“Maybe the trick isn’t hiding. Maybe it’s finding the right person to show up for.”
I think about that statement long after the game ends. Feeling them to my core as a flutter builds in my chest. When Sutton finally lets go of my hand, I don’t just miss his touch, but the unspoken support I felt in his grip.
12
Sutton
I grab one of Sawyer’s cushions and slap Kevin across the head with it.
“Got you!” I yell as little Noah jumps on me, the two kids now pushing me to the ground, bruising my kidneys in the process. This kind of rough and tumble I haven’t done for years, but it’s almost a daily occurrence in this house since I arrived. The kids love it, as do I.
“We’ve got you!” Kevin says proudly, sitting on my chest, pinning my arms to the floor and little Noah sits behind him on my stomach, making me slightly regret the extra set of sit-ups I did after baseball today.
“Kevin, do you know James, the new kid at school?” I ask, thinking about how James is new and needs more friends.
“Yeah. We’re in the same class.”
“Are you friends?”
“Kind of. He doesn’t play baseball, though.” He shrugs.
“Maybe you need to teach him?” I wonder if my nephew could take him under his wing and build his friend circle a little.
At that, his face pinches, unsure. “I mean, he’s always reading…”
“Maybe he’s just waiting for a friend to invite him to play? Must be hard being the new kid.”
I see Kevin’s mind ticking over.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll ask him on Monday,” Kevin says, just as little Noah grabs a cushion and slaps me in the head.
“What in the world is going on in here?” Sawyer walks in and berates us all. “Seriously, this place is a mess.”
With a groan, I roll my eyes. “You heard him, let’s clean up.” I lift up quickly, causing the two kids to spill from my frame, giggling all the way until they crash on the floor and the three of us tidy up.
“Seriously. You’re a bigger kid than them.” Sawyer looks at me, rolling his eyes right back.
“Hey! It’s my first time having nephews. I’m banking this time I have with them before I go back,” I tell him honestly, a heavy feeling twisting in my gut when I think about leaving Whispers and going back to LA.
“Boys, go wash your hands and get ready for dinner.” The two boys wander down the hall at Sawyer’s command, and I look at my hand. The one that held on to Nikki when she clearly said too much to me this morning. I haven’t washed it. Her soft hand felt too delicate in my own.
“I was talking to Mom earlier,” Sawyer starts as we take a seat on the sofa.
“She alright? I was thinking we could fly her up here, spend some time with her. But I know she’ll be followed.” I scrub my chin, hating that I can’t see my mom because the fucking media are hounding everyone I know.
“You know Mom. She loves life down in Florida. It’s hard to get ahold of her. She’s always playing bowls, cooking, having drinks with her friends. Her social life is better than mine.” Sawyer huffs a laugh, and I grin. He isn’t wrong. Mom has a great group of friends.
“I’m thinking of putting in a cottage on my land. Somewhere she can stay when she comes. It gives her some privacy while also being close to us.”
“Good idea. The kids could be a handful for her, so she might need the space. Although winter isn’t too far away, so I don’t think she’ll like the weather.” At that, we both look out the window, noticing the gray clouds rolling in. This morning, it was beautiful. The sun turned out just as Nikki arrived, warming up my day without even knowing it. Now without her, the clouds are back, the weather outside looking cold.
“Hopefully, there are still a few more weeks left of okay weather so I can do some more hiking. There’s a bit of a path at the back of my new block I want to explore.”
“How much longer you planning to stay?” my brother asks, looking at me with interest. When I first got here, I didn’t really have a time frame in mind. I just needed a break. Now, as I settle into the community, and with the new Whiteman’s Whiskey partnership in the process, I’ll be here for longer.
“I need to lay low until the launch of The Shadow Gentleman. Me outing myself at the launch is one of the key drivers to catapult the new line and have everyone frothing to grab a bottle. Plus, I’m liking this town and its people.” Or should I say, person. Nikki is constantly on my mind, so much so, it’s startling.
My brother frowns but nods along with my idea of a plan.
