Page 58 of The Ones We Fight For

“But you’re still going to talk to him later?”

“Yeah, we’re going mini golfing at six.”

“Like a date?” Walker took another sip of his coffee so Talia wouldn’t notice his clear distaste for that idea.

Talia let out a sharp laugh. “It’s not a date.”

“Sounds like one,” he rebutted, raising his eyebrows. Mini golfing was a classic romantic comedy move. There was no way Clifford wasn’t aware of that.

“Well, it’s not. I just thought it’d be better to have a conversation outside of my house since I don’t know how long he’s staying there.”

Fuck. He’s living with her now? Jealousy swarmed Walker’s brain. He set his cup on the coffee table so he didn’t end up squeezing it so hard the lid popped off.

“He’s staying in your bedroom?” He was starting to sound like a broken record, repeating half of the things Talia said back at her like she wasn’t speaking the same language.

“In my guest bedroom. Anyway, I’m going to get to the bottom of it tonight.”

“Great,” Walker’s voice cracked. Saying the word out loud did nothing to help him believe it. It felt more like the ground was about to open up and swallow him whole.

Talia acted as though her ex-fiancé had dropped by for a spot of tea, not to beg for her to come back to New York with him. Walker could tell she was masking the pain that always came up when she spoke of New York. Usually, the sadness had to do with her mother or her medical condition, but Walker was starting to wonder if he had misinterpreted her feelings for Clifford. Maybe she wasn’t over him. Maybe she still loved him. The thought made him want to flip the coffee table over.

While Talia talked on about the renovations she and Amala were starting at Lydia’s, Walker barely listened. Normally, he hung on her every word, even if it involved light fixtures, signage, shelving, or even menstrual products. While his brain took a vacation from being a good friend and listening to the ups and downs of grocery store ownership, it also took a break from logic. Irrational thoughts led him down a path that ended with him formulating what was probably the dumbest plan he’d ever come up with.

Mini golfing would be the perfect family outing.

Chapter 22

Walker

When they pulled into a parking spot at Par for the Course, Walker all but threw himself out of the mom-mobile. It took too long to load up the van with everyone balking at the idea of family bonding. The blatant lie he told his nieces and nephews made him feel a little guilty, but not enough to tell them the truth. The compulsion to insert himself into Talia’s date was a childish one, but too persistent to pass up. Torturing himself with the question of how well her conversation with Clifford was going wasn’t his idea of a great night. It was going to eat at him alive unless he came to see it for himself. So, really, his only option was to show up to Talia’s non-date date under the guise of some much needed quality time with his family.

‘Not a date’ my ass, Walker thought as he looked around the bougie golf course. No one traveled across the country or invited an ex-fiancé on a mini golfing excursion just “to talk.”

“You are way too excited to golf,” Carter grumbled as all the Hartrick siblings came to stand beside Walker in the equipment line.

“Yeah, well, we haven’t done anything fun in a while,” Walker replied, distractedly scanning the course over Carter’s shoulder for Talia.

“It’s supposed to rain,” Pearl whined.

“What are the chances?” Cooper asked.

“Eighty percent,” Colin chimed in, easily sliding into his role as the resident meteorologist.

“Look, guys, it’s going to be awesome!” Fake enthusiasm cracked Walker's voice.

“Is it just going to be awesome because Talia’s here?” Piper pointed across the way, and Walker’s eyes found who they had been looking for.

Talia was wearing a dark pair of jeans, a deep red blouse, andmatching red lipstick that made her and her lips look even more enticing. A juicy red apple, ripe for the picking of… Clifford. The man in question was standing beside her dressed in high-class casual wear, smiling as he spoke to her.

Walker feigned ignorance and tried his best not to grind his teeth. “She’s here? Didn’t realize.”

“Mm-hmm,” Piper drawled. The accusation that laced his niece’s voice was clear as day: Walker wasn’t getting away with shit. Carter and Colin stepped off to the side to murmur secretively among themselves. And then, like the bull in a china shop she was, Piper ruined Walker’s entire facade with a loud, “Hey, Tal!”

Both Talia and Clifford bounded down the hill toward them, clubs in hand. Walker waved awkwardly and forced a smile that was as close to an I am here for a family outing shit-eating grin as he could muster. Talia’s eyes locked on him the second she came within spitting distance, and Walker’s smile turned into a real one. She was stunning.

And dressed to the nines for someone else.

“Hey.” Talia narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here?”

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