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“They’re right.” I tip her chin up so she’s forced to look at me. “I tried not to, but while I managed to keep myself from getting close to you, I could never stop myself from looking at you.”
“So, that New Year’s kiss…”
“Was something I’d been wanting to do for a long time.”
“I thought maybe you did it because you felt sorry for me. Standing all alone…” She lowers her eyelids as she trails off.
“I did it because I needed to kiss you more than I needed to breathe. Even if it was just the once.”
Tiff’s gaze snaps to mine as I bring our lips together, hoping my touch can calm and comfort her the way hers soothes me. Her tiny sigh makes me think it does.
***
“Tiff’s dad didn’t fire you on the spot?” Cade grins deviously as he saunters up to the plot of land where the new playground will go.
“Fortunately, someone whispered in his ear that it’d be a mistake to judge my intent based on my past.” I hold out my fist so he can bump it, my way of saying thank you. “Plus, he can only fire me with cause, and there’s no clause in the contract that says dating his daughter qualifies.”
“Fair.” He hits his knuckles against mine. “I sorta thought he’d give you another black eye though.”
“I guess he figured two would have a negative impact on the timeline.” I gesture to the materials waiting for us to put them together. “Seriously though, I know you and your folks put in a good word on my behalf. Thanks.”
“It’s all good. Just don’t break her heart.”
“I won’t,” I promise.
We get started setting the footers for the structure, working without much conversation since we’ve done enough projects together that we move in sync despite the silence. And I’d never admit it, but I’m sort of grateful we can still do that. That my deception to be with Tiff didn’t ruin the rapport we have, either as cousins or co-workers. I was prepared to lose that, and I would’ve suffered through it without complaint since I’m the one who was dishonest. I only hope Tiff will eventually have the same outcome with her friends.
“Were things really that hard for Tiff? I mean, did she feel so sheltered she actually would’ve left Katah Vista?” Cade pauses and wipes a bead of sweat off his brow, though the movement is tense. Anxious almost.
I take a deep breath, formulating an answer that’s honest without repeating anything she might want to keep between us. “She has a pretty high tolerance for the way people treat her. It’s overbearing, yeah, but she knows it’s done with good intentions.” I take another breath before continuing. “That doesn’t mean the moving thing was an empty threat though. Everyone has a breaking point.”
He nods absently, then shakes his head like he’s trying to clear it. “How come you don’t see her as a girl? You’ve known her since she was little and tried to tag along with us when we were playing. Do you not have those same memories?”
“I do, but I doubt they’re like yours. I’d only see her every couple of years, and by the time I moved here she didn’t resemble the kid I remembered. If anything, the fact people tried to shelter her like a kid made it harder for me to see her that way since she was so clearly an adult.”
He nods again, deep in thought. “You think she really forgives me? I’ve been trying to shield her from—fuck, pretty much everything—her whole life.”
“Like I said, she’s got a high tolerance for the protective stuff. So yeah, I think you’re forgiven. Especially since you were the first person to accept the two of us together.” I move to dig another footer then stop, my mind stuck on the conversation. “What’s with all the questions?”
“I can’t just stop looking out for Tiff cold turkey.” He rests the tip of his shovel against the ground and stomps on it with his foot, dislodging a chunk of dirt.
“That’s not it.” I watch him repeat the motion. “I mean, there’s something else besides just looking after Tiff. What is it?”
Cade pauses and lets out a deep sigh. “Cora wants kids.”
“Is she…?” I lick my lips, my mouth suddenly dry.Yeah, he’s been married a few years, but he’s not even thirty. He’s too young to start a family. And I’m too young to be an uncle. Or would I be a cousin?
“No.” He shakes his head, pulling me out of mine. “Not yet. But what if we have a girl and everyone treats her the same way they do Tiff? I don’t want my kid to resent this place so bad she’d leave town.”
I lean against the handle of my shovel and look him in the eye, seeing genuine concern. I’m far from ready to be a dad, though I recognize that he needs some reassurance right now.That’s not usually my forte, although I didn’t screw up with Tiff last night, so maybe I’m getting better at it.
“First, I think most people take their cues on how to treat Tiff from her folks, and since they’re so overprotective everyone else followed suit. If you don’t set that example, other people won’t follow it.” His shoulders seem to relax a little. “Second, if you’re really worried about it, all you have to do is repeat what your parents did with you. Most people would look at you and say they did a pretty good job.”
“I made my fair share of mistakes.” He shoots me a guilty smile. “Mistakes I taught you how to make.”
Ah yes… Town tourist attraction.
“You didn’t teach me anything I didn’t want to learn. And despite the stupid shit you pulled growing up you turned out okay. Chances are your kid will, too.”
