Page 104 of Heartbeats & Highways

I opened the window to let in some cool, fresh air and then I sat on the toilet lid to gather my thoughts.

“What are you doing, Savage?” Duke’s voice drifted through the open window.

“What do you meanwhat am I doing?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

“Why don’t you tell me whatyouthink I’m doing,” Savage taunted.

“You were jealous of me, weren’t you?” Duke asked.

“You’re out of your God damn mind,” Savage growled.

“What other explanation is there? Willa’s about to have the baby, you finally noticed shit can’t stay the way it’s always been, so what do you do? Run out and find a woman—a pregnant woman—and what? You claim her? You wanted an instant family, huh?”

“You better watch your fucking mouth,” Savage snapped.

“What do you actually know about her? You met her one random morning at a taco truck and you get her a job and put her in the halfway house . . . You’re takin’ her to doctors’ appointments like you’ve been with her for years, man. What the fuck, brother?”

“Is there a point to all this?” Savage asked.

“Is this because of Tracy?”

“No. It has nothing to do with her.”

Duke sighed. “You and Evie just met. And you’re already acting like she’s your Old Lady.”

“Duke,” Savage said sternly. “Evieismy Old Lady.”

“What?”

“I brought her to dinner to meet you first before I called Church to tell the brothers.”

“What the fuck? You’ve lost it. Utterly fucking lost it.”

“That’s enough,” Savage snapped. “Best friend or not, I won’t stand here and let you fling this shit at me. You dated Willa insecret, so don’t stand there all high and mighty and tell me what to do.”

“That was different, and you know it.”

“Why? Because you’ve loved Willa since we were kids? You loved Willa longer than I’ve loved Evie so you win?”

“It’s not aboutwinning. It’s about making sure you’re not gonna . . .”

“Gonna what?” Savage asked.

“What if the other shoe drops? All I’m saying is, you don’t have to rush this thing with Evie. You can take your time getting to know her.”

“Take my time. I don’twantto take my time. I don’t need to. She’s the one for me. I thought you’d be happy for me. Clearly, I was wrong.”

“I do want you to be happy. But I also want you to be careful.”

“Thanks for your concern.” Savage’s tone was bitter.

“Savage—”

“No, fuck this.”

There was a knock on the bathroom door, followed by Willa calling out, “Are you okay?”

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