Page 5 of Wanted

I bite back a flinch at the unexpected touch. “You’re lucky. I wish I had some waffles.”

He twists his neck back around to Jack. “Daddy, we take Dude to get waffles?”

My gut twists every damn time he refers to my brother as Daddy.

“That’s up to Uncle Jude.”

“Can’t go today, bud. I have to take care of the dogs.”

“You come next time?”

I avoid Jack’s eyes. “For sure, my man. Next time.”

His little arms wrap around my neck, and he squeezes me tight in a hug that echoes in my fucking heart. “K wuv you.”

The air leaves my lungs in a guh. “You too.” I tell him the best version of that sentence I can muster, knowing he’s too young to catch it. Knowing it’s not enough.

Bennett wiggles in my grip, inching down until I place him on his feet.

“Bennett, why don’t you go see how Uncle Aiden is doing with the dog?” Jack suggests.

“Okay!” He takes Jack’s hand and tows him to the stairs to the lower level.

“Be right back,” Jack clips over his shoulder.

As if I have anywhere else to fucking go. I grimace and pour myself a hot cup from the fresh pot and rake a hand through my hair.

Jack’s footsteps pound up the stairs a moment later.

“So how’ve you been?”

“Good,” I answer around the rim of my cup.

“Haven’t seen much of you around lately. You missed Mom’s this last week.”

Every Sunday, the six of us kids meet at our adoptive mom’s house for a home-cooked dinner. It started as a way to keep in touch as we grew up and moved out of our childhood home. After Dad died, Sunday dinners turned into a tradition we almost never miss.

“Didn’t want to go.”

“Is it the counting?”

“Jack.” There’s a warning wrapped around his name.

“You know we’re always willing to pick you up. You can always call any of us.”

“I missed one dinner. It’s been a busy spring, and I’m trying to keep up.”

His brows snap together. “Can I help? I have some free time. The motel hasn’t been too busy lately now that the snow is melting.”

Besides catching the occasional stray dog and helping around the Sanctuary, Jack owns the local motel as his main source of income.

I shake my head. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. I got busy cleaning debris in the fields, and by the time I was done, I didn’t feel like rushing inside to wash up.”

“Got it. I hope you can make it this week.”

I nod and swallow hard around a lump in my throat. “I’ll do my best.”

“Daddy!” Bennett calls up the stairs.

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