Page 63 of The Intimacy of Finding You

“Really?”

“Yeah, of course. I’d like to see him, too, actually.” He patted his lap for Fishy to come sit on it. “There’s a lot I wanna say to him.”

I leaned my head on his shoulder, sighing. “Thanks, baby doll. I, uh. I think I want to do that. Do you think the guys would help me with his house?”

“Oh, I know they would. We’re family, ain’t we?”

Yeah, he had a point. There was no doubt everyone would help us. It was just the act of asking them that kind of scared me. I went back to work with Tobi tomorrow, and I wasn’t sure how easily I’d be able to blend in with society.

I was functioning to a point, but losing Papa like I had… It’d changed me. It tortured me.

I brought my thumb to my mouth, chewing on the skin there. There was so much, yet not enough, to do. I had a million things to get done, yet it felt like it wasn’t enough. There wasn’t enough happening for such a big fucking piece of my life being gone.

Like the rocking chairs on my porch. They were finished, but not in time. They weren’t big enough to prove my love, yet they were too big to have shown him before he’d died.

Fuck, I missed him.

A knock at the door startled all three of us, Fishy immediately standing on alert. His ears went back as he let out a loud bark. My little guard dog—no bite to be found.

Tobi got up and opened the door, letting Jack into the living room. “Hey, Jack. It’s been a minute.”

“It sure has. You look good, though. Seems our talk put some sense into you?”

“Yeah, I guess it did. Come on.”

I grinned at Jack as he rounded the corner and took a seat on the chair beside the couch. “Look what the cat dragged in. You’ve been harder to get a hold of lately.”

He shrugged. “Eh, I’ve just been busy. You know how it is. You’re looking good, too. How’s everything been?”

“Good. Uh, we were just talking about how I need to clean Papa’s house, and then I’ll be set to sell it, and that’ll be the last of his assets to deal with.”

Jack frowned, crossing his legs. “I’m sorry, Cal. I went through the same thing with my grandma. Just let me know if you need anything, okay? I’ll come help you out with the cleaning part, too.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

His frown turned up as he looked between me and Tobi. “You two look like you’re getting along well. Is there a lack of trouble in paradise?”

I turned to Tobi, who had a light pink blush on his cheekbones. “We’re doing really good. Tobes is close to a month sober now. “

“That’s fucking awesome, man! Congratulations. I’m really happy for you guys.” Fishy took that moment to hop off Tobi’s lap, circling the space in front of Jack instead. “Oh, hi, Fishy. You finally decided to say hello?”

“He’s used to you now, Jack.” I laughed. “He doesn’t care about you nearly as much as anyone else.”

He bent down to pet Fishy on the head. When he did, the collar of his shirt moved, and I noticed something. A bruise. But it was small and purple, like…I gasped. “Is that a fucking hickey, Jack?”

I watched his entire body freeze, even his hand stopping right on top of Fishy’s head. He didn’t say anything for a second, only further incriminating himself. “Uh, no?” He said it like a question.

Tobi pointed at him. “I’m an alcoholic. I know a liar when I see one. You’re lyin’.”

“And what if I am, huh? Geez, guys.” Jack sat up, pulling his shirt collar up with him. “You don’t have to be so weird.”

“Who is it? Who are you seeing?” I pressed.

“No one, and none of your business. It was a one-time thing. It won’t be happening again.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m not an alcoholic, but you are my friend, and I can tell when you’re lying. You’re a liar.”

“Oh, my god. Leave it alone. It’s nothing. It was nobody. Can I go eat your Oreos?”