Page 14 of The True-Blue Romance

“I kind of want to be alone tonight,” I finally say, all the rest of the words stuck in my chest.

“We can come over with one phone call.”

“I know.”

I can practically feel Beau’s worry as we walk into the facility. A kind nurse greets me, but I’m not in the mood, so Beau takes over like the de facto brother he’s always been. Apparently, my father is getting settled in his room, and they’ll introduce the belongings at another time. I take that as nurse language for “he’s in a hell of a mood and now’s not the time,” which is something I’m well versed in after being his son my entire life. His moods can make or break your day if you aren’t careful.

Beau and I switch places this time, and I drive him back to his farm. The sun is setting and with it carrying away the exhaustion of the day. After I park the truck in Beau’s long driveway, the front door opens and Trevor sends a wave our way. The smile that lights up Beau’s face makes me simultaneously ecstatic for him and fiercely jealous. What must it be like to be so deeply loved and waited for to return home?

Beau rests his arm on top of the truck and dips down to look at me through the open truck window. His eyes are soft, mouth pinched to the side in his trademark concerned smile. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’m always fine.”

“Stickin’ with that lie after so many years, brother?”

“If I say it enough, maybe it’ll become true.”

Beau just slaps the top of the truck once, then disappears toward the house. I back away just as Trevor wraps his arms around Beau for a welcome-home hug. The sun is gone as I point the truck home. Instead of the radio to fill the silence, I let the sound of the cracked concrete underneath the tires sing my day’s tired song.

I point my truck toward Joey and Savannah’s little cottage downtown before I can reason with myself. Before I can tell myself this is a bad idea and Joey’s smile is gonna hurt as much as it’s gonna help. Maybe sometimes the pain of loving him helps even out the score when things hurt too deeply. Better a familiar devil than the unknown.

It doesn’t take long to reach the little cottage, the front stoop lit up with fairy lights and covered in the plants I’d sent with Joey for Savannah. Big pots full of lavender, milkweed, and marigolds to attract all the good luck and butterflies that’ll keep Savannah happy through the spring.

My stomach tightens and my heart flutters as I sit in my truck, just waiting, rethinking about coming here. But before I can turn around and head to my lonely little farm, the front door opens and Joey’s standing there with his hands on his hips like he’s disappointed I haven’t come inside yet.

I shake my head free of all my stupid thoughts, climb out, and head toward him.

“Hi,” Joey murmurs, curiosity lighting up his eyes. “You missed dinner.”

I lift a hand and anxiously rub my neck. “Rain check?”

“Always.” Joey wraps a hand around my wrist, squeezing tight like he doesn’t want to let go. “But I still have some cookies with your name on them. And Savannah is in the bath, so you’re in time for story time.”

Joey drags me into the little cottage that smells like him, Savannah, and freshly baked sugar cookies. Joey always adds some cinnamon to his sugar cookies, so they taste a little like fall no matter the season we eat them in. We stand in the kitchen, chewing on the cookies, listening to the sounds of Savannah splashing in the bath.

“She’ll be happy you’re here. She complains you don’t come over enough.” Joey turns around to wash his hands in the sink, and I let my eyes fall over his shoulders and the tight muscles of his back. His hair is curled at the ends, barely brushing his neck. I know if I bury my face there, he’ll smell like cologne and a little something that’s just him. Joey turns back around to find me staring, but he only smiles. “She’ll be ecstatic you’re here for werewolf story time.”

“It’ll be sad when she stops believing in all that.”

Joey clicks his tongue. “If we believe in werewolves at our big age, then hopefully she never stops.”

“True.”

“Daddy! I’m done!” Savannah sings from the bathroom.

Joey winks and disappears toward her, leaving my heart racing in my chest. I finish the sugar cookie, dust off my hands, and wash up in the sink. I stand there for a quiet moment, staring out the window at the swing set I helped Joey build a few years ago.

Joey must’ve told Savannah about my presence because she comes scuttling out toward me, curls soaking wet and her Frozen nightgown hastily tugged on.

“Unc-Lee!” Savannah screeches just as she jumps into my arms.

I pick her up and hold her close, uncaring about my shirt getting wet from her hair. She snuggles against me like she always has, and I close my eyes, just soaking in her love and attention. Nobody has loved me quite the way Savannah has, and I’m not sure anyone else ever will.

“I’m just here for story time,” I whisper, so she doesn’t get any ideas.

“That’s okay. I got two new stuffed animals since you were here and I wanna show you. But first can we howl at the moon?” Savannah looks toward Joey for permission. “Please, Daddy, just for a minute. Just me and Unc-Lee.”

Joey smiles in a way that makes his nose wrinkle. God. I think that might be better than the dimples. “Sure, but just for five minutes.”