Page 61 of Won’t Let You Get Away

Another camein a few minutes later.

12:33am

Kenny:

Think you could pop out and make sure the guys put everything away and locked up the barns just in case?

He wassilent for another hour until he called twice and sent the final couple texts five minutes ago.

4:20am

Kenny:

Radar shows the storm going right through us now.

4:25am

Kenny:

Assuming you’re either passed out from drinks with Con or from spending time with that new neighbor. I’m hopping in my truck now to head over and help secure everything.

Shit.

I gingerly slipmy arm out from under her, careful not to wake her. Standing on the cool, wooden floor, I glance back over my shoulder to check on Bri and stifle a laugh. She clings to mypillow, curling around it and snuggling deeper into it. I pull the blanket up and tuck her in before quietly heading to get dressed.

As I head downstairs, the howling wind rattles against the house. I quickly text Kenny that I’ll meet him at the main barn.

“Alright,”Kenny says as we finish transferring miscellaneous tools into the barn. “All that’s left is checkin’ that the animal barn is locked.”

I nod, surveying the random tools forgotten overnight. The assortment isn’t large, but considering there’s never anything left out when Kenny or I are the last to leave, it’s unusual to find this much equipment now. This means we’ll need to check the logs and speak with whoever was last to leave yesterday.

I run a hand down my face, glancing towards my house. All I want is to crawl back into bed with Bri and lay around until the storm passes.

For just over an hour, Kenny and I have been tidying up after yesterday’s crew. Given the amount of equipment that was left outside, we had to verify that everything was properly locked up at the storefront.

“So, I take it the new neighbor kept you up?” he teases, drawing my attention back to him as he fumbles with his keys.

“Her name is Sabrina,” I confess, a smile playing on my lips. “We’re expecting a baby. A boy.”

While I haven’t intentionally kept it a secret, this is the first time I’ve shared the news beyond my brother and AJ.

“No shit.” Kenny responds, stepping up next to me for a congratulatory hug complete with a hearty pat on the back. “Congratulations, Daddy.”

“Dude,” I groan and shove him away. “Please don’t ever call me that again.”

Kenny grins, keeping his arm draped over my shoulder as he steers me towards the barn door.

“I don’t know man, Daddy Noah has a certain ring to it.”

I jab him playfully in the side with my elbow, causing him to release his grip.

“No, just no.” Despite my protest, I can’t suppress the delighted grin spreading across my face.

As we open the door, my smile fades when a flash illuminates the sky and the rain begins to fall. Kenny steps up beside me, bumping me with his shoulder and gesturing towards my house.

“Why don’t you head back? I’ll check on the animals and text you when it’s all clear.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, already stepping into the rain and making my way home.

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