Page 86 of All I Need

“She was a little loony for that thing.”

He’s right. She was. But it was one of the cutest and sexiest things I’ve ever seen. “Anyway, tonight I’m keeping it low key.”

“What does that mean?” he asks, nose scrunched up like he tasted something funny. This kid has no poker face whatsoever. He can’t hide what he’s thinking to save his ass—his facial expressions give him away immediately.

“It means, I know she won’t want to go on a date with a ton of fan fair. Her ex dragged her to all these fancy dinners and parties and from what little she’s talked about it, I get the feeling she hated it. Said she never felt comfortable and she didn’t feel like herself. I want her to enjoy life, but mostly I want her to know that I like her for who she is and I would never expect her to pretend to be someone else.”

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“It’s just that I’ve never really heard you talk about someone like that before.”

“No one else was really worth it.”

“You really like her, huh?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Like, long haul type of thing?”

“It’s obviously too early to know for sure, but yeah, I can see it lasting.”

“Wow.” He gets a glimmer in his eye and starts singing, “Walker and Ellie, sittin’ in a tree…”

I throw a pillow off the couch at his head and he laughs as I stroll out the door. I’m still shaking my head when he peeks his head out to continue his song.

I open my pickup door and turn around to face him where he stands by the house. “You know, I wonder what Harper’s older brother would do when he finds out you’re trying to date her. I bet he could get some of his linemen to come pay you a visit.”

His face pales instantly. “That was a mean thing to say.”

I grin shamelessly, hop into my pickup and start it up. I roll down the window. Leaning out, I yell, “Relax. Text me if you need anything.”

“Yeah, yeah. Have fun.”

“Love you, kid.”

“Love you too.”

On my way to Miss Polly’s, I think about our conversation. It appears even Grayson sees how much I put him first in my life. Every woman I dated told me. Willow and Miss Polly have hinted at it. On more than one occasion. Hell, even Mick mentioned it once, told me that while he appreciated how much I did for Grayson, I needed a life of my own as well.

I get it.

It’s not that I haven’t realized how much of my time is spent focused on Grayson and Willow’s needs but what I said to Grayson earlier was the truth. No one else has ever been worth it to me. Until now.

I pull up to Miss Polly’s house for the second time today. Excitement coursed through my veins this morning but this time, knowing it’s going to be just the two of us for the entire evening, I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my cheeks, or the nerves from taking over.

For some reason, I feel a significant amount of pressure to make tonight great. I don’t know everything about her past but I’m putting things together. The people in her life haven’t stood beside her. I plan to change that.

Bounding up the stairs, I knock on the screen door. The wooden entry door is open and I can see Miss Polly walking toward me.

“You’re knocking now?”

I shrug, hands shoved in my pockets. “Figured it would be the polite thing to do. She deserves to have someone show her she’s wanted.”

The door squeaks as she pulls it open and I step over the threshold. The faint scent of coffee and baked goods that always seems to be present in her home fills the air.

“Come. She’s almost ready.”

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