Page 125 of Chasing Forever
“Okay, smartass, I’m rethinking this now.” Dad looks at Mom, but she laughs.
“No, you aren’t.”
He nods, agreeing with her.
“So, we know you have Brooks’s house, and he’s got the barn where he fixes up those trucks,” Mom says.
“Which reminds me, when do I turn in my father-in-law card where you gift me one?” Dad laughs, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually wants one of Brooks’s trucks. Brooks could probably quit his job as sheriff and do it full-time if he wanted.
“That’s for another time.” Mom walks around for a beat, gazing over the land and the lake. “This is yours.” She turns around and opens her arms. “To do with as you wish.”
My heart skips a beat, and I have to swallow back my emotions.
“Your dad and I would like you to build a house here. We’d like you to live by us because, you know, we like to be overbearing and suffocate our children.”
We all laugh.
“It’s your decision though. I’m sure your brother and sister would love to split this property so they can have a larger lot if you don’t want it.”
I glance at Brooks, and he surveys the land. I’d love to build a house here and live close to my family and cousins, but I love Brooks’s house too. I love how secluded it is. That definitely has its perks.
Just the other night, he took me in the barn, on his workbench, with the door wide open. No one could hear us except for Mack, who saunters away every time we’re having sex. This would be different. We’d have closer neighbors.
“You don’t have to decide right now,” my dad says. “Think on it.”
My mom and dad step back and pretend to be discussing something about the vegetation or the trees, clearly giving us our space.
“What do you think?” I ask.
“I know you always thought I wanted to live here, that it was the reason I married you.” He raises his eyebrows. I playfully shove him. “Honestly, I like the idea. I know you love your family, and it would be close for your work. You could stay in bed with me longer.” His gaze grows a little heated.
“But there are some negatives.”
“I think the positive outweighs the negatives. We can keep my house. I’d still have to go out there to fix the trucks anyway.”
“Unless we built something here. Maybe a garage.”
“True.”
“I think I want to,” I say.
“Me too.” He chuckles.
I’m so happy we agree.
He puts his coffee on the ground and puts his hand in his pocket. I read the name on the cup that he’s yet to acknowledge.
“You haven’t sipped your coffee yet?” I ask.
“I’m waiting for it to cool.”
“I think it’s cool by now.” My tone holds a little bite to it, but I finally wrote something sweet and loving, and he hasn’t even noticed.
“Fine. I’ll take a sip.”
He bends at the waist, and I look at the land again, picturing what we might build here. I’ll be near to Sadie too. If Brooks and I ever decide to adopt or do surrogacy, our kids can play together all the time. They’d grow up here just like I did with my cousins. It’s a life I want with Brooks, but I don’t want to force him into anything.
“Lottie,” he says with a little annoyance, causing me to look over at him.
