Page 26 of Together Is Where We Belong

If you can make it, we’ll be eating around six. He’s very inquisitive. He loves asking questions. He loves building things. He also loves to help cook, and he remembers recipes better than any adult I’ve seen. He can be rowdy, and he loves being outdoors. His favorite color this week is yellow because it reminds him of the sun. He also loves trucks. He’s your typical boy.

I smiled at her text. He reminded me so much of myself at his age. Only I had another obsession. Horses. I wondered how he’d do around them, and I needed to ask Carolina how she felt about me introducing him to them when the time was right.

Thank you. I’ll see you both at six. If you wouldn’t mind, can you send me another picture of him?

I had two already, but I needed more. I wanted to see as much of him as possible even though I hadn’t met him yet.

Another text appeared, and I let out a full belly laugh.

His chubby cheeks held a scowl, his hair was a mess, and he was in truck pajamas sitting at the table, a bowl of what looked like oatmeal in front of him. The look on his face was priceless. He didn’t appear happy that he’d been woken up early.

He doesn’t look so happy this morning.

Carolina

He’s not. He hates waking up early. He’d sleep the day away if I let him. He loves his sleep.

Does he know about me coming tonight?

Carolina

I was going to tell him tonight when I got off work. He’d bounce off the walls all day if I told him any sooner.

That makes sense.

A pang hit my heart that he didn’t know yet. I didn’t know how seven-year-olds were, but even though she made sense, I wanted to know he was excited to meet me.

Carolina

He’s already asked when he’d get to meet you the other day. I told him soon. He’ll be over the moon knowing you’re coming tonight.

Her message cheered me up slightly.

Thank you. I’ll see y’all tonight.

Carolina

Don’t spoil him too much, Leo.

“What has you so deep in thought?” Brooks asked as he walked toward me.

I typed my response, but deleted it several times, deciding to forgo a response. Everything I’d come up with could come across as rude or flirty either way you looked at it. I didn’t want her to misconstrue my message.

I was by the clubhouse waiting for him, Holden, and Gentry—my sister Ainsleigh’s husband—so I could know where my station was today and get ready for the riding tour.

“I was messagin’ Carolina about tonight,” I told him.

“You messaged Carolina? Like willingly?” Gentry asked in a shocked tone. I turned to find him right behind me, his mouth still open with a shocked expression.

Crap. He didn’t know about Luke.

“Why does Gentry have his mouth opened like that?” Holden asked as he walked up to the three of us.

“He heard me tellin’ Brooks that I messaged Carolina,” I said as I gave him a warning glare, hoping the message came across that I needed him to tread carefully.

“Oh, so you’re still goin’ over there tonight?” Holden asked with a pointed glare and a slick smirk.

I gave him a pointed glare.