Page 23 of Chasing Forever

My head whipped around in his direction, my brows pinching in curiosity. That was the first time he’d ever called me that. “Dandelion?” I questioned, unsure what the nickname symbolized. “Like theweed?” My top lip curled up.

His chuckle filled the cab of the car. “I can see by the look on your face you think that was an insult, but did you know the dandelion is actually a symbol of resilience?”

My chest stuttered as the meaning of what he said sank in, leaving me momentarily speechless. “What?”

Tristan glanced my way for a brief moment before looking out the windshield and explaining. “Dandelions represent hope, healing, and resilience. Most people might look at one and see a weed that needs to be pulled out. But I see this small, delicate thing that looks like it should be fragile, but is actually so much stronger than it’s given credit for.” He lifted a shoulder in a shrug, unaware that his words had taken root inside me and were spreading, filling spaces that I hadn’t realized were empty.

“When I look at you, I see all those things, so it seems like a fitting nickname, if you ask me.”

The car fell into silence as I tried to sift through all the emotions stirring around inside me and picked out the strongest one. Gratitude. That was the one that stood out most. I was grateful to Tristan and everything he’d done for me. I was grateful he believed I had that in me. And I was grateful he was helping me to believe it as well.

“You asked what was going through my head a second ago.”

He cast a curious glance my way and nodded. “I did.”

“Well, I was thinking I’m beginning to trust you more than I’ve trusted anyone in a very long time.”

His chest rose on a sharp breath, and I didn’t miss the way his fingers flexed around the steering wheel. “Christ, Merritt,” he ground out, his voice going low and raspy. “Can’t begin to tell you what a gift it is to hear that from you.”

A smile tugged at my lips as I sat back in my seat and took in all the beauty of Hope Valley as it passed by. A minute later, Tristan took a turn that would lead us in the opposite direction of his house.

“Where are we going?”

He tapped the clock on the dashboard. “Schools about to let out. We gotta pick up the little man.”

I sucked in a sharp gasp, my eyes going wide. So much had already happened today that I’d completely lost track of time. But leave it to Tristan to be on top of things. I was beginning to see he wasn’t just trustworthy, he was dependable too.

“Shit,” I hissed. “The booster’s back in my car. I totally spaced on grabbing it.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve got it covered,” he said, throwing a thumb over his shoulder.

I twisted around and spotted a brand new, stain-free booster seat on the back bench on the passenger side.

“You bought your own booster?” I asked in astonishment. “When? Why?”

“Day after you guys moved in,” he answered casually, like it was nothing, when in reality, that small act of thoughtfulness waseverything. “Thought it would be smart to be prepared in case you ever needed me to pick Levi up for you or somethin’. Speaking of... we should probably add my name to the pick-up list for the school. Now that you have that job, I’m sure I’ll need to carry some of the load.”

I sniffled, that burn in my eyes returning in the face of all Tristan’s kindness. “You better stop being sweet or you’re going to make me cry.”

He let out a laugh that made my belly fizzy and warm like I’d just swallowed a bottle of champagne. “We wouldn’t want that.”

“No, we wouldn’t,” I said with mock grumpiness. “Because I’m a seriously ugly crier.”

He guided the Suburban into the parking lot and joined the line of cars waiting for school to end. “I seriously doubt you could look ugly doing anything.”

I let out a snort and crossed my arms over my chest. “You have no idea. There’s snot and blotches and swollen noses. It’s a whole thing.”

“Well it would be a shame for you to have to walk into Momma Gianna’s blotchy and snotty and swollen.”

“Momma Gianna’s?”

He shifted into park and twisted in his seat to face me. “Yeah, Dandelion. I told you, we’re celebrating your new job tonight.”

“Oh,” I breathed, that fizzy warmth growing more intense by the second. “I didn’t realize we were still doing that.”

He reached out then, the pads of his fingers brushing against my temple and sending a tremor through my body as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Of course we are. Something great happened to you today, and there’s no way that piece of shit is going to tarnish it for you. From here on out, the three of us are celebrating the good because it’s the very least you guys deserve. And it’s about damn time you and that little guy start getting what you deserve.”

My guard was so low I was beginning to wonder if there was any point in keeping it up any longer. Because something told me it never stood a chance against Tristan Fanning.

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