Page 5 of Under the Radar

I took a sip of my beer. I thought about how excited Hannah was the day before, mulling over colors, asking if maybe we could paint the living room too. She had walked around the garden again, full of ideas about what vegetables and flowers to plant. I could hardly wait for her to move in and get to know her more.

“…you should really think about it, Chase.”

I looked up, startled. I had been so deep in my thoughts, I hadn’t heard what Brett said.

“What?”

He laughed. “I said you should get over this issue with your money. Buy the house. It’s a good, solid investment. You’re not proving anything by keeping the money in the bank.”

Stefano nodded, lifting the lid of the barbecue and basting the meat again. “You won’t even touch the principal to buy the house. So technically, you’re not using your dad’s money. You’re using the money you made with it. And Brett is right. You like the place. You can buy it, do some improvements, and make it yours—really yours.”

I pursed my lips. They made sense. And if the place were mine, Hannah could do whatever she wanted and I wouldn’t have to get permission. I could give her leave to do whatever made her happy.

“I think you’re right,” I said.

They both stopped what they were doing.

“Come again?” Brett said.

“You’re right. I should buy it. It would be the smart move.”

“But…?” he asked.

“No buts. I’ll call Mr. Hyde later and sit down with him and figure out a price. We can avoid using a real estate agent, and I’ll cover the legal fees. It can be quick.”

They both looked shocked, and I clapped Brett’s shoulder. “Good talk, guys. Thanks.”

I grinned as I walked away. I knew that wasn’t the last I would hear about this. But it was worth it to have rendered them speechless.

Even for a moment.

* * *

I joined Mack and Theo kicking around the ball. I lifted Thomas high, tickling him, and I pushed him on the swing for a while. I went to grab a cold water and noticed Charly talking to the boys. Maxx was with them, Vivvy cradled in his embrace, and they were all deep in conversation. I tried not to laugh as their heads turned my way and Charly spun on her heel, heading my direction. I sat down, knowing there was no place I could run, and waited for the invasion.

Three…Two…

“So, you’ve decided to buy the house now?” she asked, sitting beside me. “What changed your stubborn, pigheaded mind all of a sudden?”

“Hello to you too, Charly.”

“Don’t change the subject, Chase. Maxx has already been on my nerves today, and I am incapable of bull pucky.”

I bit back my laughter. “Did he not approve of your outfit?”

“What the blazes is wrong with my outfit?”

“Nothing.” I paused and took a drink. “But I’m not your husband.”

She looked fine. Beautiful, in fact. She wore a pretty, loose tunic that fell to her knees. The problem was there was a way of gathering up the material at the sides, and she had done so. Her thighs were on display, which was hardly indecent, but to Maxx, it was like a target. He would zoom in on her exposed skin and rant for hours. It amused all of us, and Charly did it to rile him up.

“I have shorts on under this,” she hissed. “Don’t you start too.”

I chuckled, thinking I had gotten her mind off the subject, but I was wrong.

“Now, the house,” she continued.

“I decided you were right. I was being foolish not to buy a place, so I am going to buy the house from Mr. Hyde so I don’t have to move. Simple.”