Page 66 of The Chad Next Door
I think I’ve spent too much time trying not to feel anything because all of these emotions the last few days are kind of killing me. What if Houston’s right? He didn’t directly say he thinks I’d be a good husband and father, but I’m pretty sure that’s what he’s getting at.
I don’t want to mess things up with Hope, but maybe that burning desire to do right by her is enough to ensure that I do. I’ll obviously make mistakes, but who doesn’t?
Houston clears his throat. “It might make me sound ungrateful, but I was mad when Lloyd worked the courts so he could take us in. I felt like he was shoving it in your face that he was so much better than you, even if that’s stupid.”
I let out a single laugh. “It’s not stupid. I hated him for the first few years because he did what I couldn’t. I didn’t have the stability to get guardianship after I turned eighteen.”
“But you tried?”
Of course I tried. I want to tell him that, but my words stick in my throat. I’m going to hazard a guess that Houston hasn’t paid any more attention to our dad’s sentence than I have, and I wonder if Dad has reached out to him or Brooklyn yet. Brook will be fine; she forgave him years ago. Houston… I have no idea how he’ll react, and I’m not going to bring Dad up. That’s a surefire way to ruin the day for both of us.
“My point is,” Houston says, “you’ve always looked out for us, and you are always going to do what’s best for the people you love.”
We keep talking as we head into the restaurant, though I’m only partially paying attention to what we’re saying. I didn’t expect to have such a heartfelt conversation with my brother, and now I’m questioning my motives for bringing him to lunch. Is this really what’s best for him? He already hates when I meddle in his life, and this is so much worse than anything I’ve done in the past.
I glance at my phone as we sit, which holds all of the info I found on Darcy. Houston is in love with her, whether he is willing to admit that or not. Maybe telling him the truth about her isn’t a good idea. Maybe he needs to figure it out for himself. We’re here, though, so I’ll have to tell himsomething. Hopefully I can do this right and lead him to a happy ending.
He deserves that much.
“You trust me, yeah?”
Houston narrows his eyes. “What did you do?”
“How much do you really know about Darcy Paxton?”
“I told you not to look into her! We’re not talking about this, Chad.” And yet the curiosity is clear as day in his eyes. Something tells me he has already had doubts about her. He’s not stupid, and Darcy’s secret isn’t something she can easily hide.
After a moment of trying to read my face, he drops his head onto the table. “Do I have reason to be worried?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Then why bring this up?”
“Because I don’t like not being sure. I’m just looking out for you, Hou.”
Groaning, he seems to debate with himself some more before he asks into the table, “Is she dangerous or something?”
What a loaded question. I barely have much info as it is, and even if I’m mostly convinced that what I found is true, there’s always the chance that I’m wrong. I hate being wrong. “Again, I’m not sure. It depends on how you define dangerous.”
“Just tell me.”
I cringe. “I don’t think you really want to know. If I tell you, it’s not something you can unknow.”
“Then don’t tell me. If it’s important, I’ll figure it out on my own.”
He will, and I hope it doesn’t take long. I look at my phone, wishing Darcy had texted me back. If nothing else, she could have confirmed or denied my accusation, but she’s been silent. In a perfect world, Darcy would tell Houston the truth herself.
My phone dings, pulling up a website that must have a hit on something I’m following. In this case, it looks like it’s the reporter Tamlin Park, and I’m curious how Houston will react if I start playing it. We’re waiting for our food anyway, so I might as well see what she’s up to.
Houston perks up as soon as he hears her voice, his whole bearing growing lighter as he focuses on her face. That’s not the look of someone who is fully invested in the girl he’s dating, and I’m starting to think Micah is right about the chemistry between these two. I can feel it now, when they’re not even interacting. Sure, he is deeply interested in Darcy, but there’s a lot more to his story than what I’ve seen so far.
Things are going to fall into chaos for him soon whether he likes it or not, and I’ll be here for him when it does. I’ll always be there for him.
Just like I’m always going to be there for Hope and her kids. I’ve got to stop running scared and start going for what I want because there’s no telling when I might lose it. If I’ve learned anything from watching Houston these last couple of days, it’s that I need to tell Hope how I feel or we’ll never be able to move forward. And I know just the way to do it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hope
