“You had me the second you smiled at me and didn’t laugh at the ridiculous drink I ordered.”
He laughed now. “I was completely enthralled byyour peachy choice and the shy way you kept checking me out.”
“You’re just pure eye candy.” Her bold words made him laugh. But the bright smile made him believe she’d finally opened herself up to really being with him.
“You got a good, long look last night. Want another?”
“I’m not sticking around for more of this.” Max smacked him on the back as he walked toward his truck. “I’m going to find my own woman at the bar.” Max turned back before he hopped in the truck. “Thanks for coming today. It was... like old times.” Max gave Eliza a lopsided grin. “See you soon, munchkin.”
“Bye Unc.”
Max shifted his gaze to Shelby, standing in the crook of his arm. “Keep keeping him sane.”
“I will.” Shelby waved goodbye to his brother, then turned her gaze up to him. “You promised me dinner.”
“Let’s head home.”
“Sounds good to me.” Shelby acknowledged his father for the first time. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Wilde.”
“It is really good to see you all together.” He looked from Shelby to Eliza and finally to him. “That’s a nice-looking family, Chase.” With that, his dad headed up to the house.
Chase watched him go.
Shelby broke the silence. “He’s happy for you.”
“It’s a nice change,” Chase admitted. “And so was the greeting you gave me when you got here.”
“I just wanted you to know I’m here. I’m in this with you. And I don’t want to wait anymore for any of it. Let’s just be... us.”
That “us” hit him right in the heart. “I like the sound of that.”
Chapter Seventeen
Shelby reached over and put her hand over Chase’s. They’d just finished dinner, and Eliza sat playing with her favorite stuffed animals, Bosco and Splat. But Shelby sensed that Chase had checked out about ten minutes ago. He sat staring into space. She didn’t like the uneasy quiet about him. Or the sadness she saw in his eyes.
Depression had settled over him, thick and heavy. Even her touch didn’t penetrate the wall she felt between them.
She needed to break through. “Chase.” She’d said his name twice already. “Chase.” She squeezed his hand and didn’t let up until he blinked and focused on her.
“Huh. What? Did you say something, sweetheart?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Tired. That’s all.” His gaze went blank again for a moment before he focused on her again. “Where’s Eliza?”
She shifted in her chair so he could see Eliza behind her in the living room.
“Oh.” He looked at her empty plate, then his barely touched food. “I guess I wasn’t as hungry as I thought.”
“You took your medication. If you don’t eat, you’ll get an upset stomach.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?” She didn’t mean to snap at him, but she wanted him to focus and stop avoiding what was so obvious.
He wasn’t fine.
“It’s been a long day.” He rose and grabbed his plate. “I’ll give Eliza her bath and read her books. Relax. You had a long day, too.” He kissed the top of her head, deposited his dish in the sink, and scooped up Eliza with a wince that told her his back was bothering him again.