Page 79 of The Write Choice

“You’re different. And it’s not the same city you loved anymore.”

“Yeah.”

Daniel leans forward further and covers my hand with his. “We’re all rooting for you, Katie.”

I had my suspicions about how much Brandon had told Daniel about his decision to move us all out here, but at this moment, I’m sure Daniel knows everything. But instead of embarrassment, what I feel is relief. He knows, and I don’t have to hide it. I swallow hard and roll my lips between my teeth. I bite down hard to distract myself from the tears that are threatening to fall. When I feel composed enough, I let out a slow breath. “Brandon has been struggling with his job. He says he’d go back with me if I want.”

“Do you?”

He hasn’t moved his hand from mine, his expression open and concerned. It’s a brotherly moment, or I would assume it is. I don’t have siblings, so I don’t exactly know what that would feel like, but this feels close.

It’s another realization that settles on me, this one softer than the others over the past few days. Brandon and the kids are my family, but Daniel has always been, too. And maybe his new crew could be something like family, as well. I think of Ben and his sisters, and his nephews who have made my children feel so welcomed. Jenny’s warm humor and Mac’s ability to make me feel like I’ve known her my whole life. Even Brandon’s parents, who are trying to be a bigger part of our lives.

Maybe this is how you build a home. It’s not you and your tiny family against the big, bad world and all its temptations. It’s you and your family and the people who want to hold you up, for no other reason than that they love you and want you to be happy.

And all those people are here for us. In Leade Park. We never had that in New York, and we were never going to.

I look at Daniel, his question hanging in the air between us. I frown. “Do you think Brandon wants to go back?”

“I think Brandon wants to be where you are. It’ll probably be the easiest decision he’ll ever make.” He smirks at his own reference to the earlier part of the conversation. I roll my eyes. He’s insufferable.

I shake my head slowly. “Then, I think I want to stay.”

A smile stretches across his face as he squeezes my hand. “Well, then. Welcome home.”

Chapter 23

Brandon

Katie is uncharacteristically quiet all through dinner—a dinner I made sure I was home for—and into the kids’ bedtime. When I ask her what’s going on, she says she’s not feeling great. I half-believe her; she looks a little paler than usual and seems to be dragging, but I have a feeling that’s not the whole truth.

When the kids are finally in bed, I find her in our room, changing into her pajamas. She barely spares me a glance when I enter the room, which has me running through all the things that could have happened today. Finding nothing, I switch to wondering if I did something wrong.

“I can hear you thinking,” she says as she folds her shirt and sets it in the drawer.

“You don’t seem like yourself tonight.”

She shuts the drawer and turns toward me, leaning back against the dresser and crossing her arms. “I think I’m getting sick,” she insists again.

I narrow my eyes, perching myself on the edge of the bed. “And?”

Her nostrils flare slightly as she presses her lips into a straight line. She’s clearly at war with herself about whether or not she wants to tell me what’s on her mind. My heartbeat ticks up slightly as I start to worry about what she could be afraid to tell me.

But before my brain can go too far down that road, she lets out a frustrated puff of air. “I want to stay in Leade Park.”

I blink several times, surprised. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Don’t make me say it again.” She frowns.

I chuckle, a sly smile spreading as I push off the bed and make my way to her. I put my hands on the dresser, enclosing her. Her full lips part slightly as she tips her head up to look at me. My gaze meets hers, and I lean in close. I drop my voice a register. “Was it that difficult to admit I was right?”

The desire that was clear in her eyes lights up in flames. She smacks my chest. “Way to ruin a moment.”

I kiss her neck softly. She curls toward me, letting out a gasp.

“What are you talking about?” I ask before planting another kiss a little lower on her neck. “Hearing I’m right is a major turn on.”

She huffs, but there’s no commitment to the sarcasm. “I never said you were right.”