Page 84 of Lead Me Knot

“Wherever you land, they’ll be lucky to have you. You have a rare talent in this industry. Good instincts. You have to follow no rules, only laws in our business. You can always go out on your own. You don’t have to work for someone else.”

Mickey squints when a reflection off the mirrored window hits his eyes. Maneuvering closer to the building, he says, “I’ve been considering it. I learned a lot from you. I know you’ll end up where you’re supposed to be, but I enjoyed working with you, Baylor.”

“Same. If you need anything, just text.”

“Same. And I’ll let you know if I find anything else before they clear it out.”

“Thanks. I’ll be seeing ya.” I’m not entirely sure that’s true, but he’s a good guy. Maybe we’ll grab a beer one day when I return to the city. I start down the sidewalk, walking straight into the sunlight and letting it cover me. This feels like I’m taking steps in the right direction. Shortcake would probably call it destiny. I’ll let her win that argument.

“Hey, congrats again on the marriage.”

When I turn back, I see him shielding his eyes as he looks in my direction. I reply, “Thanks. Best thing I ever did.” Every step away from this building and company is lighter and easier to take. It’s time for a new start.

Without much time to take this box back to the apartment, I order a car to the airport. I don’t want to be late. It also gives me time to call my girl. Unfortunately, it goes to voicemail. “I love you.” That message feels like it sums up everything I wanted to say nicely.

“We gothot dogs like we used to when I was little,” Beckett tells his dad. “And Uncle Baylor said we can meet my friends at the park tomorrow. But he didn’t get the ice cream. He said he forgot.”

I chuckle. “Is it that bad, Beck?”

He puts Tagger on speakerphone. “Can’t believe you forgot the ice cream.” I can hear him laughing.

“I’m ordering it now.” There are a few things I want to discuss with Tagger regarding the bet and how it played out, but I think it’s best to do so in person when I fly back with his son on Thursday. “How’s my car doing?”

“Sitting on rotting rubber in the garage where we left her. You aren’t expecting me to work on it, were you? That’s all you, man.”

“Like the fort,” Beck adds, calling me out.

I look up from my phone after ordering his favorite New York ice cream to be delivered. “I see you talk crap like your father.”

Beck laughs. “He always says I get it from you.”

Figures, the fucker.“I’m sure he does.” I laugh as I sit on the couch to watch the game even though it’s on mute. I used to sit here and watch with my best friend. Now I have my buddy here to keep me company. It’s only a few days, but the timing was good, so it worked out to fly him here. I’ve broken a few promises. I don’t want to break my word again, or I’ll have nothing left to give.

They wrap up their conversation, leading Beck to join me in the living room. I ask, “Do you watch much baseball at home?”

“No. More football in the fall season.”

“How’s tackle going?”

“Rough.”

He doesn’t laugh, but I do. “Yeah, it’s like that until you build a tolerance to being hit. You know what I was taught growing up?”

Slumping in the leather chair, he glides his eyes to mine. “What?”

“If you’re the fastest one on the field, you don’t have to worry about getting tackled.” His grin reminds me of Tagger’s—devil in the detailed corners, genuine when it expands.

“That’s good advice, right?”

“Yeah. I’m getting faster, but not fast enough not to get tackled.” The tips of his toes reach for the edge of the coffee table. He’s always been a part of our adult lives, so sometimes I forget how young he really is.

“Practice. That’s always the key to being the best.”

“That’s what Grandpa Grange says.”

Memories come back of us boys out at Tagger’s or the ranch racing each other. Competition is in our nature, but we’ve taken it too far more recently. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Hurting Shortcake is now something I have to live with and make sure I never do again.

Beck’s asleep in the chair before the ice cream arrives. I put it in the freezer before I tuck him into bed in the extra bedroom where I have my home office. I pause at the door for one last look back at him.

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