Page 90 of Falling for a Grumpy Hero

“Kicking and screaming,” Jared chimed in from the side. “He doesn’t want to work on them at all, but he surprised me when he agreed to help.”

I shrugged. “I guess I’m just feeling a little more open to new ventures recently.”

“What was this I heard about you sharing?” he asked, glancing between Taylor, Dan, and me. “You’ve been going to those meetings for years and you’re only talking now?”

A low groan rumbled out of me. “Yes. I’m only talking now, but we’re dropping it.”

Dan looked at me with a knowing gleam in his eyes. “You should talk to Jared some time too. He’s part of your support network. You’re on the right path, but you need to stay vigilant.”

“It’s true, man,” Taylor agreed with a slight grimace. “Why do you think I still go to the meetings? I told you before when and how I started sharing and it’s been a while since, but it’s important to keep it going.”

“I will,” I promised, but I wasn’t really talking to them. I was speaking to Lila, who was with Addy and some girls from the neighborhood over at the gazebo. I knew she needed me to keep fighting the good fight and I would. I refused to drag her down, and now that we were basically living together, that meant I had to keep reaching for the light. She made it easier to find. “Seriously, though. Can we drop it now?”

“If you answer one question,” Dan said, but his tone was easygoing enough that I knew he’d let it go if I wanted him to. “In one of the meetings, you mentioned that you ran into Luke’s girl. All I want to know is why seeing her made you finally take the leap and open up about what happened to you over there.”

“It wasn’t just her.” I sighed and raked my hand through my hair, glancing at the burgers to make sure they weren’t about to burn while these guys were waiting for me to spill my guts to them again.

On the other hand, as I looked at each of them in turn, I realized that Dan had been right. This was my support network and I’d been neglecting it for way too long. I needed to lean on them sometimes. Lila had taught me how to do that and I was determined not to slip.

I desperately wanted to be the man she deserved. “It was you too, Dan. That chat we had in your office made me realize that while guilt is normal, I do have the right to keep on living. I wasn’t at fault. I couldn’t do more than I did. I just needed some time to accept the truth of that.”

“And then you ran into Luke’s girl,” Taylor guessed out loud. “How did that go?”

“Surprisingly well.” I shook my head, feeling what had to be a sheepish smile on my face. “She wasn’t pissed at me. I honestly expected her to blame me, but she didn’t. When we saw her, she smiled as soon as she recognized me and came right over.”

Dan’s features morphed into a mask of gentle understanding. “And if she wasn’t pissed at you, then it really couldn’t have been your fault?”

I nodded slowly. “I think so, yeah. She also named her son after him, which I thought was awesome. She married a guy who had also served, also been hurt, and they still named one of their sons after Luke. No one has forgotten about him, but he would’ve hated if everyone had stayed stuck because of him.”

Dan grinned. “No one should expect anyone to stay stuck. Tragic as it is, life is for the living, son. I’m glad you realized it.”

Taylor nodded his agreement, then excused himself when Addy called him over. Dan eventually meandered to the gazebo after him to track down his wife.

When it was only Jared and me on our side of the grill, my friend turned to me and inhaled a deep breath. “I never knew how much all that stuff was still weighing on you. I mean, I knew some of it, but I’m happy that you’re free now, Ford. Seriously.”

“If you hadn’t hired Lila, I’m not sure that ever would’ve happened, so I owe you. I also owe you big time for giving you shit about it after I found out you hired her.”

He winked at me. “As soon as I saw her sunshine, I knew she was exactly what your grumpy ass needed. I did it for the team as much as for you, man. You’re much more lovable these days.”

I barked out a laugh, but I couldn’t say I blamed him for taking the shot when he saw it. Mr. Winslow had been chatting to the guys from the neighborhood on the other side of the grill, but he moved over to us and grinned at Jared.

“I hear you’re the one responsible for giving my baby girl a shot.”

“Yes, sir.” Jared smirked. “I know talent when I see it.”

Mr. Winslow laughed but then surprised Jared when he enveloped him in a great big bear hug. “You’re the one who set the dominoes in motion for her here. Thank you. You’ve played a big part in bringing her fully back to life.”

My eyebrows arched. “She was already living life to the fullest when we met her. I’ve never met anyone who embraces life the way she does.”

“Yeah, but she’s always wanted to find her one true love. She used to call it her epic love.” Mr. Winslow looked at me in a way that made me suspect he knew she loved me—and that I loved her just as much but hadn’t had the balls to say it yet. “Lila acts tough but people have failed that girl time and again. This is the first time that I’ve seen her looking like she genuinely is fulfilled.”

As my gaze drifted over to her again, I had to admit that I’d never felt more fulfilled myself. With her in my life, everything felt brighter. Lighter. Like there was so much to look forward to that I didn’t even know where to start.

It was the strangest feeling I’d ever had, but I went to sleep every night already kind of excited about seeing her again when I woke up. Shaking my head at the absurdity of that, I watched as she jumped up and came rushing over to me.

Her blue eyes were so bright that they were practically glowing and she grabbed the spatula out of my hand, passing it over to her dad. “Will you step in here for a minute? I just need to borrow Ford.”

He chuckled. “I think I can handle a few burgers as long as people aren’t too picky about how they’re cooked.”