18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
SETH
I relaxed back in the chair, bringing the beer to my mouth and smiling at the scene in front of me before taking a sip. My brother’s dog stood above Dani, licking her face as she giggled.
The screen door opened, and Mason stepped out.
He took the seat next to me, his own beer in hand.
We sat there quietly, watching Dani run around in the backyard.
The party for my parents was over and everyone had left to head home except for me.
But since I was on shift tomorrow, I needed to head back soon.
“Mom asked me if you’re dating someone. I had no fucking clue what to say. ‘He’s fake dating some chick to avoid all the single women in town’ didn’t seem right.”
I rolled my eyes. “A simple no would have been fine.” Although Violet and I had gone on another lunch date the day before, we weren’t actually dating.
“Seriously? You know how she is. Especially because she thinks you are.”
I cocked a brow his way. “Why would she think that?”
My brother shrugged. “Probably because you kept smiling at your phone. Only thing that usually makes you smile is Dani. Well, at least since things ended with Lucy.”
I scoffed. He was almost as dramatic as his daughter. It wasn’t like I could just ignore Violet’s texts. And I found her story telling about Mrs. Jones and the older man who lived next to her entertaining. But I couldn’t deny that she made me smile.
I caught his expectant look. Did he want a response to that? “It’s complicated.”
“No shit?” He smirked. “Did you not think that could be a possibility? You were so certain spending time with a woman you find attractive wouldn’t eventually lead to wanting more than a fake dating relationship?”
“At the time, no, that didn’t cross my mind.”
“And now?”
I lifted my beer to my mouth and thought through his question as I took another drink. “It doesn’t matter what I want. She’s still getting over her ex and isn’t looking to date someone right now.”
“But if she did want more?”
I sighed and lifted my shoulders in a slight shrug. “She’s easy to be around.”
I didn’t know any other way to explain it. Even though she would give me shit from time to time, I didn’t feel like I had to constantly fill the space between us with endless chatter. I liked that. But I still wasn’t sure I wanted something serious again. At least not anytime soon.
He studied me, giving me that brotherly look that said I was about to get some unsolicited advice. “I think Mom might be onto something. You like this girl.” He shot me a smirk before relaxing back in his chair.
He was quiet, and I kept waiting for him to say more. Typically, I’d be fine with the silence, but this was killing me. Maybe because I wanted his opinion.
“What? No advice, big brother?”
He chuckled. “I don’t think you need advice. You’re smart and you care. More than most people realize.” He tipped his bottle in my direction. “I think you already know what you should do and you’re just waiting for the right time.”
I sat there digesting that until Shelby came out the door and headed into the yard. She didn’t glance our way, and when I looked over at Mason, he looked at her with sadness in his eyes.
“Things still rough?” I asked in a low voice.
He nodded. “At this point I feel like I’m just walking on eggshells. She’s unhappy, and I don’t think I can fix it.”
“What does she say?”
“That I’m not listening to her. But I’m trying.”
Listening had never been Mason’s best quality. He was the talker, the doer, while I sat back and watched and listened. Probably why I got better grades and he excelled more at sports.
I wasn’t sure I could offer much advice. “Have you talked about therapy?”
He huffed. “I suggested that once and she accused me of being resentful of her going back to work full time.”
“Are you?”
He shot me a look of disbelief. “Seriously?”
I shrugged. “Just asking.”
“No. Not at all. But I think she’s unhappy about working full time again and just can’t or won’t admit it. And I just don’t know what else to say or do to make it better. I feel like everything I do is the wrong thing.”
“I’m sorry, man.” I didn’t really know what else to say, so we both remained quiet until Shelby and Dani approached.
“Uncle Seth,” the little ball of energy called. “Did you see my cartwheel?”
“I did. You’re getting so good at those.”
“I’ve been practicing.”
“I bet.” I stood and stretched. “I better get going.”
“Aww, man. Do you have to?” she pouted.
“Yeah. I have to work early tomorrow.”
“Fine.” She crossed her arms with a huff.
I knelt down to her level. “Hey, how about I come visit one day later in the week and we go get ice cream?” Since she was with my parents while Mason and Shelby were at work, and she didn’t start school for another week, I could easily come visit on Wednesday or Thursday when I was off.
“Promise?”
“I promise I’ll try.”
“Okay.” She gave me a hug and then ran inside.
I said my goodbyes to Mason and Shelby and started my drive home. A smile pulled at my lips as I thought about tomorrow and the softball game. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Violet.