quiet recently. Since finding out she's pregnant, we haven't seen her much.
She turns to me, running her fingers through her black hair, and nods.
"I'm okay, Ace. Are you?"
I shrug. "I'll get there, I guess."
She gives me a sad smile and rests her head on my shoulder.
"Life is being a bit unfair to us at the moment, isn't it?" she whispers.
I rest my head against hers. I'm not used to seeing Violet like this—she's usually a ball of fire. Sharp tongue, sharper elbows, the kind of woman who'd fight a man twice her size and win through sheer stubbornness.
"V, I promise, we're going to be fine. Just a rough patch. That's what my mom used to tell me."
She rests her hands on her growing belly.
"I'm kinda scared, Ace. I don't know how to be a mom. How am I meant to do this on my own?"
I close my eyes. My problems feel like nothing compared to hers.
"You aren't on your own, V. You're an honorary Sterling now. The sister I never had. You'll be the best mom. But never alone. You hear me?"
She sniffles beside me. I wrap my arm around her and let her cry into my shirt.
