Page 42 of Stuck with the Grump

“Probably not a good idea.”

“I’ve got to go then.”

When the call ended, I started inhaling my sandwich, trying to think of what I could say to help Leigh. There was nothing. I had never been through anything like what she was going through. Nothing I could say to her would help her feel better.

The least I could do was sit beside her while she lost herself.

Once I was finished eating, I walked down to the water. Leigh looked up as I sat in the empty chair, but she said nothing. Her mouth was pressed into a thin line as she looked out over the water. A boat rocked with the water at one of the neighboring docks.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, leaning back as she passed me a second blanket.

Leigh looked at me, chewing on the corner of her lip as if deciding whether or not she could answer my question. She swallowed hard, glancing between me and the water. I watched her hand raise to wipe away a rogue tear. After a few more moments, she shrugged, trying to play it off.

“A lot of things.”

“Care to share?”

Leigh looked at me and shook her head. “Why don’t we just sit here and enjoy the night?”

I nodded and settled into my chair, wrapping the blanket around me. The fire licked at the night, sparks dancing with the smoke toward the stars. As I sat there, I could imagine the rest of my nights spent this way, with a fire and Leigh by my side.

“Please stay,” I said, breaking the silence with a whisper.

Leigh stiffened, not looking at me as her bottom lip quivered. Her hands clenched into fists as she gripped the blanket. Guilt flooded me for asking, even after she had given me an answer. She didn’t want to stay with me, couldn’t stay with me. Who knew if her mom’s treatment would go well, and how long she would have left. I couldn’t blame her. She had a life to live. A life that didn’t involve an old man like me.

Of course, I had a life to live too, and I wanted her in it.

Life was a cruel bitch, denying people the things they wanted most in the world. If it would help, I would give up everything just for the chance to get to know her better.

Tyson is going to lose his shit when I tell him I’m in love with his little sister.

“I’m sorry for asking,” I said. “You already told me you couldn’t.”

“What if we got in the water right now? Go skinny dipping?” Leigh asked, her voice sounding choked.

“The water is going to be ice-cold.”

“That’s okay,” Leigh said, standing up and tossing the blanket onto the chair. “At least I’ll feel something other than pain.”

She took off running down the dock, shedding her clothes as she went. I watched as her bra fluttered to the ground before she flung herself off the end of the dock. She bobbed back up, slicking her hair back from her face. I could barely see her in the night, but the flames were enough to cast a glow over her.

“Are you coming in?” she called, her voice carrying across the otherwise silent night. “The water’s awful.”

I laughed, deciding that I would rather spend whatever time I had left with her. Trying to convince her to stay was only going to hurt both of us.

My clothes fell to the dock with hers. When I jumped off the dock, icy water rushed up to meet me. Leigh was laughing as I came back up, floating on her back and looking at the stars.

“You’re beautiful,” I said, grabbing her by the ankle and pulling her back to me. “Absolutely stunning.”

She blushed, kicking herself away from me and paddling deeper into the lake. “You’re full of shit.”

“Always need to insult me. Have you considered that we could just enjoy each other’s company?” I asked as I swam after her.

“You don’t know how many times I have considered that,” she said, her voice slightly sad as she smiled at me.

My heart skipped a beat as I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to me. “I want to spend whatever time we have left together enjoying ourselves.”

“I think I can handle that,” she said, her arms wrapping around my shoulders.

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