Page 139 of All of Me

Luke and I exchange a look.

“Uh-huh,” I say, biting back a grin.

Luke nods. “Yeah, that was totally convincing.”

Vince glares at both of us. “I don’t.”

Will, relieved the attention is no longer on him, smirks. “See how that sounds?”

Vince groans, running a hand down his face. “I hate you all.”

Luke grins. “No, you don’t.”

Vince mutters something under his breath, shaking his head as he goes back to prying up another board. I smirk, knowing full well he’s just trying to avoid giving us more ammo.

I toss my pry bar onto the pile of discarded wood and roll my shoulders, feeling the ache settle in. The air has shifted—cooler now, edged with the crispness of fall. The sun hangs low over the fields, stretching shadows long across the dirt road leading home.

I glance around at what we’ve managed to get done—the porch is almost finished, the railings are sturdy again, the house looking more like something a family should live in rather than just a building sitting empty.

A few more weeks, and we won’t just be working on this place. We’ll be living here.

That thought sits warm in my chest, grounding me. Because as much as I love this land, as much as it feels like a full-circle moment to be coming back to Darling Ridge, home isn’t the house. It’s not the land or the porch or the barn that still smells faintly like my uncle’s pipe smoke.

It’s the way she’ll probably still be awake when I walk through the door, even though she swore she’d go to bed before I got back. It’s Ruby’s soft little breaths against her chest as she sleeps, her tiny fingers curled into Callie’s shirt. It’s Sara’s sleepy, mumbled questions from the hallway, and Barrett peeking one eye open just long enough to ask if we got a lot done before rolling over and pulling the covers up to his chin.

That’s what I’m thinking about. Not the work left to do. Not the aching in my back. Just getting home. I glance at the guys, rolling my shoulders. “I’m calling it. I gotta get home.”

Luke raises an eyebrow. “Awww, you don’t wanna stay and have a little guys’ night?”

“Nope.” I smirk, grabbing my keys. “I’d rather go home to my wife.”

Vince lets out a low whistle. “Man’s got his priorities straight.”

Will shakes his head with a small grin. “Can’t blame you. If I had someone like Callie waiting for me, I wouldn’t stick around either.”

I nod, tossing my keys in the air before catching them. “Exactly.”

There was a time in my life when I never thought I’d have this—a home, a wife I love more than anything, kids who are waiting for me at the end of the day. And now? Now I have every reason in the world to get my ass in my truck and drive home.

I nod toward them. “Hey—seriously. Thanks for coming out tonight. I couldn’t do this without you guys.”

Vince shrugs like it’s nothing. “You’d do it for us.”

Will nods. “Anytime, man.”

Luke smirks. “You can thank me by putting in a good word with Brooke.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, not happening. If you think Brooke is gonna let you anywhere near her, you’re more delusional than I thought.”

Will chuckles. “He’s got a point.”

Luke sighs dramatically. “You know what? I don’t need this negativity in my life.”

I shake my head, already stepping off the porch. “Alright, I’m out. Later, assholes.”

“Tell Callie we said hi,” Vince calls.

“Yeah,” Luke adds, smirking. “And tell her we’re proud of her for putting up with your ass.”

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