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Jace nodded, then glanced at the sheriff’s SUV.“You told me you were sheriff, but it didn’t sink in until you drove up.Who would have thought that my skinny cousin who was terrified of bees would be defending the townsfolk of Wilder?”
“Not me, that’s for sure.”
Jace socked him in the arm.“Actually, it’s not that hard to believe.You’ve always been a hero, Deck.If you weren’t helping out a widow in town, you were standing up for kids who were getting bullied, or heroically carrying Sweetie to the doctor when she broke her arm.”
Decker had been so happy to see Jace he hadn’t even thought about Sweetie until that moment.Now guilt settled around him like a wet wool blanket.He needed to tell Jace about her coming home and their relationship.
First, he needed a beer.
“You want a beer?”
“Hell yeah.”Jace crouched to give George some attention.“I didn’t have a problem walking into your house uninvited and taking a nap on your couch, but I drew the line at helping myself to your beer.”
“Hey, this is as much your house as it is mine.They were your grandparents too.”
“Yeah, but you were the one who stayed and helped Mama take care of them at the end.”
“Because you were busy with football.”
His eyes dimmed and he stared off.“Yeah.Football always came first.”He snapped out of whatever funk he’d gone into and smiled.“So about that beer?”
When they got inside, Jace mentioned he was hungry so Decker made them both ham-and-cheese sandwiches to go along with their beers.They took them out to the porch and sat in the same rockers their grandparents had sat in while they ate and went through a six-pack of beer.
Decker figured he’d work up to telling Jace about Sweetie.So for the first hour, the conversation was about Jace’s flight out, Decker’s job, how Jace’s mama and new stepdaddy liked living in Galveston, and how Decker had come to own a miniature Chihuahua mix.By the time the six-pack was gone, Decker knew it was time to tell his cousin.But before he could, Jace spoke.
“I have to quit football.”
“What?Why?”
“You remember that shoulder injury I got last season?”
“Yeah, you said it was no big deal.”
Jace finished off his beer and crushed the can between his hands.“Maybe I was just trying to convince myself.”He stared out at the night.“The docs don’t think I’ll get full range of motion back.Too much scar tissue from the surgery.”
Decker didn’t know what to say.Football had always been Jace’s life.After struggling for words, he finally just reached over and squeezed Jace’s arm.“I’m sorry.”
Jace nodded.“Me too.”
They sat there for a long time not saying anything before Jace spoke.“So who’s the woman you’re dating?”
Now was the time to confess all, but damned if Decker could do it when Jace had just told him he might not ever play football again.“A woman?I’m not dating anyone.”Technically, it was true.He and Sweetie had yet to go out on a date.
Jace laughed.“You never could lie worth shit, Deck.Gramps always told me to make sure you weren’t around if I wanted to get away with something.”
“So that’s why you never told me about what you did at all the high school parties you went to.”
“I didn’t tell you because you weren’t interested in high school parties.”He cocked his head.“Come to think of it, you weren’t interested in much.You didn’t care about sports.You got good grades, but didn’t study a lot.You didn’t even date in high school.”He reached over and plucked a piece of hay out of Decker’s hair.“But it looks like you’re making up for it.So who were you rolling in the hay with?Is it the same girl who owns the lacy panties I saw in the laundry room?”
When Decker struggled to tell him, Jace smiled.“It’s okay, dude.I respect that you’re not the kind of guy who kisses and tells.I figure I’ll get to meet her soon enough.That’s if it’s okay with you if I stick around for a few days.”
“Of course it is.You can sleep in Gramps and Nana’s room.”
“Thanks.In fact, I think I’ll call it a night.That’s one helluva long flight from Ontario.”He got to his feet, and Decker knew he needed to say something.If Jace was staying, he’d find out soon enough.
“There something you need to know, Jace.”He forged on before he lost his courage.“Sweetie Holiday is back in town.”
Jace smiled as he headed for the door.“I know.Why do you think I’m here?”
