Page 52 of Hot Response
Carter shrugged, picking imaginary lint or bugs or something off the truck door. “I know Cait will move back out someday, but I hope it’s not for a long time.”
That was the opposite of what Gavin hoped, though he wouldn’t say so. “It would be an adjustment, but you’d be okay. And it’s not like she’d move to Wisconsin or anything. She’d stay close by.”
“Do you know why Cait moved back into the house?”
“To help you and your mom out. Managing everything yourself can be overwhelming if you’re used to having a partner to help out.”
“She moved back in the day I came home from being out with my friends and found my mom crying on the kitchen floor and she wouldn’t get up. She just kept saying she wished she had died, too.”
“And Cait was afraid your mom would try to hurt herself?”
“We both were.”
Gavin rubbed a hand over his jaw, trying to figure out what to say, while also trying to process the new information. Cait hadn’t moved home just because her mother couldn’t figure out how to pay the bills or unclog a sink. She’d been afraid for her and maybe she was afraid of what could happen if she left too soon.
As tempting as it was to find a place to park so he could really focus, he also knew from experience that kind of focus could make a young man clam up. Sometimes it was easier to talk while there was something else to focus on.
“I think she’s better now,” Carter continued. “I don’t know if she really wanted to hurt herself then, either. I think she just wasn’t eating or sleeping and she was trying to pretend to me that everything was okay, and she just had some kind of a breakdown. But Cait said we couldn’t take a chance like that.”
“She’s right.” Gavin took a right turn, buying them a few more minutes in the truck. He wasn’t sure if Carter noticed or not. “Maybe it’s like a well. Your mom fell all the way to the bottom and she’s been climbing out. And maybe Cait’s pulling on the rope a bit and keeping her from falling back down, but your mom still has to climb. And shewillget out of that well.”
“I know.” Through the corner of his eye, Gavin saw the boy nod and it seemed as if his back was a little straighter. Then he looked over at him. “Do you have an Xbox?”
“Nah. I never really got into it, but my buddy Grant has a PlayStation and sometimes he kicks my ass at Madden NFL.”
Carter talked about video games until they got near his house, and then he gave directions. He had Gavin pull over in front of a small blue cape and unbuckled his seat belt. “Do you want to come in and meet my mom?”
“I would, but since Cait and I are dating, I should probably wait untilsheinvites me over to meet your mother.”
“Yeah, probably. Cait’s working today. She wasn’t supposed to, but she picks up extra shifts on the weekends sometimes because it’s good money.” He hopped out, but hesitated a second before closing the door. “Thanks for letting me shoot hoops with you guys today.”
“Anytime, Carter.”
As he drove away, Gavin drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. The information Carter had shared added new layers to Cait’s life that he had no business picking at. And being another layer of her life wouldn’t be easy for him.
But, blowing out a breath, he made the only decision he could make. He’d be patient and see where things went because it was still early, but he was pretty sure Cait was worth it.
Chapter Twelve
Because she’d picked up what turned out to be an outrageously busy Saturday shift that wiped her out so much she didn’t have the energy to do more than talk to Gavin on the phone for a few minutes, Cait slept in on Sunday morning.
She probably would have slept in even later, but she thought she could smell bacon. Bacon was worth getting out of bed for. And if her mom was getting back into the routine of making Sunday breakfast, Cait would show up for it.
When she finally made her way down the stairs, she was pleasantly surprised to find her mom and Carter in the kitchen together. She was laughing and scrambling eggs while he buttered toast.
For a few seconds, she was tempted to sneak back up to her room because this kind of moment—her mom and brother learning to laugh and enjoy each other’s company again—was what she’d been waiting for for months.
But her brother spotted her and gave her a smile. “Hey, I was wondering if you’d get up today.”
“I smelled bacon.”
She was stealing sips of her coffee while setting the table when her phone chimed.Gavin.
But it was Monica, and she tried not to show her disappointment when she realized her mom and Carter were looking at her. “It’s Monica.”
They both went back to what they were doing, and she shook her head before opening the message.
Have to meet sister-in-law for a dress fitting for her wedding and I’ll be going near your area. Meet for coffee at 2? It’ll be a quick one.
