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In men? I like the rugged masculine type.
I like Brock Steel.
“Dave is twenty-four, I think,” I say. “I’m pretty sure he and Brock are the exact same age.”
“Right. They’re a year younger than Diana,” Maddie says. “Anyway, he’s dreamy, and… I like him a lot, but oh, Rory… How can I even think about liking a guy when my father…?”
Okay, so talking about Dave Simpson isn’t going to help.
“Do you want to talk about Dad?” I ask.
“No, not really.”
“We don’t have to talk at all, Maddie. I noticed you didn’t eat hardly any of your dinner.”
“How could I?”
I simply nod. Callie and I didn’t eat much for dinner either, and I feel pretty guilty over the fact that Donny and Brock sprang for an expensive dinner for us, and we picked at it.
Jesse, being a guy, of course, scarfed his down. Men can always eat.
“I think I just want to try to go to bed,” Maddie says.
“Okay. Go ahead and take the single bedroom. Callie and I can share the other.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Callie and I have been sharing a room most of our lives. Joined by a bathroom, I mean.”
“Thanks, Rory. I think I’ll take a shower.”
“Okay. I’ll put in an order on that Instacart Brock set up for us, and hopefully it’ll be here soon. Underwear, toiletries. Anything special you want?”
“No thanks,” Maddie says. “Your boyfriend’s the best.”
And I nod. Yes, my boyfriend is the best.
The very best.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
BROCK
I wake at five a.m., and after taking care of Sammy, downing two cups of coffee and a piece of day-old bread from Ava’s bakery, I head over to the Pike house.
I got the combination to their front door from Rory. She asked me to take care of Zach and Dusty. I key in the code and enter.
The dogs bark at first, but they settle down when I call them by name. “It’s okay, guys. It’s okay.” I let them out the back way to do their business, and then I look through the kitchen to find the dog food.
Their water bowl is bone dry. Poor pups.
I find the bag of kibble in the pantry and fill the bowls. Then I refill their water.
“Come on in, guys,” I yell through the door.
Once in, they both lap up water for what seems like five minutes but is only a few seconds, and then they eat their breakfast. I’m on dog-sitting duty until the Pikes get home, and who knows when that will be?
Frank will probably be in the hospital for five days at least, but once he’s out of the ICU, I imagine Rory and Callie will come home. Only Maureen will stay at that point.
