I can chase, darlin’.
Violet studies my face. “You’re thinking about him again?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re going to see him again, whether you admit it or not.”
She’s not wrong. I grab my phone from the counter and shoot Reese a quick text confirming I’ll meet him at the coffee shop at midday.
Violet leans closer. “Want me to come with you? I’ll sit in the background like a creepy stalker. You won’t even notice me.”
I laugh. “I’ll be fine. You go and have fun with your new friend.”
“I’ve had my fun with him. He’s leaving. I’m coming with you.” She doesn’t leave room for arguments.
“Fine. Perhaps we can get beers after?”
“Yep.”
With that, I turn and head back to my room.
“What are we doing with the flowers?” Violet calls after me.
I don’t even slow down. “Leave them there and watch them die.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
HUNTER
Wyatt’ssmall hand is wrapped around two of my fingers as we walk across the school parking lot, his backpack bouncing against his shoulders with every step.
The morning air is cool, the Arizona sun just starting to warm everything up, and for a minute, life feels normal.
Simple.
Just me and my boy. My hangover is just knocking on the edge of my skull, but it’s Lola that is filling most of my headspace.
“Dad?” Wyatt says, looking up at me, his cowboy hat already tilted sideways on his head.
“Yeah, little man?”
“Can I ride Penny after school today?” he asks.
Penny is the horse I broke in for him. She’s got the perfect temperament for a beginner rider. A beautiful horse.
I glance down at him, pretending to think about it even though I already know the answer. “You finish all your homework this week?”
He nods way too fast.
“And you helped Matilda clean up your toys yesterday?”
Another enthusiastic nod. She’s our family cook. Except, she loves helpin’ out with Wyatt more than cooking nowadays.
I raise an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”
He hesitates, “...Mostly.”
I snort. “Mostly don’t count.”