Page 59 of Golden Rule

“But… aside from getting the go ahead to start testing, it still feels like we’re in limbo.”

“I know you hoped for more reassurance, but in my book, getting the jump on testing is a step in the right direction. I know this is important to you guys, and it’s important to me too, but you’ve gotta just take this shit one day at a time, Bluejay.”

I smile a little, loving how simple he just made this all seem. “Yeah. One day at a time.”

He settles deeper into the couch, and I still can’t believe he’s here.

“So, while I’m grateful you’ve decided to grace us with your presence, I’ve got questions.”

A grin that, again, reminds me of our uncle, curves his mouth. “What kind of questions?”

“Like, why the heck are you so hard to get a hold of these days?”

His smile remains, but there’s a distant look in his eyes. “You know, just keeping busy.”

“Too busy to pick up the phone every once in a while?”

I don’t mean to get on his case, but… I worry. He’s refused help from everyone who’s offered it, and with his checkered past, it’s always in the back of my mind that he’ll slip back into what’s easy, patterns of behavior that took him away from us for so many years. My only comfort is that, hopefully, his time behind bars might actually be a deterrent from going back to his old life at all costs.

His gaze lowers now, and I question whether I’ve said too much.

“Tell you what,” he says. “Promise I’ll start picking up when I have something to say other than I’m still just working odd jobs, or that I’m still bouncing around from one cheap motel to the next.” He ends the statement with a forced smile he probably thinks masks the pain and embarrassment behind it, but I see right through.

“I think I speak for everyone when I say that none of that stuff matters to us, Hunter. No one’s judging your life but you. But I wish you’d just…”

“Stop, Blue.”

My mouth snaps shut, and I’m so frustrated that he always does this, cuts me off at the heels when all I want to do is help him.

“I’m not taking any more handouts from you. I appreciated you and West helping me take care of my court fees, but… I can’t take anything else.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

We lock eyes and he sighs, a clear sign of his frustration. “Both.”

We’ve reached a stalemate, and it’s apparent we’ve inherited our stubbornness from our father. Only, I’m in no mood to bicker with him. Not when he’s come all this way. Not when I actually appreciate his company this afternoon.

So, I concede.

This time.

“You should stay for dinner.”

“I can’t stay, but Icancome back,” he says. “Just need to check in with Dusty, then shower.”

“Deal. Scar and the whole crew will be here. I’ll check in with Dad, too. He probably doesn’t have plans tonight.”

Hunter pulls a face that says it all, but he speaks up to clarify just in case I missed the hint.

“It’s your house, so I’m not telling you what to do or anything, but my last conversation with Mike didn’t go all that well, so I’d rather not see him anytime soon.”

I bite my tongue, fighting the urge to tell him that, while I totally respect his feelings, I also know that if they nevertryto work things out, they neverwillwork things out. But… I get it. He’s dealing with things in his own time. Hell, some might say that I took my sweet-ass time forgiving our father, too, so I’m in no position to judge.

“Sure. Just Scar and the crew.”

He smiles again, then stands, straightening the sleeve of his t-shirt over the colorful ink covering his arms.

“Be back at six?”

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