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He shakes his head, giving me an apologetic smile. “Not really.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “That’s fine.”
“I like riding horses. I’m going to be a rancher just like Daddy one day.”
“That’s amazing, pal. You wanna know a secret?” I lean closer and whisper softly, “I love riding horses too.”
Those green eyes turn into saucers. “You do?”
“Sure do, but I think I’m rusty since I’ve been gone so long. What do you say, wanna hang with me today? You can tell me all you know while we do some chores.”
Gage glances from me to Aaron. “Can I?”
My brother’s gaze shifts to me, and I just shrug, leaving it up to him. Aaron lifts his hand and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Sure thing, buddy.”
“Give me ten so I can take a shower, and I’ll come pick you up?”
Aaron nods, and Cheryl shoots me a big smile. “It’s good to see you, Miguel. Thanks for doing this.”
“Of course. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“So where are we going?” Gage asks a little while later from the back of Aaron’s truck. He insisted I take it, so we didn’t have to deal with changing the car seat.
“I have to return something to one of my friends in town.”
“But you don’t live here.”
I look up in the review mirror to find him watching me intently. “So?”
“So, how do you have friends here? I usually see my friends every day when I’m in school.”
I let out a soft chuckle at his serious expression. “I used to go to school with my friends too. But now, we usually talk on the phone.”
Gage tilts his head to the side as he thinks about my answer. “I guess that makes sense. I don’t see my friends that often now that it’s summer.”
“No? What do you usually do then?”
Gage lifts his shoulders. “Play on the ranch. Daddy and Papaw let me ride a horse, but only if I take care of it afterward.”
“You like horses a lot?”
“Horses are the best. I could rideallday long and never get tired of it.” His whole face lights up, and the sheer joy of it reminds me of my own childhood—the good times, at least.
“I bet you wouldn’t.”
Spotting an open parking space, I pull the car to a stop. “C’mon, we’re here.”
Unbuckling my seatbelt, I get out of the car, but before I can open the back door, Gage’s already running out.
“Where are we going?”
“To the Reading Nook.”
“Really?” He fist pumps excitedly. “Yes!”
I don’t get a chance to say anything because he’s already running toward the café.
Shit.
