Page 82 of Saving You

“Got a temporary order to have fifty-fifty custody. Adele has been a goddamn dream, adjusting my schedule for them. Once the divorce is finalized and we have a parenting plan, I can work on babysitters and stuff.”

“And you know you’ve got us,” Ridge reminded him.

Grady pressed his forearms to the bar and sagged forward. “I know. This is just…hard. And I’m worried about Oz. When I heard he’d been hit, I thought maybe it was her.”

“His sister?”

“Darcy,” he said.

Ridge quickly shook his head. “Nah. It was a freak accident. Rex ran into the road chasing a dog, and Oz went after him. Saved his life.”

“Fuck,” Grady breathed out.

Ridge nodded. “Mm. He’s okay. Nothing broken, no concussion. He dislocated his shoulder, so the pain sucks, but he’s getting by. And he was staying with me to avoid his mom and sister breaking into his house.”

Grady’s face darkened. “They did.”

Ridge laughed. “Yeah, we both figured. He’s home now and ready if they do show up, but he’s got a chain and a new dead bolt, and I think he’s installing a Ring camera this week.”

“It fucking sucks that it’s come to this,” Grady said. “I wish…shit, I wish I could go talk to him.”

Ridge looked down at his hands. “Better not.”

“I know I fucked up over the years. I should have stood up for him more.”

“Yes,” Ridge said, refusing to pull punches, “but that’s not why. He needs space from everyone involved in that whole mess.”

“No, yeah. I get it. I just…don’t know. I want to be there for him after the years I wasn’t.”

“You can be. I think your patience is what he needs. And I swear I’m not speaking for him for kicks.”

Grady snorted. “I figured. Y’all are in love, right?”

Ridge felt his cheeks burn. They were. They were boyfriends. They were in love. They were on their way to becoming a family someday.

“Yeah, I know that look,” Grady said. He sounded sad. “I miss it.”

“It’s not over for you,” Ridge assured him. “Look how many guys we know that found love well after they gave up.”

As if on cue, Adele walked into the bar with Gage at his side. Ridge wasn’t surprised. Adele had been making room for his kid now that he was growing up, and none of the guys were upsetabout it. They’d practically raised him, and it was amazing to see the person he’d grown into.

“Not interrupting, are we?” Gage asked. He slid onto the stool next to Ridge.

“Not at all. You coming in to eat?”

“Since I have to wait to drink,” Gage said irritably.

“Because it’s the law,” Adele said, ruffling his son’s hair. He took a seat beside Grady, who grinned at him. Before anyone could say anything else, the rest of the guys began filing in. The moment was over, and Ridge was grateful for it. He needed space from everything to feel like his old self.

Just for a little while.

Just until he found the courage to pick up his kid, go home, and not see Oz waiting for them.

Except, Ridge pulled into his driveway, and there was someone on the doorstep sitting with their back to his post. It took him all of five seconds to recognize Oz. He glanced back, grateful Ina was asleep in her car seat because it meant he could leave her for a minute.

He put his car in park, shut off the engine, then left his door open as he took the keys and walked up. Oz had his eyes closed, arms wrapped around his middle, cheek resting on top of his bent knees.

Ridge hesitated, then leaned down and brushed a touch over Oz’s temple. His eyes flew wide, and his head popped up.

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