Page 53 of Eligible Best Friend

I level him with a hard stare. “Families do things for each other.” He opens his mouth to argue and I talk over him. “Not just you doing stuff for them. They want to be a part of your life. Right now, your life needs a pickup.”

He lifts Jayden down. “I’m sure delivery is fine.”

“Call him, Ford.” He needs people on his side. It’s been him and his mom for so long. Karoline’s been trying to reach out and according to her, so has Ryan. The cookout next weekend is a nice step forward, but Ford needs to learn that he has people around him for more than just small talk.

He scowls at me but takes his phone out of his pocket.

“Come here.” I hold my hand out to Jayden and we wander into the next aisle. Ford’s voice drifts toward us, but I can’t make out the words.

I murmur with Jayden, keeping my voice down, marveling over how I’m wandering around a store with my boyfriend and a kid. It’s far from where I was supposed to be in life right now, but this time around, it’s my journey. My life isn’t planned in infinite detail, scheduled to optimize every minute.

My life has changed. Some days, I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. And at times like this, when I can go where I want with whom I want, I don’t care.

Ford rounds the aisle, full scowl in place. “He’s happy to help and will be right here.”

“He sounded actually happy to help?”

His scowl turns playful. “After he got over his shock, yes. He’s bringing his girls.”

I ruffle Jayden’s hair. “You get to see your cousins, little dude.” Despite Ford’s words, his shoulders are tight and his hands are stuffed into his pockets. “It’ll be fine. Ryan seemed really happy to see you at the wedding.”

His jaw works and he glances around. We’re alone in the aisle. “I just don’t want this day to get ruined. I’m having a good time.”

Asking for help when you’re always the one coming to the rescue might be a hard change, but there’s more here. I think back on the conversations we’ve had about Karoline and Ryan and what it was like growing up with them. I’ve heard the stories, I’ve heard his frustration with the two siblings, but I get now what the issue is. Both kids are older than him and he was only nine when his mom remarried. “You looked up to him.”

He lifts a shoulder. “We were just kids.”

I grab his hand and lower my voice. “Do this for yourself. And for Jayden. He gets to have more family than just Cass’s. Both of my parents are only kids. I have no siblings or cousins, but whether going to the lake or hauling new furniture to your house, it all sounds like fun.”

He lifts Jayden and we start for the front doors to meet Ryan. “Our house used to get chaotic at times. Karoline and Ryan were best friends one minute and mortal enemies the next. Add in me and we could get rowdy.”

Now that Ford’s in a better place with Cass and Jayden, the good times from his childhood are resurfacing more. He’s not the only one in a better place. Fargo fits me more than I thought it would when I ran here a year ago. Maybe someday I’ll look back on my own early years with a little less resentment too.

* * *

Ford

Ryan gets in behind the wheel of his old Silverado. My nieces clamber into the back. They doted on Jayden like he was a tiny rock star and my kid loved every minute. Older kids fascinate him; older kids at his beck and call are even better.

The bed was put together and the dresser anchored to the wall. The toy chest was filled with a few extra toys, ones that I didn’t buy but that Hallie and Megan insisted on once they were in the store and met their little cousin.

Ryan’s window is down, giving me a chance to tell him one more time, “Thanks, man.”

“Anytime. You coming over this weekend?”

I duck my head. “That’s the plan.”

“Lia and Jayden coming too?”

“Lia is. I’ll have to see if I can bring Jayden.”

Concern mingles with annoyance on his face. “If you need any help with that, I have friends who’ve been down that road.”

That road, meaning custody battles? But there’re two sets of ears listening intently in the back. “I’ll let you know.”

“Keep it in mind.”

My initial instinct to brush off offers like that stalls. Custody battle. It’s a line I couldn’t afford to cross before. But my financial state now isn’t as dire as it was three years ago. I have student loans that are getting whittled down each month, but I don’t need to help Mom anymore. This house is paid for and my job is stable.

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