Page 38 of I've Got You

A burst of laughter sprung free, and I shook my head, willing my semi to calm down. “Touché,” I responded and nudged him. “Now chop.”

As he chopped, I continued preparing the pastry. “So what did you do last night after I spoke to you?” We’d fallen into a routine of speaking to each other every night after I’d put Libby to bed.

He shrugged. “Not much. I did speak to Jenna, though. She’s finally given me a date when she’s going to come and stay with my nephews.” His voice took on a different tone when he spoke about his sister and the boys. For that alone, I liked Jenna already.

“That’s great. When are they coming?”

“By the end of the week.”

“Oh wow.”

“Yeah, she kind of sprung it on me, but that’s cool. I don’t need any time off or anything.”

He sounded so worried that I laughed. “It’s fine if you do, Scott. Geez, how long’s it been since you saw them?”

“Too long,” he admitted. “But honestly, she’s already said she’s not sure how long she’s going to stay, plus she’s going to drive rather than fly, which is crazy with Toby and Hunter. She said something about a road trip or something.”

It would be good to discover a different side of him, and what I already knew I liked. “Are you okay for room and things?” I’d only been around his place a couple of times and wasn’t quite sure of the situation.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Thanks. Denver has made a really great home. There’s a bedroom for everyone, but the boys can bunk together if they want. All the rooms are doubles.”

I nodded and started gathering the chopped apples to put them over the heat. “Will you grab the cinnamon and brown sugar for me please?” A moment later he handed them to me, and I measured out and placed them in the pan over the heat with the apples. “Have you spoken to Denver recently?”

“Yeah, actually.” He rubbed the back of his neck, and I zeroed in on the sliver of his stomach exposed by his raised shirt.

“And?” I asked, distracted.

A grin lit up his face. “The old guy’s actually met someone on his travels and is relocating. He wants to sell.”

“Holy shit.” I wondered immediately what this meant for Scott, who was staying in his godfather’s place, and for Carter as well who worked at the clinic.

“Yeah, that was pretty much my response too.”

I stirred the contents of my pan and lowered the heat. “Grab the pastry for me, please.”

“Sure.”

“So,” I started, giving him a smile when he placed the trays on the counter to my side, “what are you going to do?” He could leave. The possibility of that, which to be honest was very real considering this news, sat heavily in my gut.

Scott leaned against the counter, facing me. “I’m not sure.” He blew out a weighty breath, and I glanced his way. He worried his bottom lip between his teeth.

“Well, what are your options?” I was impressed with my ability to be a grown-up when I needed to be. It seemed fatherhood did that to a guy.

He shifted and his brows dipped. I couldn’t figure out if he was nervous, uncomfortable, or possibly even embarrassed. Maybe it was a combination of all three.

“What?”

“Denver actually asked me if I wanted to buy him out.” He gave a shallow laugh.

“On the house?” My heart leaped at the possibility of Scott being more permanent, but I tamped my excitement down. What he was talking about now was pretty significant to his future, and while I was definitely interested in being a part of it, our newness meant that I couldn’t hope or expect for him to be thinking about me, or Libby for that matter.

“Yeah,” he finally answered after a beat. “Not just that, but the clinic too.”

I turned the stove off and turned in his direction, eyes wide. “No shit.”

“No shit.” He nodded, looking like a deer caught in headlights. “I just can’t process it, you know? Why’d he offer it to me? He knows what a jerk I was, how unprofessional I was.” He shook his head, disgust with himself written across his face.

“Hey.” I reached for him and turned so his back was to the counter and I was before him, my legs wide and straddling him in a standing position. “Cut that shit out.” I gripped his hips and squeezed lightly. “You made a mistake, and I’d say there was a significant extenuating circumstance to factor in. Right?”

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