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J.T. nodded. “Of course. My workload doubles when he’s gone.”
“And that’s the only reason?”
He shook his head. “No. I love my brother. And I miss the hell out of him when he’s gone. He’s actually leaving again tomorrow. He has a fight on the thirteenth.”
“Do you ever watch him in the ring?”
“No. I did a few times when he first started. But I didn’t like seeing him get hit. Though he’s pretty good and he’s currently undefeated. So he doesn’t get hit too much. But still. It’s hard to watch. My dad and granddad won’t go either. And Sage is a wreck on fight days. It’s like she can feel what he’s going through.”
“They always were really connected.” She unwrapped her sandwich.
“Yeah. It’s weird.”
“Are you envious of their connection?”
“Not at all. I have enough trouble dealing with my own issues. I wouldn’t want to be tuned into someone else’s.”
Joey put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry we left things the way we did. It was horrible. And when I drove out of town that day, I very nearly turned back.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No. I didn’t. Would you have talked to me if I’d shown up at your door?”
He took a moment to answer. “I don’t know. I want to say, yes I would’ve. But I honestly don’t know. I would’ve appreciated the effort, though. At some point, anyway.”
“I’ve made two momentous mistakes in my life. That was one of them.” She glanced toward Finn. “And you know what the other one is.”
Chapter twenty-four
"They're all pretty now and ready for bed."
After they finished eating, J.T. and Finn laid down on the grass and looked at the big, puffy clouds overhead.
Finn pointed to one. “That one looks like a dragon.”
“It sure does. He even has fire coming out of his mouth.”
Joey was sitting a few feet away, watching them. She wanted to give J.T. some one-on-one time with Finn. He’d been great so far, as she knew he would be. And it made her hate herself a little more for not getting a hold of him six years ago. It wouldn’t matter if J.T. forgave her someday. She’d never forgive herself. She’d robbed both J.T. and her son of five precious years together.
When J.T. lifted his head and looked at her, she gave him a smile.
He waved at her. “Come join us.”
She cocked her head, then stood and walked over to them. J.T. patted the grass next to him. “Have a lie down.”
She sat, then laid down and looked at the clouds. “I see a horse.”
“Where?”
She pointed. “Right there.”
Finn laughed. “Mom. That’s a dragon. Not a horse.”
J.T. nudged her. “Yeah, Mom. Can’t you see the fire coming out of his mouth?”
“Oh, goodness. My mistake.”
“Unless it’s a fire-breathing horse.”
