Page 95 of My Favorite Hero

CASEY

Our drive home was quiet but not strained. That was something I liked about Jesse. I didn’t have to talk all the time—fill the air with useless chatter. After we got dressed and into the car, he’d put on the radio, finding an oldies station, and the music was nice, bringing back more memories of sitting in this car with Lou. He reached across the seat and held my hand at times. Squeezed my leg, silently letting me know he was okay.

When we arrived, he parked the car and turned to me. “I’m going to take Miller for a walk.”

I waited, but he didn’t ask if I wanted to join him, so I smiled. “He’ll like that.”

I took the basket and put the leftover food in the fridge. It felt strange walking in my back door and Jesse going to his, but I had a feeling he needed some alone time. I had a shower and sat down to check emails, Barney curling up beside me. I stroked his head, smiling as he purred in happiness against my leg.

There wasn’t anything urgent, but I responded to the emails waiting, checked on the progress of a few things, then yawned and relaxed back in the chair. I loved this piece and wondered if I could fit it in the SUV when I left. I tended to sell or give everything away and only take the essentials when I moved, but I liked this chair. I would have to measure the back space.

A strange ache started in my chest, and I rubbed it, thinking it was odd to get heartburn this long after eating. I felt a semblance of sadness come over me, and I realized I didn’t like thinking of leaving Covington.

No doubt the connection to Lou.

I sighed, admitting it had something to do with the grumpy landlord as well.

The one who hadn’t been grumpy today at all. Even when he was acting jealous, he’d been different. Sweet. Funny.

He hadn’t come back from his walk yet. I wondered if he was brooding. Upset about telling me his story. I hadn’t meant for things to get so serious, but it happened.

I was shocked at his confession. I didn’t understand how parents could turn their backs on their own child’s pain. Prefer an outsider to one of their own. Choose one child over another.

I laughed dryly. My parents hadn’t been much different. My mother chose my father over me. My father chose alcohol over her. We all suffered.

And both Jesse and I had to live with the pain of those choices. Carry the truth with us.

I wondered if he’d been as grumpy before this all happened—or if he’d changed and become bitter.

Except his actions weren’t those of a bitter man. I knew Lou had adored him. She’d spoken of him often when we talked. Told me funny stories of his grumpy actions, how he grunted in annoyance at her thanks. All the little acts of kindness he showed her. I had looked him up in the archives of the local paper. He was a community hero, having rescued several people from fires. He pulled a man from a burning car seconds before it exploded, carrying him to safety. That man, it turned out, was a big-time politician traveling through the area on his way home when he was struck by a truck. Jesse was awarded a medal of bravery for that act. He’d been voted top firefighter in the community twice. He was selfless and brave.

And carried hurt deep inside.

But not bitter.

I heard Miller’s bark, and a few moments later, he appeared through the door, his tail wagging, going directly to Barney, who sniffed him and gave him a headbutt. He jumped off my lap to the sofa, and the two of them curled up tight, happy to be together again.

I waited, but Jesse didn’t follow. I heard the shower upstairs and him moving around, but he never appeared.

I tried not to read too much into it. He liked his alone time and we weren’t joined at the hip, I scolded myself. And we weren’t a couple. Jesse made that clear, and I agreed. I didn’t want to be a couple.

But somehow, his absence felt big.

I watched a movie, falling asleep partway through. I stood and stretched, Barney asleep on the sofa, Miller gone, no doubt next door with his master.

I glanced at the time, realizing I’d been asleep for a couple of hours. The sunshine and activities of the day had tired me out.

I turned to go to the kitchen and stopped at the sight of a man at my table. For a second, I felt the rush of fear, but it faded quickly.

“You were snoring,” Jesse observed.

I shook my head. “Who’s breaking and entering now?”

“The door was open. I was hungry.” He indicated the container of food open on the table. “The chicken is as good cold as it was hot.”

I sat down across from him, pulling the box toward me. I chose a meatloaf sandwich and took a bite.

“You have no food at your place?”