Page 55 of Remade

All right, so right now. Very well.

I hoped everything was okay.

I put my napkin next to my plate and told Reese to keep an eye out. I didn’t need Danny stealing my roast beef.

“Where are you going, Uncle Bo?” Alex called.

“We’re gonna discuss your wish list for Christmas,” I replied. “We’ll be right back.”

She fist-pumped the air.

Kids were so gullible.

Once in the hallway, I stuck my feet into my boots and followed Leighton out on the porch. The cold felt damn good, and I took a deep breath. The darkness and the silence were nice too.

I exhaled and joined Leighton next to the railing and leaned back against it.

Had something come up during his talk with the Quinns today? I’d been busy at the time. Alex had asked me to…to…braid her hair.

Four YouTube tutorials later, I’d convinced her to opt for pigtails. Pigtails, I could do.

“Have I been reading you wrong today?” I asked. “I thought you looked peaceful in the truck.”

His good mood had improved my own. He had that effect.

He shook his head and chewed on the inside of his cheek. “No, I’m happy.”

But…?

He let out a breath and shifted toward me. “Mary’s pretty clear about wanting me to move to Washington—and…I mean, I don’t want that. This is my home.”

Thank fuck he’d continued right away, ’cause if he’d stopped somewhere in the middle, I would’ve had to brace myself.

“I have a good poker face, but I’m happy to hear it,” I admitted.

He quirked a little smirk and peered up at me. “Funny you should mention. You’re kinda hard to read lately.”

“Huh?” I was an open fucking book around this guy.

He pushed away from the railing and positioned himself in front of me instead. “Okay, it’s like this. Before we hooked up, I wasn’t really paying attention to your expressions and stuff. I guess I was focused on the fact that you’re so easy to talk to.”

“’Cause I can’t quit runnin’ my mouth around you,” I chuckled.

Amusement lit up in his eyes. “Dude, same. But I’m…you know, trying to navigate my first real relationship or whatever I’m supposed to call it?—”

“No, that’s the word,” I stated. “Relationship. You’re stuck with me now.”

He better not back out. I’d flip my shit after all the mental gymnastics he’d forced me through—and he didn’t even know. He had no idea how my brain spun circles around me at night these days. I’d thought about past relationships, my sexuality, expectations, vulnerability, and the future.

I wasn’t sure I had any answers, except…I was crazy about this guy, and he had the ability to bring me to my knees.

“Okay,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “In that case…I’m gonna be honest. I don’t know if it’s too early to go there, but I was kinda bummed when you said you and Alex are probably going to San Diego for the holidays.”

Oh. Well, hell, if he wanted us in Washington with him, I’d make that happen with a phone call?—

“I was gonna invite you tomorrow after I found the balls,” he finished.

I let out a breath in half a chuckle, and I scrubbed a hand over my mouth. Poor kid—no wonder he was holding back if he couldn’t read me. I may talk a fuck-ton around him, but body language was important too.

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