Lennox’s steps faltered only for a moment before she fell back in line beside me. I expected her to question Charlie, to question me, but she didn’t. She remained silent as we got backto the room full of kids and watched Charlie tear into her lunch. When I called for everyone’s attention, we marched back to the arena, double checking all children were present. We were going to spend the afternoon watching my sister and a few ranch hands show off what their horses could do.
It wasn’t until we were done, standing outside watching the line of cars pulling up the drive, that she finally turned to me. Her blue eyes scanned my face, but nothing gave away her thoughts. She was stone-faced and quiet, which was even more terrifying since Lennox was never one to censor herself or her emotions. I envied that about her.
“What is it?” I laughed, trying to dispel the awkwardness hanging between us. “You’ve been acting strange all afternoon.”
Lennox trained her gaze ahead. I couldn’t be sure, but it felt like it was on one very specific shiny truck at the back of the line. “I’ve been thinking?—”
“Uh oh, that feels dangerous,” I mumbled.
I expected her to laugh, but she didn’t. If anything, her jaw grew tight. “You know I love you, right?”
I blinked. “Uh, yeah? You’re my sister. It’s obligatory.”
“No, it’s not,” she said. “Everyone thinks families are required to love each other, but they aren’t. I love you because I chose to. Because it makes me happy,youmake me happy. And it’s because I love you that I say this…” She put her hand on my shoulder, giving it a single squeeze. “I want you to find your happiness, too, Cleo.” And then she walked away, waving at a parent who’d just wrapped their kid in a big hug.
Charlie tugged on my hand, pointing excitedly to where Grady had just pulled to a stop. He hopped out of the truck, smiling when he saw the two of us standing together. “Daddy!” she squealed, jumping up and down. “Can I go see him, Miss Cleo?”
“Go ahead,” I said, nodding his way.
Before I’d even finished, she took off like a bolt of lightning. Her tiny body collided with his, the force of her nearly toppling him as he bent down to give her a hug.
Normally, I would’ve turned away by now. I would’ve focused my attention on anything, or anyone, else, but I couldn’t bring myself to. There was too much joy between them. Their smiles were wide, their eyes were bright, and the love they shared was nearly overwhelming. It wasn’t until Charlie turned my way and pointed that I remembered I was gawking awkwardly at a tender moment between my ex and his daughter.
He stood up confidently, maybe even a little smug, and clasped Charlie’s hand as they strode over to me. The cotton of his faded t-shirt bunched along his muscled forearms and broad shoulders. It was strange seeing the whole ass man in front of me when I’d only known the boy he used to be. He’d come a long way from gangly limbs and wild blond hair tucked beneath a cap.
“Daddy! Guess what Miss Cleo and I found today?” Charlie said as she skidded to a stop in front of me.
“What do you and Miss Cleo find today?” he asked, blue eyes flitting between me and his daughter. I think he was waiting for me to shut it down, to walk away, but I didn’t. Some part of me wanted to, but I selfishly wanted to see his reaction.
“When we were in class, I saw this treehouse and wanted to explore it.” His gaze jumped to mine, and I nearly burned with the intensity I saw in his eyes. “So, I did, and at first I was sad because this treehouse didn’t have any magic like the one from the story, but then Miss Cleo and I saw baby birds outside the window!”
I didn’t have to feel my cheeks to know they were flushed from thinking about what Grady had told Charlie, and how our past was now intertwined with the present. Grady’s voice was hoarse as he said, “Birds, huh?”
“And they were blue, Daddy! I’ve never seen bluebirds before, but they were so pretty. Can I have one as a pet? Can we take them home?”
Grady and I shared a laugh. “I think they already have a home, sunshine.”
Charlie’s shoulders slumped for only a moment before she swung around and grabbed my hands. “Will you keep an eye on them while I’m gone tonight? And can we check on them tomorrow?”
“I thought you said treehouses weren’t for you?” I asked, raising a brow.
“I changed my mind.”
“If you’re sure,” I said slowly. “But let’s wait until I can get someone to replace the ladder, okay?”
“And what about Daddy? Can he come too?”
I looked over her head to where Grady stood. The emotion on his face was hard to read. Pained but filled with relief. Happy and yet there was sorrow, too. Honestly, it didn’t make sense, but when had it ever? We’d once gone from mere acquaintances to everything to nothing in a matter of years. And now he was here, and I would’ve been a liar to say there wasn’t something still between us. What that was, I had no idea.
But I wanted to find out.
Maybe Rachel was right. It was time to stop running and just ask the questions that needed to be asked. To hear him out once and for all.
“If he wants?—”
“I do,” he said eagerly. His fists clenched tightly at his side. “I mean, I think I’d like that very much.”
“Have you gotten over your fear of heights?”
