Page 43 of Daddy's Heart

“I’d be honored.”

Two hours later, I’ve laughed so hard my jaw hurts.

“So there I am, looking out at the grill as a black bear tries to get at our steaks. I have no idea where Beau’s got to, he’s supposed to be watching them, but I grab my rifle from by the back door.” Colt shakes his head as he relates the story of how he got his butt injury, while Grandmama tries to hide her laughter behind her apron. “Just at that moment, Beau appears from around the side of the house, shouting and screaming at the bear to get away, and scares the shit out of me—”

“Oooooo!” Legend giggles pointing at Colt. “You said a swear.”

I give Colt a playful motherly look.

“Okay, sorry, he scares the bull-poop out of me. I turn, knock the butt of the rifle against the grill, reach out to grab it, burn the sh—, I mean burn my hand on the grill, the rifle goes flying, hits the deck, I duck, sticking my ass up in the air and bam. I take it right in the—”

“Butt cheek.” I interrupt. “You do not have a filter yet Colt Boone.”

Grandpop lets out a howl of laughter. “Right in the backside!”

Legend snorts and mutters, “Backside” in the kind of way that I know I’m going to have to drill it out of him before school.

“Just a good job it was only my 22,” Colt says with a grin that finally has me snorting a laugh instead of warning him about ever doing something so stupid again.

Dinner is... chaos. Wonderful, loud, gravy-on-your-sleeve chaos.

Legend is narrating his entire weekend like it’s a Netflix series, Grandpop is grilling Colt about his pension plan, and Grandmama is refilling everyone’s tea like she’s hosting a Baptist revival.

Colt? He rolls with it. He laughs at the chicken poop story. He answers every one of Grandpop’s questions without blinking. He cuts up Legend’s food without being asked. At one point, he even wipes applesauce off Legend’s chin and doesn’t flinch when he gets some on his own shirt. He accepts a second giant slice of Grandmama’s apple pie.

But the thing that really undoes me? He remembers to refill my water glass.Twice.

When Legend finally starts rubbing his eyes and listing sideways in his chair, Colt stands and stretches.

“Come on, partner. Time for bed.”

“Will you read me a story?”

“If your mama says it’s okay.”

I nod, mostly because my throat won’t cooperate with words.

Twenty minutes later, Colt walks out of Legend’s room, rubbing the back of his neck. “He’s asleep. Kid could talk the paint off a barn.”

I laugh. “Three years of solo conversations. He’s making up for lost time.”

“I like it.” He pulls me into his arms. “I likehim.He’s got your fire.”

“Thank you,” I murmur. “For not... running.”

“Baby girl,” he says, kissing my forehead, “I’m not just here for the highlight reel. I want the full damn movie. Bonus features and all.”

My grandparents have tactfully retreated to the guest room, giving us privacy. Colt settles on the couch and pulls me into his lap, and I curl against him with a contentment I've never felt before.

"So," I say, playing with the buttons on his shirt. "What happens now?"

"Now we figure out how to make this work. You and me and Legend."

"It won't be easy. He's not used to sharing me."

"Then we'll take it slow. Let him get used to the idea." Colt's hand strokes down my back. "But Emery? I'm not going anywhere. This isn't some temporary thing for me."

"Good," I say fiercely. "Because I love you, and I'm not letting you go."

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