Page 41 of Keep

I pushed him off the wooden crate. “Fuck you.”

Derek got out a real laugh over that and we left the garage in favor of air conditioning. Then I made a few more omelets and we all sat around the table together, me and three Gentry boys, all of us eating omelets and chocolate cake. That’s where Chase and Stephanie found us when they arrived home. I could tell the sight of their three sons around the table pleased them.

“Thanks for coming by,” Chase said as he walked me to my car.

“How was karaoke?” I asked.

“I killed it,” he said proudly. “I sang Wrecking Ball with unrivaled enthusiasm and ignored Creedence who kept heckling me, whining about how I was abusing his eardrums. Then he decided to show me up by getting up there and belting out Sweet Caroline like he was freaking Neil Diamond. Man, my brother can still sing.”

I laughed and Chase smiled before getting serious.

“Thanks again, Curtis. Tonight’s the first hint I’ve seen of the old Derek.” Chase stared at the house and looked worried. “He’s got a long road ahead of him. Longer than he realizes. Steph and I are under no illusions about that.”

“But he’s got an incredible family to back him up,” I said. “And that makes a hell of a difference.”

“It does,” he said softly, still watching his house where the lit windows blazed through the encroaching darkness. “I know I would never have made it without my family, without my brothers.”

Then he shook off the heavy mood, slapped me on the back and invited me to accompany him on his next karaoke adventure. I told him I’d be honored.

As soon as I was in my truck I checked my phone to find a text from Brecken. His friend’s mother was going to drive him home at nine if that was all right. I texted back that it was fine. I had just started the ignition when my phone buzzed with a call. Dalton didn’t usually call me out of nowhere just to chat so I knew something had to be up. I was right.

“You busy right now?” he asked.

“Nope. What’s going on?”

Dalton took a deep breath. “Remember when you said all I had to do was ask if I needed you?”

Of course I remembered. I didn’t say such things every day and I didn’t say them at all unless I meant them. “I remember.”

“Well,” he said. “I’m asking.”

“Tell me where to be and I’ll be there,” I said and put the truck into drive.

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