Easton and I were even playing ball again, though this time it wasn’t hardball. We played for co-ed slow pitch softball teams—one in the spring and one in the fall.
Everything was amazing. I had my beautiful wife, the love of the game, and Halo. Easton had set up a date night and I took full advantage to have one with my wife as well. He’d asked if he could borrow my truck for the night. I was confused at first, but then he explained …
“You know Brooke’s scan came back clear,”Easton had stated as we sat in the office at Halo.
“Yeah,”I’d agreed. The last two had been clear and only showed scar tissue.
“I want to take her on a date.”
“And you need my truck?”
“I want to do something she’s not expecting.”
“And it involves my truck?”
“Are you going to let me borrow it or not?”
“Of course, but what are you doing?”I’d questioned.
Easton grinned.“I found this barn upstate that you can rent out for a private dinner. I want to do that and spend time with my wife—alone. Without Chey running in and ruining the mood. I want to do something special, and getting her flowers that glow in the dark like I did after her radiation a few years back isn’t going to do.”
I’d smiled, thinking about the pigs Nic and I swam with on our honeymoon. “She’s gonna want a pig now.”
He’d chuckled sarcastically.“No, she isn’t. That’s your wife.”
“Could you imagine me with a fucking pot-belly pig running around my townhouse? Thank God, I squashed that shit.”
“Yeah,”Easton had agreed.“So, can I borrow your truck?”
“You know you don’t need a truck to go to a barn, right?”
Easton had groaned.“Of course I know that, but I have this idea, and I need your truck.”
“What idea?”
“Dressing up.”
I had blinked, confused that Easton Crawford wanted to play dress up.“Dressing up?”
“Yeah. I want to make it a mystery, and if I have Brooke wear cowboy boots and I drive your truck, she won’t think we’re going to dinner and a movie. This will be different.”
I’d stared at him for a beat.“Are you really Easton Crawford?”
He’d balked.“What the hell does that mean?”
“You sound like me.”
He’d arched a brow.“And what doesthatmean?”
“You know what they call this, right?”He hadn’t responded as he’d glared at me. I’d grinned.“It’s called romance, man. Easton Crawford is being romantic, and I never thought I’d see the day.”
He’d thrown his pen at me, and I’d caught it.“I’ve been romantic before.”
I’d shaken my head.“Not like this.”
Easton had sighed.“So what? I want to surprise my wife with a night away.”
“It’s cool. Maybe I’ll take your car for a night on the town with Nic.”