“That’s so cool. I’ll see you all the time?”
“Yes. You’ll get sick of me.”
“What?” he asked innocently. “I’ll never get sick of you.”
My eyes softened.
“Does that mean we can go to the cabin every weekend?”
“As much as you want, Derek.”
“Man, this is so awesome! I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Yeah, it’s wonderful.”
“And I’ll see Uncle Tucker all the time and Grandma.”
“Yep. They’re so excited to see you.”
“And Cleo! I’ll see her all the time too, right?”
“Yes.” I hoped he’d see her the most.
“Okay, I’m going to go pack, Dad. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Whoa.” Valerie’s voice was in the background. “We aren’t leaving for a week, Derek.”
“Oh,” he said. “Well, I’m gonna start packing anyway.” He must have set the phone down because his voice was far away now. “I’ve got to get all my rocket stuff to show Dad.”
“Honey?” Valerie said. “Aren’t you going to say goodbye to your father?”
I chuckled because I’d never heard him this excited before.
He came back to the phone. “Sorry, Dad. Bye. Love you.”
“I love you—”
He’d already dropped the phone.
I wasn’t even mad. How could I be mad that my son was so excited to see me that he couldn’t even say goodbye?
“So, she’s moving here?” Tucker asked, sitting beside me on the couch. “Into this building?”
I nodded.
“What floor?”
I shrugged. “Not sure.”
He cringed. “That’s too much Valerie, if you ask me.”
A phone call was too much. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“I feel like you never have a choice with that bitch.”
“Tucker.”
“What? You think she’s a bitch, too.”
“Yeah, but I don’t say it.”
“Then what’s the difference?” he asked.
“Because she’s the mother of my child, so I feel some affection for her.”
He rolled his eyes. “Her biology did that. She had no part in the development.”
“Whatever,” I said. “Just…keep the insults to a minimum.”
“That ship sailed when you told me all the shit she did. That’s straight-up abuse. When I told Cleo about it, she practically burst into tears—”
“You told her?” I snapped.
“Yes.” He wore a blank look, like his actions were harmless. “Why didn’t you?”
I turned away and grabbed my beer.
“Deacon.”
“I just didn’t want her to know, alright?”
“You don’t want your serious girlfriend to know about the shit you went through?”
“No.” I took a drink and set it down.
“Why?”
“For the reason you just said. It hurt her.”
His eyes softened. “Okay, I guess I can see that.”
“I don’t ask about her ex-husband. I don’t want a play-by-play of how he broke her heart.”
“But aren’t you glad he broke her heart? You wouldn’t have her now, right?”
I didn’t answer that because there wasn’t a good answer.
A knock sounded on the door before Cleo stepped inside, carrying my mail while wearing her typical heels and tight skirt. She flinched for a second when she saw my brother. “Hey, Tucker. How are you?”
“Good. We were just discussing the new tenant moving in to the building…”
I got to my feet and walked over to her, the stress in my chest momentarily erased when I looked at her. Her appearance always gave me a jolt of joy, this warmth in my blood that made me think of pine trees, tall grass, deep water.
My arms moved around her, and I pulled her in for a kiss, greeting her the way I would if we were alone together, not caring if it bothered Tucker, because she was supposed to be with me in the first place.
She kissed me back, her arms still holding the paperwork. She took some of my tongue and gave me hers before she pulled away, her cheeks a little red, and slightly cleared her throat like the heat burned her neck.
“Uh, Deacon,” Tucker said. “Still here…”
My eyes were still on my girl, ignoring what he said. I kissed her temple before I released her. “Hey, baby.”
That smile that lit up her face was indescribable. “Hey.”
I took the mail from her hands and carried it to the coffee table. “You want something to drink?”
“I’ll have what you’re having.”
I grabbed a beer from the fridge then returned.
“What are you guys doing?” Cleo sat in the armchair, her legs crossed, her posture perfect. “A game gonna come on?”
“I wanted to go to a bar, but Deacon hates bars now,” Tucker said. “He should just put one of those reserved signs on his dick everywhere he goes.”
I glared at him.
Cleo smiled, like she thought it was funny.
“I’m happy you’re getting that P, bro, but I still need to find someone to take my D,” Tucker said.
I glared at him again. “Shut up, Tucker.”
“What?” he asked. “Cleo knows how I am. She can handle it.”
“True,” Cleo said to me. “I’m fine with it, Deacon. I hear Matt talk that way all the time, along with some of the clients in the building.”
“See?” Now Tucker glared at me. “Your girl can handle it.” He turned back to Cleo. “We were just talking about the devil that’s moving in.”