I looked down, defeated for the first time in a long time. Was it wrong to fall again for another person? Did I not deserve to be happy?
“Man, what if shit knocks you out again? What if she leaves, just like what Linda did? That bitch didn’t even look back, Hunter.” He eyes darted toward mine. The sincerity of his words hit me like a thunderbolt straight through my chest. He had a point. But what if she didn’t? She was worth taking the risk for.
“No, Kylie wouldn’t do that. Shut up about it, all right? I don’t meddle in your shit. Don’t meddle in mine. Besides, I’m not sure what I feel or what I’m going to do about it when I figure that shit out.” I closed my hands into fists, indifferent to his angst. I knew Kylie better than he did. She wouldn’t do that to Vince, if nothing else.
Where she might be falling for me, she was totally sold out for Vince.
“Vince is growing up. If she leaves, he will know how it feels to lose someone. Before when Linda left, he was still a baby and had no damn clue what was going on, Hunter. He had no clue that his mother would never return again.” He began to gather himself, returning to his calm, reluctant nature.
I stood up, my fists at my sides. “Thanks for your concern, Garren. I really appreciate how you’ve been supporting me and my son for all these years. But, man, I won’t give up on Kylie. She is too good for Vince and I. I won’t let her go. Period.”
*
It was closing time in the gun shop. Things had been quite awkward between Garren and I, but we kept things professional. After I had locked up, I bid farewell to my best friend and left.
Vince and I drove home hungry. The day was long and tiring, and the inflow of customers had been a bit ridiculous. The little guy had a blast finishing two books and proceeded to tell me the stories that he read as we went home.
“What did Kylie cook for dinner, Dad? I’m so hungry!” He was imitating Cookie Monster’s voice, far too cute for his own good.
I laugh
ed at him, finding it amusing to see my son in such a good mood.
“Let’s not guess, but go see instead. Last one to the door is a rotten egg.”
I got out of the car, pausing as he bolted from his side and ran as hard as he could to the front door.
Jogging after him, I caught sight of Kylie coming out of the front door to meet us. The smile on her pretty face had my heart fluttering. No other woman I’d met before had me feeling so tender, so in love. It was a little concerning.
“Come on in, guys. The table is ready, and dinner just got done.”
I waited until Vince bopped into the house to pull her close to me and kiss her softly. “Did I mention how much I appreciate you?”
“You just did.” She squeezed my butt and kissed me again before turning and following after Vince.
I could smell the sumptuous meal she prepared for dinner. I went inside the house, wanting to know what she had cooked as badly as Vince did.
The spread on the table was awesome. Beef skirt steaks in gravy, rice, rolls, and sautéed vegetables. She even made colorful gelatins for dessert, something not too sweet for Vince to control his blood sugar.
“Damn, woman, this is too much,” I grunted appreciatively as I sniffed the inviting meal before me.
She giggled as her pretty cheeks turned pink. “I wanted to do something special for you guys.”
“Thank you, Kylie. We have never been this happy until you came.” Vince slipped into his seat and grinned up at both of us.
I reached for her hand, pulling it to my mouth and kissing her hand. “The boy is onto something for sure.”
She smiled sweetly before pulling her hand from mine and sitting between me and Vince. “I’m happy to help anytime. You know I love taking care of you boys.”
Vince talked nonstop through the entire meal, impressing Kylie with how far he had read for the day. Kylie expressed her excitement for him and laughed at every joke he told.
I reveled in her attention and love toward my son. Where I never thought I would find anyone that I’d be willing to raise Vince with before, now I knew she was the one. Then what the fuck was I waiting on?
I wasn’t waiting. I was locked behind fear. Linda left with another man and crushed my world, leaving me a single dad and forcing me to consider that I wasn’t enough. If I were, she would have stayed.
Or at least I used to think so. I wasn’t so sure anymore. Maybe that shit had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with her.
Kylie turned to look at me while Vince finished his meal, focusing on the blue Jell-O that sat on his plate.