Page 105 of From the Ashes
He smiles brightly at the invitation and I feel bad for not thinking of it before. He approaches the tables and I stand, telling everyone Kevin has moved into the house in the back corner of the property and is helping us out. Although I don’t expect him to remember all the names, I point around the tables and tell him who everyone is.
“I don’t want to put anyone out,” he says politely when I tell him to grab some food and pull up a chair.
“Nonsense, besides, you did all the work setting this up,” I tell him.
“Yeah, while Phoenix was busypaying the bills,” Knox snorts.
“Technically, Walker was writing the checks…my ass was just cashing them,” I reply automatically with a wicked grin.
“Phoenix! Young ears!” Walker yells.
“Oh, shit. My bad.”
It isn’t until Walker slaps a palm to his forehead that I realize my mistake was cussing, not referencing our sexual tryst.
Colton is cackling in his chair, hot dog halfway to this mouth. I flash a quick wince at Alexis. “Sorry.”
“Won’t be the most shocking thing he hears today, I’m sure,” she says, sending me a wink before looking at Kevin. “There’s an open seat next to me if you’d like it,” she offers.
Once he’s settled, we all finish the meal with easy-going conversation. Colton has done a great job at being patient, but now that his belly is full, he’s over the boring adult-talk and is vibrating with excitement to get to the horses.
“Can we go to the barn now?Pllleeeaaassse?” He has both of his hands on Walker’s forearm as he shakes it back and forth. I wince because it’s his injured arm, but he seems okay. Besides,a bronc is going to give that wrist a helluva lot more force to contend with.
Knowing the time has come for he and Alexis to share the truth, Walker looks a little green.
“Excuse me a second,” I tell my table mates. “Hey, DeVille, can I talk to you over here really quick?”
He gets up slowly like his limbs are heavy and his stomach is churning. He kind of looks like he has a hangover. Any sudden movement and he might keel over right onto the ground. As soon as he’s within reaching distance, I pull him into me, wrapping an arm around his waist to keep him upright.
“Hey, you’re going to make it through this. You love him and he knows it. He canfeelit. Kids are intuitive like that.”
With trembling hands, Walker grips my shirt in his fists at my sides. “What if he doesn’t forgive me?”
“Listen to me. You and Alexis have both done the best you can with a tricky situation. Colton was made from two of the strongest people I’ve ever met. He’ll forgive you. If not today, then over the next few years when we’re there for him, supporting him, encouraging him.” Walker’s eyes grow glassy with unshed tears, so I switch gears and crack a joke. “And if not, then he’lldefinitelyforgive you when we buy him a horse.”
Walker chokes out a laugh as his tears breach the dam.
My boyfriend has big feelings, and I love that about him.
I plant my hands on his cheeks and wipe his tears with my thumbs, bringing my forehead to his. “Hey, you’re stronger than you think, and you’re going to be okay.”
Chapter 43
Walker
Jesus.
I should have those fuckin’ words tattooed on me by now for the number of times Phoenix has come to my rescue with them. Every time he says it, there’s such conviction behind the phrase it’s impossible not to believe him.
So, straightening myself up, I wipe my eyes and walk back to my table.
“Shall we?” I ask Alexis.
She nods, whispering in my ear as she passes me to head toward the barn. “He’s going to be thrilled, Walker.”
As soon as we get to the barn, Colton starts talking a mile a minute about the various pieces of tack, and I have to admit a burst of pride shoots through me when he gets all the parts right. We’re going back out on Roxy today. I don’t need to test the limits of my wrist by trying a younger, more energetic horse just yet. Especially if my son is going to be controlling the reins.
Since sitting still isn’t really an eight-year-old’s forte, Alexis begins the conversation while Colt and I move about the horse, first brushing her and combing hermane.
