Page 138 of It's Always Us

“I knew what he was calling for, and I told him you were good. He started calling me about every couple of months, which stretched to twice a year or so. He never asked about you, but I knew he wasn’t calling to ask me about the shop and life in Ohio.”

I rub my chest, needing the pain to stop. Grandpa must be able to tell and pauses exhaling a long breath.

“When you got engaged, I called him. I told him he either needed to get his ass back here or quit calling. You both had lived miserable long enough.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

His head falls to the side. “Pal, you and I both know you were carrying enough pain around, and it wouldn’t have done anything but add more. You didn’t need that on top of it. One of you had to make the move.”

Mark had been calling for years. I can’t even process that. “Did he call you about the Bronco?”

Grandpa grins. “I knew you’d lose your shit over that old thing. You’re gonna need it now.”

I laugh, and one small tear escapes.

“Pal, my old ticker can’t handle this. You and these babies . . . ” His voice softens, and I see the glistening in his eyes.

“I love you, too, Grandpa . . . so much.”

He sniffs and wipes his nose. “How about I go see what kind of cardboard marinated in salt the cafeteria offers while we wait for Prince Charming?”

“You shouldn’t be eating that?”

“Shit, girl. After today, nothing’s going to kill me. Certainly not ultra-processed and fried beyond recognition garbage.”

“Fine. Hurry up. Your grandbabies are hungry.”

Grandpa hustles out of the room while I try to wrap my head around Mark calling all those years. He called, and I never knew.

I close my eyes, just needing him to get here.

Chapter 43

MARK

My Uber drops me at the curb, and I jog to the entrance. The bright lights inside illuminate the darkness. I find the separate side entrance Cal specified in a text and charge through the sliding doors.

The security guard sets a sandwich down, doing a double take.

“My wife is in room seven.”

His mouth turns upward into a toothy grin. “Congratulations.” He punches a button, and the double doors pop open, but he leans over the desk.

“Hey, can you sign this?”

He scrambles for a marker, shoving a white napkin and then a ballpoint pen at me. I want to ignore him, but I step back, grab the pen, and scribble my name.

He grins. “Thanks, man. Can’t wait to see where you’re headed.”

I slide through the doors, searching for room numbers. The small waiting room on my right is empty, except for a large, bearded, tattooed man who stands. His eyes are hard, his lips are tight, and I’m pretty sure his chest expands as he moves toward me. Slade.

Not right now, man.

“Nice to see you made it.” His snark makes every hair on my entire body stand on edge. My temperature instantly hits a thousand degrees as he stops in front of me. His arms are crossed, and he reminds me of Shane.

“Where’s her room?”

I don’t have time to deal with whatever he’s trying to bring. I need to see my wife and babies. I need to touch her, breathe her in, and know for myself they’re all right. I’m so close, and this joker is in my way.

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