Page 32 of Stand

“That’s miles from you.” One of the reasons Ty had never done it.

“We have vehicles down here, you know. And I’m a sober driver.”

“And you know what a pain in the ass the flight is. Changing in Denver?”

“Dallas,” Noah admitted.

“Whatever. One of the D’s. I can’t just put them on a plane. Not with the shape Matt’s in.” He picked up the wooden bird and examined its tiny carved eye, as though needing it for courage. “But.”

Noah whooped.

“Maybe I’ll bring them down myself later. Once things have settled down. When I know her court date.” God knew he had the vacation time. He never went anywhere. He didn’t even have a travel app on his phone.

“I’m holding you to that,” Noah replied enthusiastically. “I’ll look up flights.”

“I don’t know when we can come!” Ty pointed out, laughing in spite of himself.

“I’ll live in hope,” Noah promised. “Keep me posted, okay? And, dude?”

“What?”

“You’re doing a good job. This isn’t your fault.”

He’d said that the other day. Ty had relaxed. And look what had happened.

“Thanks,” he said anyway. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Do that.”

♦

He made himself another cup of coffee, which didn’t taste as good as the Fieldings’, packed up a change of clothes for the kids, and locked up the house. His back pinched a little from sleeping on a couch. Tonight, they’d be back home.

His street was busier than usual. Two cars were parked a little way down from his driveway. Funny thing was, when he pulled up at Cat’s house, he could have sworn he recognized one of them, pulling into a parking space a few feet south.

Sam came out to meet him. The house had a deep front porch that was cool in the increasing June heat. She wore khaki cutoffs again and a tighter tie-dyed sleeveless top. All his thoughts of guilt and embarrassment flew out of his head. He could focus only on the little bit of pale-green bra strap slipping down her shoulder.

“Everything okay?” he said, hoping his voice didn’t sound as dry as his throat felt.

“Yeah,” she replied. “Your kids are fine. Matt’s asleep, and Alyssa’s baking with Cat. I think Cat’s enjoying having a female around the house.”

“Apart from you.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t count.”

She sure the hell counted as female to his libido. Not knowing what to say, he looked at the cozy seating area set up on the porch.

“Cat made lemonade,” she said, waving her hand at the table set with a pitcher and glasses, along with a bowl of watermelon chunks under a fly cover. “She must really like you.”

“I’m very likable,” he said, choosing a seat that wouldn’t be close to wherever she sat.

“So Thea tells me.” Sam chose the gliding love seat, so he got to watch her feet tense and relax as she made the seat move.

“You’ve spoken to her? Isn’t she on her honeymoon?”

“Yep. But she checked in on the boys while you were out. Jake told her you guys were staying.” She grimaced. “Sorry.”

He shrugged. “It happened in front of half the school. It’s not like I can keep it a secret.”

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