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“Are you sure you're really happy?”
“Of course I'm sure. Have you seen my missus?” I laugh, but it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I turn away and carry on walking down the hall.
“You’re going to snap at some point, man, and we’ll be here when you do.” Cole sighs and follows me into the main living room. Everyone is already seated, and the frown Cole mentioned I have is firmly fixed in place.
“Dude, we could balance a crisp on your forehead.” Brant laughs and throws one at me. I knock it away before it hits me.
“Fuck off, we could balance a beer crate on your gut.”
“Swear jar!” Grace shouts from behind the sofa, making Cole and I Jump.
“Jesus!” Cole laughs. “Grace, hun, I think I have grey hairs now.” He laughs.
“You already have grey hairs,” she tells him, her shrewd eyes meeting mine. “Jar, Uncle Cam!” She points out the door, and I get up on a sigh. Cole gets up and goes to the mirror, checking his hair.
It’s late by the time the game finishes, and both Cole and Brant are happy to watch the highlights. “Cam, can you have Grace overnight on Friday?” Dan asks.
“Yeah, sure, got a date?” I query, opening another beer.
“Sure do.” He grins.
Brant and Cole leave shortly after, and I kick my feet up on the sofa. I've drunk too much to drive, so I will probably crash here unless I call Nadine and ask her to pick me up. “So who’s the chick?” I ask Dan.
“Rebecca. She works at the coffee house across from the office.”
“She is new then?”
“Yeah, seems nice enough.”
“To fuck.” I tilt my head to look at him. He shrugs and takes a long sip to avoid answering me. Since Melanie, Grace’s mother, he has kept women at an arm's length. I don’t blame him and, honestly, whoever he settles down with will have me on their case. I love Grace like my own, and her mother doesn't deserve her. “Still keeping it casual?” I ask, standing to pick up the empty bottles everywhere.
“Still pretending you don’t want Holly?” He throws in my face.
“Gee thanks, man.” Arsehole.
“Cam, what's going on? It’s me and you. What happened with Holly today?”
“Nothing,” I mutter, taking the bottles out and shoving them in the recycling, when I turn around, Dan is standing with his arms crossed giving me the stink eye. “What are we, married?” I scoff, and he laughs.
“You couldn’t handle me.” He chuckles.
“I'm gonna be sick.”
“Cam, come on, why did you shout at Holly?” He grabs my shoulder, stopping me from passing him.
“She took photos of Grace. I was worried she would put them on social media,” I admit quietly.
“Cam, for years, we looked for Holly online. She doesn't have Facebook or anything else.”
“Yeah, I know, I panicked. I didn’t want Mel knowing you’ve come back.” I sigh and rub the back of my neck. “I lost it.” I shake my head, remembering how hurt and embarrassed Holly looked. After Melanie tried to hurt Grace and herself, Dan moved away for a year, but he’s been back for a while now, and we’re all on edge about Melanie returning.
“Cam, this is Holly, she is always thinking of everyone else. She’s that person. The woman disappeared from our lives for years, and now that she’s returned home with her family; she isn’t here to cause trouble. She’s here to settle down.”
“Don't say that,” I grunt, hating hearing the words. “Anyway, Grace said Beau hasn’t got a dad,” I remind him.
“Ah, man, don’t tell me you asked Grace?”
“No!” I elbow him out of the way.
