Page 84 of Light My Fire

“I know you’re probably not bored at all, but I’m used to keeping myself busy and there just isn’t a lot for me to do here. You’re doing all the work.”

Henley eyes me, then reaches down and flicks her tongue across Licorice’s back.

“See, that’s what I’m talking about,” I tell her. “You’re settling into mom life and aside from feeding you three times a day, letting you out, and changing the bedding in the box, I’m not really needed full time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I stayed. That was one hundred percent the right thing to do but… it’s kind of boring.”

Lonely is probably a better word for it.

Lonely enough that I’m having entire conversations with a Labrador.

Though Henley is a good listener. She does always appear interested.

I’ve already asked her if she thinks I should contact Brooke with some bullshit question about the puppies, but Henleyobviously just looked at me like I’m an asshole for using her litter as a means to contact a woman.

Or maybe I’m reading too much into a dog’s facial expression.

“You’re right,” I tell her now, just in case she understands me. “Unless there’s a real emergency, I can’t contact Brooke. She has exams. It would be a real dick move to interrupt her week when we don’t actually need any help, do we, girl?”

Henley does glance up at me and I swear she definitely understands me.

So I want to encourage her confidence. “You’re a natural at parenthood and everything else I need to know is on the Internet.”

Henley moves from grooming Licorice to Henry. Tank is forcing his way in, demanding attention. I pick him up and move him by her haunches.

Tank whimpers in protest.

“Sorry, but you’re a straight up bully,” I tell him, running my fingers down his back. “Wait your turn.”

I will not text Brooke, I will not text Brooke.

It’s been three days and I’ve been tempted at least a hundred times.

Without the guys and Brooke, this cabin is huge and isolated on a damn island. There is no store to run to, no bar to go grab a drink at, no friends or relatives to pop in on and say hello.

Once I get back to Chicago, everything will be fine, but right now I am way too much in my head.

Which means I’m thinking way too damn much about Brooke and how we left things, which was as if it was a casual hookup.

It doesn’t feel like that at all.

Brooke is different.

Aside from the obvious, that she’s gorgeous and intelligent and sweet, I don’t really know why this feels like something that could be something, but it does.

Only I know Wyatt feels the same way.

And Luke fucked her against the kitchen wall.

It’s complicated as hell and I’ve been trying to distract myself from thinking about it too much or too closely.

Today I’ve played games on my phone, watched a movie, cooked myself a massive omelet for breakfast, done some laundry, and shoveled the back deck for Henley’s bathroom breaks. I did a stint in the hot tub, but that only made me think of Brooke—again—so I barely lasted fifteen minutes before I leaped back out. I’ve gone through the list of houses my real estate agent has sent me and rejected them all for various reasons. Too many steps, back yard too small, outdated kitchen. I’m not looking to do a renovation right now, not when I’m going to be taking care of six dogs.

It’s not even two o’clock and I’m contemplating taking a nap I don’t even need just to quiet my head.

There’s nothing left to do but call my mom.

“Jackson,” she says, a hint of censure in her voice. “Son, I love you, but I am at work. I can’t be on the phone with you every day just because you’re bored.”

“Mom, how do you know I’m just bored?”

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