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“I’m good. I just wish they could find Austin and I could go home.” I look toward the hall. “I often wonder what Gage would’ve been like as a big brother.”
She wraps her arms around me. “Go home, sweetheart. Hank should’ve never had you move in with him.”
“No, Judy. It’s okay. I’m always going to have moments that I think about him. Believe it or not, I really care about that boy.”
Little arms wrap around my waist. I look down, smiling at the boy who continues to steal my heart. “I’m weady,” Tripp announces, making me smile.
“Okay, buddy.” He slips his hand in mine. I wrap my free arm around Judy, hugging her tight. “I’m good, promise.” Whispering it in her ear, and from the first time truly meaning it.
“All right, you two. I’ll let you go.” She walks us to the door and kisses us both on the cheek.
I lead Tripp out to my car and get him buckled in the back seat. “We have to stop at the grocery store. What should we eat for dinner?”
“Can we have hamburgers and french fries?” he asks from the back seat.
We pull into the parking lot and I help him out of the back seat, leading him to the sliding doors. “Maybe your dad will cook the burgers on the grill.” I grab the cart and Tripp climbs on the end.
He chatters away as we move up and down the aisles. After grabbing everything for burgers, we head to the front of the store.
“I’ll help.” Tripp jumps down and I hand him the things to place on the belt. Once the last one is on, he holds up his hand and I give him a high five.
I smile down at him. “Thanks, buddy. You did a good job.”
“Your son is so handsome,” the lady checking us out says.
My mouth opens and closes and my heart drops to my stomach. I blink back the tears that threaten to fall. Tripp slips his hand into mine.
“T-Thank you,” I whisper, my voice raspy. Pasting on a fake smile, I smile. “Um…he’s actually a friend of mine’s son.” There is a part of me that wishes he was mine, but only if Gage could be here too. It wouldn’t be fair to him if I wanted Tripp to be mine, right?
***
Tripp is watching a movie in his room, wearing headphones so he won’t hear us when Hank gets home.
We got back from the store and suddenly I couldn’t breathe and was sweating profusely. While he ate his snack, I quickly packed up my things and carried my bags out to my car. I can’t be here, I just can’t.
I’m just going to tell him that I need space. I’m feeling too much being around them. Truth is that any more time with Tripp and I’m going to fall in love with him. It’ll hurt too much, and what if I lost him too.
The sound of a motorcycle pulls me from my thoughts. My heart starts to race and my stomach turns.
Taking a deep breath and placing a hand on my stomach, I make my way toward the front door. Grabbing the doorknob, I force myself to turn it.
Chapter Fourteen
Hank
One month later
I throw my wrench across the garage. “Fuck.” Shouting, I stomp over to it, picking it up off the floor.
Dad walks toward me and points toward the door. “My office now.” My old man is tough, and I know better than to not do as he says. As soon as the door is shut behind me, he’s in my face. “You need to knock this shit off. You’ve been an asshole since Brooke moved out.”
I open my mouth to speak, but he stops me.
“Son, I know you love her. Tripp misses her being at the house, but if you want any fucking chance with her, you have to just let it happen.”
The day Brooke told me she was leaving, she’d been waiting for me because as soon as I climbed off my bike, she came walking outside with her purse.
“What’s going on?” I asked her as we met on the sidewalk. “Where are you going?”
