Page 64 of About That Night

“Don’t let anyone else tell you about you,” he adds. “And surround yourself with people who see your value. People like my grandson.”

“I see his value, too,” I say softly. “His friendship matters to me.”

It does. Hank matters to me.

“He is a hell of a cook, isn’t he?”

I nod, my throat tight. He’s a hell of a lot of things, all of which I love.

“You know what else you have in common? You both want to take care of others. Nurturers.”

I’ve never thought about it that way, but I suppose there’s truth to it. “I’ve never thought of Hank in those terms, but you’re right.”

He’s certainly been taking care of me. Holding my hand over dating, feeding me, offering to pay for Josiah’s football, pushing me outside of my comfort zone. He’s been a damn good friend. I should leave it at that.

But my heart doesn’t want to.

“Everyone underestimates him because he’s a bit of a cut-up. But it’s true. Look at how often he’s bringing his old grandfather a meal in here.”

“I’m guessing you’d rather get his shrimp and grits over me fussing with your IV.”

He grins. “But you’re prettier.”

“Charmer. I see where Hank gets it.”

Chapter Twenty

Hank

Generally speaking, kids like me. Generally speaking, I don’t get worked up if they don’t.

Yet, I really love hanging out with Josiah and really want him to have a good time at my parents’ house for game day. It's important to me that he feels comfortable around the chaos of my huge-ass family. So I’m armed with a bag of sweets and a LSU T-shirt for him. I’m not above bribery to smooth an introduction.

I don’t need to worry, though.

He’s an enthusiastic and grateful kid. His eyes light up at all the food in the kitchen, he immediately pulls the T-shirt on over his current shirt, he doesn’t balk at all the relatives cooing over him, and he readily agrees to go with me to check out the pond.

We’re fine, him and me.

Chastity, on the other hand, almost loses her shit when she realizes that, in order to get to the pond, we have to go in the four-wheeler.

“What?” She draws up short when we go out back to the driveway extension and I’m helping Josiah climb up. “No. I don’t think so. No way, mister. Over my dead body.”

I’m not sure if I’m the mister she’s telling no to, or if Josiah is, but either way, she’s not happy.

Josiah’s face falls.

I leave Josiah on the seat of the parked four-wheeler and lean in close to her. “Chastity, it’s fine. I’m just going across the yard, and there’s a helmet in there for him. I’ll drive real slow, I promise.”

“No. Forget it.” She looks to Nevaeh for backup, but her friend rips her eyes off of her new girlfriend Parker to shake her head.

“I’m not getting involved in this,” Nevaeh says.

“It’s dangerous, Hank.”

“Okay.” Time to back down. She’s the parent, not me. “If it makes you uncomfortable, we won’t do it. Come on, buddy, this makes your mama nervous. How about you hop on my back, and I’ll give you a ride that way?”

To his credit, and to hers since she’s raising him, Josiah recovers from his disappointment quickly and immediately tries to climb on my back. He keeps sliding and doesn’t seem to know he needs to wrap his legs around me. I’m squatting down. “Put your arms around my neck,” I tell him.

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