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“You excited?” I asked, crouching down so we were nose to nose.
“Yeah.”
“Are you having a good time?”
“Yeah.” He put his hands on my cheeks.
I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to slow the pounding of my heart.
“I’m so glad, bud,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I like it here, too.”
“My house.”
“This is Daddy’s house.” I chuckled.
“My house,” Rhett insisted as I straightened. “Mama’s house. Daddy’s house.Myhouse.”
“Okay.” I knew better than to argue when he got that stubborn tilt to his chin. I looked up as Michael came walking out of the kitchen, and my mouth went dry.
“Sorry,” he muttered quietly. “I told him that it was his house, too, now.”
I nodded distractedly. He was wearing a different take on the same outfit he’d been in the last couple of days, but damn, he looked good. He’d trimmed his beard and pulled his hair back into a low knot. The jeans he was wearing were familiar—they looked just like the others—worn in and just snug enough in all the right places, but he’d put on what looked like a brand new flannel under his cut.
“Should I go change?” I asked, looking down at the leggings and sweater I was wearing. It had seemed appropriate for a family dinner, but not if Michael was dressing up.
“Why?” he asked in confusion as Rhett tugged on my hand. “You look fine.”
“But you’re all—” I waved a hand in his direction.
Michael looked down at himself. “What?”
“Dressed up,” I finished awkwardly.
Michael scoffed and dropped to one knee to help Rhett put on his shoes.
“Ugh,” I groaned. “Sorry, bud. I forgot to put your shoes on.”
“Grams got me this shirt,” Michael said, glancing at me. “I haven’t worn it and I knew she’d ask about it, so.”
“Ah,” I said sheepishly. “Gotcha.”
“Where the hell have you been if you think this is dressed up?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Tuxedos weren’t common,” I replied ruefully.
“Fuck tuxedos,” he said, grinning at me. “But I’d at least put on jeans without grease stains and a hole in the pocket.”
“Fair enough,” I conceded with a laugh.
I wasn’t sure why things were so calm between us since I hadn’t left things in a great place when I’d headed up to take a nap, but I was thankful that he seemed to be trying to put me at ease. I was on edge already without adding more tension between us. I hadn’t seen Michael’s grandma in so long, and while I couldn’t wait, I also dreaded it. She’d been good to me. Kind. And I’d disappeared.
“Coat, son,” I murmured, helping Rhett put on his jacket.
“I put his seat in the truck,” Michael said as I threaded my arms through my own jacket sleeves. “I watched a video to make sure I got it buckled right. Figured that would be okay.”
“It’s fine,” I replied. It wasn’t worth fighting over, not when we seemed to be in a good place for the moment.
We followed Michael out the garage door, and as I heard the wind and rain outside suddenly rise in volume, I was actually thankful that we were taking his truck. I stayed dry and relatively warm as I buckled Rhett into his seat, something I wouldn’t have been out in the driveway near my car.
