“Kinda…”
“He’s a good one, you know.”
“So I’ve heard,” I respond, surveying him, wondering where he’s going to go with this.
“What happened a few years back…it was terrible. Really broke him. And his family. He was in a bad place for a while, but he hid it most of the time, trying to be strong for Jackson, who was only three at the time. And Liam…he took that kid on when he was only a twenty-four-year-old bachelor. Jackson is awesome and all, but how many twenty-four-year-old dudes do you know who would happily take on that responsibility? He’s my hero.” Dex shakes his head, his shiny, straight black hair swaying a little. There’s a somber look in his almond-shaped eyes now.
“It must have been awful. I lost both my parents not long ago in a very similar way. It really messed me up for a while. I can’t imagine Liam taking all that on—especially after losing his sister. That must have been incredibly hard for him.” I don’t know how or why this conversation got so deep so quickly, but I feel comfortable opening up to him. Even though he looks like he could kill you in fifty different ways, he’s really just a big golden retriever. Kind and eager to befriend everyone.
“I’m so sorry,” he says, his tone full of pity.
“Thank you.” I smile faintly, then, diverting the topic away from my own sorrows, ask, “So, he lives in his parents’ old house?”
“Yeah, well…he’s always wanted to stay around here. And his parents are a little older, in their seventies. Kind of got over the harsh winters and the upkeep, wanted to move into the city. They help with Jackson when they can, but it made more sense for Liam to take guardianship. He’s always been really involved in Jackson’s life…loved getting a nephew to cart around these mountains on adventures. And I don’t know too much about Nick’s parents, but I know they’re older too. They fly in to visit Jackson every now and then, but not that often.”
“He seems like a natural father figure with Jackson. Like it comes so easily to him,” I note.
Dex nods with a thoughtful smile and I eat a bite of my food. Just as good as I remember. “He is,” he agrees.
“So,” I say, steering the conversation to lighter topics. “What ever happened to that old girlfriend of yours?”
He looks puzzled for a moment, the wheels turning behind his eyes. “What…Oh! Did Liam finally tell you? About your past…whatever?”
I laugh at the look of excitement on his face. “No, he didn’t tell me. I knew all along. We both did. And for some silly reason we both left it unspoken for a whole week.” I laugh again at the absurdity of it all.
Dex laughs with me. “He didn’t tell me. But I haven’t heard from him in a few of days…I’m guessing you’ve had something to do with that?” He raises his eyebrows with a knowing grin.
“Perhaps.”
Dex laughs again. “Oh yeah, so the girlfriend…Marny. She ditched me after high school. Broke my little teenage heart. She wanted to go far away for college and never look back. Liam and I…we’re hometown boys. Couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I mean I guess it depends on the circumstances…if the right girl came along…” he trails off, then shakes his head, laughing. “Nah, probably not even then.”
I laugh with him.
Just then, we both turn our heads at the sound of boisterous laughter nearby. Three guys walked up and take a seat next to Dex. Being the owner, he gives them a polite greeting before turning back to me.
We’re mid-conversation when, out of nowhere, one of them yells rather loudly, “Hey, you’re the chick from the gym!”
I look over, and sure enough, it’s the guy from the gym my first week here—the one who boxed me in. Rolling my eyes, I reply, “Yep, it’s me.” Then I turn my attention back to Dex, who is looking curious. I shake my head. “It’s nothing.”
He looks unconvinced.
The gym guy persists. “I thought you were with that other dude,” he slurs. “You sure move fast.”
Dex’s head snaps toward him. “Alright, fella. You can leave now.”
“And who are you?” The guy is standing up now, looking down at Dex who is still seated.
“I’m the owner.”
“Oooh, tough guy,” he taunts. He must have a death wish messing with Dex.
Dex finally rises, towering over the stalky man. The guy flinches but doesn’t completely back down.
“Josh!” Carly calls, hurrying over from behind the bar. “What are you doing here again?”
“Came to see you.”
“I told you not to come back, didn’t I?” Carly snaps.