Chapter 40 Dean #2
He threw it at me, and I had to make sure they didn’t fly everywhere. At first, I thought it was a pile of ones, but when I looked closer, I saw what it really was. Twenties and tens.
“What? I don’t need this much.”
He shrugged. “Well, I have it. And you’ll need it when I kick your ass in poker.” Hugh nodded and turned away, but then he paused. “So, you and Grace. You’re in it for the long haul?”
Oh, here it was. “Yes, sir.”
“I guess you owe me a thank you,” he said. “For the hotel mix-up.”
I’d put that out of my mind, not wanting to relive seeing him naked. But I did know that staying with Grace had pushed us together.
“It was more of a bad circumstance, but I suppose I do owe you a thanks.”
He laughed, which was an odd sound from him. “I knew you’d call her. And I knew she’d let you stay. Never have I ever been so glad I know how to bribe, boy.”
That gave me pause. “Wait a minute, what did you just say?”
“You think that hotel is ever full?” He shook his head. “I know the girl at the front desk. She’s saving up for a car. I helped her along and she gave me a key.”
“You are unbelievable.”
“It worked, didn’t it? And I made it back on my bet. Enjoy your girlfriend, kid! Just remember it was me who made it happen!”
This time he truly walked away, and I only had confusion and a wad of suspicious-looking cash to show for it.
This town was so fucking weird.
And yet, a smile made its way onto my face as I left to go to the bank.
After getting a raised eyebrow from a teller, I deposited my crumpled-up cash into my account and got a few things to work on the front yard of Grace’s house.
She wasn’t much of a gardener, so the front was overgrown and the grass was getting tall.
It was a warm day, but a decent one, so I figured I’d take care of it.
After finding an old mower that worked, I got the grass cut down before I trimmed the bushes. The sun beat down on me, and eventually, I pulled off my shirt to cool off.
Grace found me right as I was finishing up.
“Oh my God.” Her jaw was on the ground as she got out of the car.
“Like what you see?”
“Very much,” she said, but her eyes were on me, not the work.
“Eyes on the prize, Day. You can see this whenever you want.”
“You’re shirtless in a cowboy hat while glistening. Nothing else could be more important than this.”
I shook my head. “You’re objectifying me.”
“Yep. What are you gonna do about it?”
I rolled my eyes and made my way over to her, kissing her senseless.
Grace’s breaths were heavy when I pulled away. “Now, can we focus?”
“No,” she pouted. “I want you to take me to bed and—”
If she finished her sentence, I would give her whatever she wanted. So I turned her around to look at the cut grass and bushes.
Once I was out of her field of view, she saw all that I’d done. “Wait, did you mow my lawn and trim my bushes?”
“That’s what I was trying to show you.”
“Well, cover up next time so I can focus.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Grace turned around and faced me. “Seriously, though. Thank you. I hate yard work. I owe you one.”
“You owe me nothing,” I reminded her. “We’re a team, remember?”
When she smiled, she glowed. I didn’t help her out to get anything in return, but if I did, this would be the gift I needed.
“I’ll handle dinner as a thank-you. I actually stopped at the store to get a few things.”
“I’ll take your food any day,” I said as I walked over to the car to grab the bags. “What are you cooking?”
“A Day specialty,” she said. “Chicken alfredo.”
“Will it be good enough that I’ll want to marry you?”
She laughed. “Probably. You should have bought a ring.”
I needed to get one. Immediately.
I finished up outside as she cooked dinner. When it was done, I helped her plate it and set the table before getting to experience another one of her perfect dishes.
This was the life. Getting to spend time with someone I cared about each night for dinner. For right now, it was just the two of us. Eventually, our baby would join in.
I couldn’t wait.
Halfway through the dinner, Grace paused on eating, feeling her stomach.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She still kept a hand on her bump. “The baby’s just kicking.”
“Really?”
“I thought it was gas, but this feels real.”
We’d known that she would be able to feel them any day, but she hadn’t brought it up. I knew many first-time moms didn’t realize it was happening until later.
“Can I feel?”
“I don’t know if you’ll be able to feel anything,” she said. “But yes.”
All other thoughts vanished as I placed a hand on her belly. At first, I didn’t feel any movement, but I did feel connected to them in a way I hadn’t before. Life was always one job after another. Work and more work. But this was far more than that.
“Hey,” I said. “It’s your dad.”
And I swore I felt the tiniest movement.
Grace gasped. “That was definitely a kick.”
“I felt it too,” I said quietly.
“They like you.”
“Or my voice is annoying.”
“You do realize this baby is gonna adore you, right?”
I wasn’t sure, but I wanted them to. I’d loved Dad, but I still didn’t remember how he’d acted. I would do my best.
“They’ll adore you just like I do,” she added softly.
I could only meet her hazel eyes and stare.
Because I knew Mom was right. This moment, even if it was all I had, was worth all the fear.
And I had no regrets.