Page 60 of Breaking Free

“My life is the same. I was going to ask the same of you.”

Once he was seated, she turned to face him. “There is something I need to tell you.” After a brief pause, she revealed, “I’ve started seeing someone.”

He nodded in response but said nothing. It would be strange seeing her with someone other than Nolan.

“You’re not surprised?” she questioned.

“After eight years, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. Is it serious?”

“We’re taking it slow, for AJ’s sake. He hasn’t proposed, but we talk about a future together a lot. I think that’s where we’re headed.”

“Is he good with AJ?”

She gripped his hand. “Yes, but he won’t replace you. He’ll always love his uncle Tristan. You are his connection to his dad.”

That was a gut punch he wasn’t expecting. “Did he tell you that?”

Her grip tightened. “Yeah. He’s a typical goofy kid most of the time, and full of energy, but he has quiet times where he comes up with things that floor me.”

“What’s Romeo’s name?”

She bumped him with her shoulder in gentle rebuke before answering, “Jerome Wilder. He’s the business manager at a construction company.”

“I was close.”

She glanced at him in question.

His reply of “Jeromeo,” earned her soft laughter. “If he’s in construction, I can bequeath him the honey-do list.”

“His friends call him Jerry. So do I, and he doesn’t do the construction. He handles payroll and benefits, orders the supplies, and pays the bills, but he knows how to wield a hammer.” Lydia nudged him again. “Bet you’re relieved.”

He shrugged. “I’ve never minded, except for the fact it was me doing it and not Nolan.”

“Yeah,” she breathed.

They sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts for a moment. Then she asked an often-heard question lately. “When do you think you’ll be able to move on, Tris?”

His response was similar to what he’d told Eric and Axyl, but considerably more polite. “I’m content with my life.”

She let out an indelicate snort. “I could be content with a baloney sandwich for lunch, but calzone makes me happy. Deepdown, I know Nolan wouldn’t have wanted me to wallow in sadness and loneliness for the rest of my life. And he wouldn’t have wanted that for you either. What happened sucks, but our suffering won’t bring him back.” She gripped his hands firmly. “I know how you feel. Believe me. But I’m pleading with you, Tristan. Shoo away the dark cloud of grief following you everywhere. It’s time to let the sunshine back into your life.”

He jerked. Did she know about Piper?

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just... Nothing.”

“Please say you’ll think about what I said.”

A heartbeat passed before he answered, “I will.”

“Your hesitation tells me you won’t. You’re one of the best men I know—honorable, hardworking, and family to me and AJ—but you’re also the stubbornest.”

The oven alarm sounded again. She leaned in and kissed his cheek before standing. “Let’s eat and go to a ballgame,” she said on her way to the kitchen. “AJ. Lunch!”

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