Page 2 of Worth the Fight

Grayson shrugs a shoulder. “It sure was a hell of a house at one point. Holly and I drove out here on the UTV a few months ago. Have you looked inside? It’s in pretty rough shape. Pretty sure the back part of the roof has caved in.”

Theo hisses at that, but I shrug again. “Still worth it to me.”

Gray and Theo exchange a knowing glance, and Theo shrugs. “I told him he needs to talk to her.”

“What?” I hiss. “You two girls gossiping about me when I’m not around?”

“Just worried about you, that’s all,” Grayson says. “I’m game to help you with whatever you need with this house, but,” he glances over at Theo, “don’t you think you should call her?”

It’s my turn to scoff, and I cross over to the front step, plopping down with a sigh. “It isn’t just about Mags. Promise. I’m tired of living with Ma and Dad. I’m going to be a dad soon.” I still can’t believe I’m saying those words out loud. When I left the grocery store one day, I never thought asking out Candi Peterson on a whim would lead to me becoming a father.

Our relationship was short-lived, nothing more than a few weeks together. It was my one and only attempt at getting over Magnolia, and I couldn’t stomach the sourness that came with it. We ended on a good note, thankfully, because she’s pregnant, and I plan to do everything in my power to be a hell of a father.

“I want a place where my kid can come and it’ll just be us, but I want to be close to the farm for work and for help. And yeah…” I look back over my shoulder at the front of the house. “This house has a lot of meaning to me, and whether or not I ever get to hear from Mags again, I think I’d like to live somewhere that she once walked, if that makes any sense.”

Both of my brothers are quiet for a few minutes. It’s Grayson who talks first. “I don’t know anything about electrical work. That’s the one thing I hired a legit professional to do when I remodeled the cabin. I’ll help you with whatever you need, but I'm also warning you, it’s going to take a lot more work than you probably expect.”

His answer is the closest thing to a yes that I need to hear. I turn to Theo, wondering if he will help, too.

He shrugs. “You know I'll help you, brother. But on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“I want you to call Magnolia.”

“I think it’s a little soon to tell her he’s building her dream house,” Grayson chides.

“It’s not her dream house!”

“It might pique her interest,” Theo answers, completely ignoring me.

“You two are insufferable.”

“Maybe we're just older and wiser. Hell, Grayson over here is going to be married soon.”

My brother blushes at that. While he has only been dating his girlfriend, Holly, for a few months, we all know how hard he’s fallen for her. Lucky for him, she feels the exact same way.

“What do you have to lose, Lukas?”

Grayson’s soft question hangs in the air. I haven’t tried calling Mags, ever. Not since her last voicemail where she asked me not to. There were times when I was high or too drunk for my own good, and I’d pull up her name in my phone and stare at it until I passed out. Her voicemails are still on my phone, and I used to play them on repeat when I was in the mood to self-sabotage.

I’ve thought about it more times than I can count, but on the off chance she actually answers, I don’t even know what I’d say to her.

There’s a long overdue apology that sits in the back of my mind. But an apology seems like such a futile thing. One apology won’t fix the damage I’ve done. And knowing the woman she is, she’ll likely tell me to fuck off before she hears one word from my lips.

“Earth to Lukas,” Theo interrupts my thoughts. “Gray’s got a point. What do you have to lose?” He claps his hands once before rubbing his palms together. “Call her right now, do it. Pressure’s on. Gray and I will only help restore this hot mess of a house if you call her.”

Grayson rolls his eyes at that, and Theo catches it, elbowing him.

I know they’d both help me no matter what I asked; that’s the type of brothers they are. But suddenly, the weight of my phone in my back pocket feels heavy, and Grayson’s words echo in my mind. What do I have to lose?

When I reach for my phone, Theo's eyes widen. “Well, shit, folks, he’s really doing it.”

I flip him off for good measure, then turn my back, and with trembling hands, I scroll to my list of important contacts. Mags's name is still sitting at the top with a kissy face and a heart next to it. It’s just after lunch here, so it’s evening time in Paris. She should be awake.

If she’s still in Paris.

If she’s even going to talk to me.