Page 135

“I thought you forgot something.”

She looks around the truck. “What?”

“I don't know.”

“You thought I forgot something, but you don't know what I forgot?”

“Yes.”

“Are you having a stroke?”

“No.”

“Do you smell toast?”

“What?”

“Never mind.” She opens her door and hops out of the truck.

I wait until it shuts before dropping my forehead against the steering wheel.

I’m a fucking dumbass.

I get out and circle around the truck to unbuckle Theo. Cold air hits me in the face, and for approximately three seconds, it actually helps.

Then Chance looks at me. More specially, my pockets.

Which he does without any subtly and it definitely looks like he’s checking out my crotch.

“What are you looking at?” Blaire narrows her eyes at Chance, following his line of sight to me.

“Nothing,” Chance and I say simultaneously.

I focus on getting Theo out of the truck, keeping my body turned away from Blaire even though the chance of her seeing the tiny outline of the ring in my pocket is nearly impossible.

“Uncle Chance!”

Thank fucking God for my son.

Theo sprints to Chance as soon as I put his feet on the ground.

Chance catches him under the arms and swings him up until Theo squeals.

“There he is! You ready to climb a mountain?”

Theo stretches both arms above his head. “I'm climbing the whole mountain!”

Chance sets Theo down. “Race you to everybody.”

Blaire watches them go and sighs. “At least he’ll take a good nap later.”

She turns toward me and holds out her hand for me to take.

I hesitate because of how much my hands are sweating. She notices, but I grab her hand and start walking before she can bring it up.

Her fingers thread through mine naturally. Her touch settles the churning in my stomach and I swear it even slows my heart rate.

I've held this hand at seventeen, sweating then too because I was just as nervous to ask her to be my girlfriend.