“Come by around six thirty. I get off here at six, then you can help me cook, and we’ll talk.”
“Okay.” Putting off going home to Mark seemed like an excellent idea, and knowing he had dinner with Dylan looming helped him to make more calls. Then when the kids woke up, they played on the sand.
“I wish Uncle Mark was here,” Daphne said.
Me too. Isaiah’s heart pinched.
“He couldn’t make it,” Isaiah said instead. “But he loves you bunches.” Of that he had little doubt. Mark did love the kids. They just disagreed on what was in their best interests, but Mark’s heart wasn’t in question, just his misguided mission where he thought he had to protect everyone and everything. Stupid stubborn SEAL.
After a long playtime on the beach, he headed to Dylan’s house, home of another stubborn SEAL, one who thankfully was working late. Isaiah didn’t really want to think of how many of their mutual acquaintances would pick Mark over him. Maybe they have a point, the doubt crows pecking at his brain suggested.
Isaiah kindly suggested that the doubt crows go fuck themselves. He parked at Dylan’s, unloaded the kids, who were still wound up, even after all the exercise on the sand.
“You sure you want the circus?” he said to Dylan when he came to the door.
“Absolutely. We had sixty kids at the after-school program today. Another three at home is nothing.” Dylan led the way into the house. “And you’re in luck. Apollo did a huge pan of stuffed shells the other day, so you don’t have to suffer my cooking. I’ve got them in the oven heating up, and you can help me do a salad while we wait.”
“You’re becoming even bossier than that husband of yours,” Isaiah groused.
“Yup.” Dylan gave an unapologetic grin before calling up the stairs, “Girls, our guests are here!”
Isaiah got the girls playing with Dylan and Apollo’s twins and put Liam up in the backpack so he could help with the cooking.
“So tell me why you think the court is going to side with Mark?” Dylan asked as he chopped a cucumber.
“Well other than the fact that he’s older and a decorated SEAL, it really comes down to money. He’s got gobs of it, and I’ve got a struggling new business. I think I’m going to have to take my dad’s advice. Get a desk job.”
“You’d be miserable.”
“No sh—crap. But I may not have much choice. Time to be an adult.”
“Dude. You are an adult. I’ve seen you change so much the last year. You really found yourself when you discovered landscaping.”
“Yeah. But maybe it doesn’t matter—”
“Of course it matters.” Dylan finished the cucumber, tossed it in the bowl that already had lettuce and cherry tomatoes in it. He came around the island to grab a notebook from a stack of papers and binders by the phone on the counter. “We’re going to make a plan.”
“I suck at plans. But I’ve got to get over that.” Isaiah took over setting the table while Dylan started to write.
“What’s the number one thing stopping you from telling the court that your new company is your job?”
“I’ve only had two paying customers,” Isaiah admitted. “Not exactly inspiring. I need more customers. If I could fill my calendar, that might help.”
“Exactly. So what we do is make a list of everyone we know. Hit them up—”
“I hate asking for help. I don’t want to beg our friends for jobs.”
“Time to get over that,” Dylan said cheerfully. “And we’re not asking them for jobs. You’re going to ask them to share leads. Share you on social media. Put up some cheap yard signs for you. What you need is word-of-mouth. And for that, yeah, you are going to have to swallow your pride and ask for help. But it’ll be worth it.”
“I wish I believed you. Finding a job would be the safer bet—”
“Since when did you play it safe?” Dylan shook his head. “Dig deep, Isaiah. What do you really want?”
Mark. I want Mark. But he couldn’t say that aloud. “I’m not sure.”
Dylan made a frustrated noise. “Well it’s time to get sure. Visualize next year. Where do you want to be?”
Mark. I want to be with Mark. But that was an impossibility so he just shrugged. “Gotta think on it.”
“Well get to thinking. And get over yourself. You’re not going to be able to do this on your own.”
“F—heck. Why can’t anyone believe in me?” Isaiah set the plastic plates for the kids down with more force than necessary, clanking the silverware and rattling the cups.
“I do. But I also know it takes a village.”
That was not what Isaiah wanted to hear right then. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Just like you’ll figure out whatever you’ve got going on with Wizard?”
Damn it. Dylan was too perceptive by half. “I’m not talking about him.” Isaiah didn’t know why he continued to feel this weird loyalty to Mark, who’d totally screwed him over, and still Isaiah didn’t want to out him.