Page 60 of Hit the Ground
A song started up on the jukebox. Something older and lively. I tapped my toe under the table, and more than a few customers hummed or quietly sang along.
When Alice reached the bar, Bryan, one of the old-timers who parked himself on his favorite stool most nights, hopped up and snagged her tray, putting it on the bar top. Then he held out his hand. After a beat, she slipped hers into it, and he yanked her into his chest.
Alert, my muscles tensed.
Alice threw her head back and laughed as Bryan pushed her away and spun her in dizzying circles. Her hair slid from her shoulders and cascaded down her back as she twirled like a ballerina in a music box. Just when I thought she’d never stop spinning, Bryan brought her into his arms and led her into a bouncy two-step. Alice’s cheeks were rosy, her eyes alight, and her mouth was poised in a grin wider than I’d ever seen.
Boom.
I was still in my chair, but I’d hit the ground without even realizing I’d been falling. I knew I’d missed a lot, but there was no missing this sudden, bone-deep awareness that I wanted to be the one making her laugh like that—be the reason her eyes shone and cheeks flushed pink.
I sat frozen, watching her spin under Bryan’s hand, every turn unraveling something in my chest. I wasn’t jealous, not of Bryan, who was old enough to be my grandfather. But I was feeling mighty stupid. If I’d been smart, that might’ve been me twirling her.
Now? She looked happier and more alive than I’d ever seen her, and I hadn’t been the one to make her so.
The song wound down, and Bryan gave her a playful bow. She clapped, still beaming like the brightest star in the sky, then slipped back behind the bar like nothing had changed.
But something had.
For me at least.
Chapter Twenty-three
Caleb
Ishowedupatmy parents’ house the next morning as early as I dared, but I didn’t walk in. My siblings and I had learned the hard way our parents were living it up as empty nesters. Their age hadn’t slowed their passion for one another, and as happy as I was to have a mom and dad madly in love, I didn’t want to witness it. Once was more than enough for ten lifetimes, dammit.
My dad opened the door to me in under a minute. My timing had been all right after all. He ushered me into the kitchen, where my mom was sipping coffee and reading the paper. She tilted her chin, and I bent down to kiss her cheek.
“This is a surprise,” she said.
“Yeah.” I lowered myself into the same chair I’d sat on since I was a small child. “I didn’t do a lot of sleeping last night.”
My dad sat beside her, his arm stretched across the back of her chair, curling his fingers around her thick braid. “Something on your mind, son?”
I was under no illusions my mother didn’t share everything with him, so there was no doubt he was up to speed on the Alice situation. Meaning I could dive right in.
Glancing back and forth between them, I simply stated, “Alice.”
My mother nodded. “I assumed this conversation would happen sooner rather than later.”
The corners of my dad’s eyes crinkled as he turned to her. “Are you going to explain to our son how to get his head out of his ass?”
She brushed her fingertips over his beard. “Am I ever.” Then she gave me a pointed look. “That is, if that’s why you’re here.”
“That’s why I’m here. And I’ve braced myself, so please, don’t pull any punches.”
That got my dad laughing. “I don’t think she knows how, Cay.”
The corner of my mouth hitched. “Yeah. You’re right. I’m ready for it.”
She folded her hands under her chin, her icy blue gaze sweeping over me. “I told you I questioned your whole premise for turning Alice away, and I stand by that. You say you don’t need a relationship to be happy, and while that is true, I know you, Cay. You don’t like to be alone. Family and friends are your lifeblood. When Jesse’s not home, you find every excuse to not be either. You’re here or with your brother or sisters, or at Joy’s. You’re the opposite of a loner. You thrive on being in a pack. And I absolutely believe you’d be more fulfilled if you had a partner to share your life with.”
I was taking in what she was saying, but she wasn’t finished with me. “You’ve been doing the single father thing for a long time. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to rock the boat. But what about adding someone who would bring a balance you didn’t even know you were missing? Why would you depriveyourself of that? Why would you settle for what you have when you could have even more?”
“I have a lot,” I argued feebly.
“You do, and you could continue living the rest of your life the same way.” Her eyes narrowed. “But, the next few years, I think you’ll see everyone moving forward while you’re still standing still. Before you know it, Jesse will be off to college, your siblings will get busy with little ones, and you…well, you’ll have more time on your hands than you want or know what to do with. Maybe you’ll be ready for a partner then…but it might be too late. The right one might have moved on.”
