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“Me too,” Ted said. “It started out as something fun, but I can see that it’s hurtful.”
“You have been supportive of us,” Dallas said, his voice tinny and far away.
Luke said nothing, a frown forming between his eyebrows.
“It’s okay,” Slate said. “Really.”
“So…” Ted glanced at Nate. “I’m assuming you and Jill…”
“Do I ask you what you do with your wife?” Slate asked, quirking his eyebrows.
“Let’s get to work, boys,” Nate said, putting a hand on Ted’s chest as he turned around. “Slate will tell us what Slate wants to tell us about his relationship with Jill.”
“Sorry,” Ted said, hesitating for another moment. “Really, Slate.”
“I know,” Slate said. “Dallas, thanks for calling.”
“See you in a bit,” he said.
With Nate and Ted gone, and the call from Dallas over, Slate simply faced Luke.
“I hate that I’m being left behind,” Luke said. “There. I said it. I’m happy for you. I am. I know you like Jill, and she likes you, and you seem really happy together. I’m just…” He shrugged, because he probably didn’t have words to explain adequately.
Slate understood that on a deep level. “You’re not being left behind,” he said quietly. “You can stay here on the ranch for as long as you want. Ginger loves you, and I know she offered you a full-time job once the cabins are built.”
“Yeah.” Luke looked lost though, and Slate disliked that.
“Let’s get out to the site,” Slate said. “If you’d just tell me who you’ve been eyeing, I could maybe distract you with a girlfriend of your own.”
“At least you’re admitting she’s your girlfriend now,” Luke said with a grin.
Slate turned to get his tool belt and gloves. “Now that I’ve finally kissed her, I suppose the label is okay to use.” He met Luke at the door, but Luke took another step in, not out.
“I don’t want the others to know,” he said.
“Of course not,” Slate said. “I know how to keep a secret, Luke.”
“She has a boyfriend.”
“That does complicate things.”
“He lives in our basement.” Luke delivered that sentence in a whisper.
Slate cocked his head, thinking through the four men who lived downstairs. Bill was the only one with a girlfriend, and that woman was Hannah Otto.
“She’s gorgeous,” Slate said. “I’ll give you that.”
“Why am I always trying to get things I can’t have?” Luke asked. He sighed and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s go build a cabin.” He turned and walked away, and Slate hurried to follow him.
He didn’t need to say anything right now, but he’d keep Luke in his prayers, because he wanted Luke to be just as happy as possible. As he stepped outside, he got a text, and he glanced at it.
If I could come with you to the dog adoption, would that be acceptable?
A smile burst onto his face at Jill’s text.Absolutely, he typed out quickly.And I need some major help with someone you live with…
Intriguing, she sent back.Can’t wait to hear more about that.
He just couldn’t wait to see her again, and it was Jill’s blue eyes, quick laugh, and incredible kiss that helped him get through the backbreaking labor of building a cabin in hundred-degree Texas heat.
