“Ask him tonight and if he’s interested, give him my number and we’ll figure it out. You can call me and let me know how it goes.” If she called instead of texting, he’d get to hear her voice. Normally he didn’t like talking when texting would suffice, but for her, it was different.
Her partner honked the horn and, when she turned, gave her acome onwave. “Gotta go. I’ll let you know.”
“Be safe.”
She nodded. “You, too, Gavin.”
He watched them pull away, and he was still basking in the afterglow of seeing Cait when Danny Walsh spoke behind him. “Getting involved with her family might not be a great idea at this point.”
Gavin had no idea how long Engine 59’s LT had been in the bay, but he’d obviously heard some of the conversation. “It’s pickup basketball. And the kid stopped by, so what was I supposed to do?”
“If you start hanging out with the kid and his big sister doesn’t let you in her pants, you still going to play pickup ball with him?”
“Wow. You really think I’m an asshole?”
Walsh shook his head. “I don’t think you’re an asshole. But family members add layers and complications, so if you’re looking for a quick hookup, don’t get too involved with her brother is all I’m saying.”
“I like her.”
That’s all he said, but it was enough to make the other guy nod. “Good. I don’t know her all that well, but I hope it works out for you.”
Gavin wasn’t sure whatworks outmeant to the LT, but if it meant getting to see Cait off-hours again—getting to talk to her and hear her laugh—then he definitely hoped so, too.
* * *
Her mom was having a rough day. Cait had known from the minute she walked into the house and smelled the pot roast in the slow cooker that there would be tears.
Pot roast with potatoes and carrots and her mom’s gravy had been Duke’s favorite meal, and she hadn’t made it since he died. But it was also Carter’s favorite and he’d been after her for a few weeks to make it, as she often did during the cold months.
And now it was going to be a shit show because her mom was emotional. And Carter would feel guilty that he’d asked for the pot roast, while no doubt also feeling resentment that he couldn’t have his favorite meal because his dad had died.
She wasn’t wrong. Most of the dinner went in the garbage because watching their mother move food around on her plate while sniffling had killed Cait and Carter’s appetites. And her brother had disappeared as soon as he was given the okay—not just to the living room, but to his bedroom, where he slammed the door with enough force so Cait winced.
Yeah, fun times at the Hill house.
Sometimes her mother wanted to talk about her feelings, but tonight was one of her silent moods. With tears shimmering in her eyes and her lips pinched tightly, she just wanted to clean things and be left alone.
Cait was okay with that. But before she could go hide in her room, she decided to check on Carter. When she knocked on his door, she got no answer and sighed. Taking out her phone, she sent him a text.
Take out your earbuds so you can hear me knock. Or just open the door.
He opened the door a few seconds later and then flung himself on his bed, the earbuds strung around his neck still blaring some music that made Cait’s teeth ache.
“You didn’t eat much.”
“Neither did you.”
“Busted.” She leaned against the doorjamb. “It’ll get easier, Carter. Things come up that Mom has to work through, so it feels like it’s not, but itisgetting better.”
“Whatever.”
“No, not whatever. You’re allowed to love pot roast. And when she gets like that, maybe it’s even more important that you let her see that you still love pot roast. She’ll be stronger for you, but you walk away and she doesn’t see it.”
“She used to laugh all the time.”
Cait’s heart squeezed for him. “She will again. I promise. And sometimes, maybe if you laugh, she’ll laugh with you.”
For a long moment, she didn’t think he was listening, but then he nodded slowly. “I’m just sick of being sad and she makes me sad so I don’t want to be around it. You know?”
