Page 38 of Powerless
“Adorable coming from the guy who wears his jeans at least two sizes too small.” I give Cade a big, cheesy grin, loving the feel of something that isn’t just sad.
“Willa likes them tight.”
I quirk a brow. “How long does it take her to peel them off of you? My money is on at least five minutes.”
“Bring your timer. You can watch next time, could probably teach your dumb ass a thing or two.”
Harvey’s head whips between us, an amused smile on his lips.
“I’ll be sure to give you some notice so you can get your Viagra down in time, old boy.”
“Oh, nah.” Harvey waves a hand dismissively. “The Eatons are a virile bunch. Even I don’t need those.”
“Jesus Christ.” Cade’s head drops, and his eyes stare into his coffee cup like he’s scrying for answers on how to make his dad stop saying inappropriate things.
I snort because I know that day will never come. And it’s a sign of life that I’ll take. Harvey’s sense of humor is one of my favorite things about him—always has been.
And quiet as I’ve been through the years, I never can quite resist toeing that line with him. Pushing him a smidge farther to see what he’ll say.
“You got someone special on the receiving end of all that virility, Harv?”
“A few someones. Hard to pick just one, ya know? Why choose?” He smiles back at me maniacally.
“Make sure you wrap it up,” is my casual response. After the death of his wife so long ago, I’m happy he has some company.
Harvey grins. “Talk to Cade about that. Not me.”
Cade groans and tips his head back, now staring at the ceiling. “I should have stayed at my house.”
I nod, taking a long pull of the coffee in my hand. “Probably. It’s early. Wasn’t expecting to find you here.”
“Well, Harvey and I were about to do rock, paper, scissors to see who would take a road trip out to see Violet in Ruby Creek with a load of hay.”
My head quirks. “Sorry?”
Harvey jumps in. “Something about a hay shortage out that way. Hot, dry summer. So she called us, begging for a trailer full to help them get through the winter. She still complains that the hay out there sucks compared to ours.” The older man puffs up a little at that compliment from his only daughter.
Cade hits me with a serious look. “But neither of us really wants to leave.” He clears his throat. “Just in case.”
Harvey nods, eyes shrink-wrapped instantly.
Just in case.I know what they’re saying without having to ask for more. Just in case Beau is found. Just in case Beau is gone. Just in case they need to lean on their family when news about their beloved brother comes in.
“I’ll go.” I don’t even need to think twice about it.
Both their heads whip in my direction, surprise written all over their faces.
Harvey smiles at me kindly, the way he has since he took me in, even when he already had too much on his plate. I’ve never met a man with a bigger heart than what’s in Harvey Eaton’s chest. “You’re a good boy, Jasper. But you’ve got your season. You can’t leave, though it means the world to me you’d offer.”
“Yeah, about that . . . I’m actually on leave now. For at least two weeks.”
Harvey’s thick brows scrunch on his forehead. “Why?”
“Did you not see his games this week?” Cade tosses in.
I glare in his direction. He just smirks.
“Fucking dick,” I mutter with no malice as I turn back to Harvey. “Because Roman is a domineering asshole who found out I didn’t disclose what was going on to management or coaching staff and then I shit the bed on the ice and lost us a bunch of games. And I guess rather than yelling at me from the bench like he always does, he’s decided to be inspiring or some shit and coddle me like a sad toddler.”
