Chapter 8
8
Brett
Rich was already sitting in our usual booth when I arrived at the diner, nursing a cup of coffee and flipping through a newspaper.
“Hey man, what's up?” he asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from him. I slid in and ordered my own cup of coffee before answering.
“Not much, just hanging out with Sofia and Max a lot lately,” I replied, stirring in a sugar packet.
“Ah, the true love,” Rich teased, raising an eyebrow.
“You aren’t wrong there…” I protested, though a small part of me knew it was true. “Her son is a good kid. Missing his dad, of course, but he just wants to learn how to help with the ranch. He’s worried about his mom.”
Rich leaned forward. “Don’t get too attached. If she doesn’t end up giving you another chance, you’ll be heartbroken even more.”
I’d always wanted to be a dad. Sure, my past was fucked up with my own dad abandoning me, but I promised myself that when the day came for me to be a father, I would be the best one I could be.
“So, how's it going with Sofia? Any progress?"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I don't know, man. She's confusing. Sometimes she seems like she wants me to make a move, and other times she's distant.”
Rich nodded. “Women, man. Can't live with them, can't live without them.”
I rolled my eyes. Rich always knew how to make light of a heavy situation. “Thanks for the words of wisdom, pal.”
“What do you want me to say? She’s got a lot on her plate right now. Maybe just be there for her. No pressure.”
“Well there you go. That’s some good advice. You haven’t lost your touch. I was worried there for a second.”
“Anytime, my friend,” he said, clinking his coffee cup against mine. “Now let's drown our sorrows in some greasy diner food.”
I chuckled, grateful for Rich's attempt to lighten the mood. As we perused the menu, my mind drifted back to Sofia. The way her eyes crinkled when she laughed, how her hand brushed against mine when we worked side by side on the ranch. But then there were the moments when she'd suddenly withdraw, her gaze distant and troubled.
“You know,” Rich said, interrupting my thoughts, “maybe you should just be straight with her. Tell her how you feel.”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “I’ve already done that. She told me she still loved me.”
Rich shrugged. “Look, man, you're both adults. She's been through a lot, sure, but so have you.”
The food arrived, and we dug in, the conversation shifting to safer topics like the latest baseball scores and the upcoming rodeo. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Sofia. The smell of bacon and eggs filled the air, but my appetite had suddenly vanished.
“I don't know,” I said, pushing my eggs around the plate. “What about Max? What if things don't work out?”
“That's the risk you take,” Rich replied, his mouth full of pancakes. “But from what you've told me, that kid already looks up to you. You're not just some random guy to him anymore.”
“Maybe you're right,” I said finally.
Rich grinned. “That's my boy. Now eat your damn food. You'll need the energy.”
As I dug into my now-cold eggs, I stewed over my situation. She had been through a lot. The divorce, now raising Max on her own, and trying to keep the ranch afloat—it was a lot for anyone to handle. I just hoped that somewhere in all of that, there might be room for me too.
As we paid the bill and left the diner, I decided that being there for her was the best way to show her that I wasn’t the same man that left her behind all those years ago. I had to earn her trust again.
When I got home, I sent her a message.
Thought you and Max might want a night off from ranch duties. How about a BBQ at my place tomorrow night? I’ll invite Rich and Cassandra. They’d love to catch up too. Just burgers and ribs, nothing fancy.
I hit send before I could change my mind.
After an agonizing ten minutes, my phone buzzed.
Surprisingly, you don't need to twist our arms! We'll bring some potato salad and brownies. 6 o'clock work?
I let out a breath.
Sounds perfect.
I spent the next day preparing for the BBQ, cleaning my place from top to bottom and making sure I had everything I needed. As the afternoon wore on, I was growing more and more nervous. This wasn't just dinner with friends; it felt like a test, a chance to prove to Sofia that I could be the man she needed.
At 5:55, I heard the crunch of tires on gravel. My heart leaped into my throat as I saw Sofia's truck pull up, Max's excited face visible through the passenger window. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and went out to greet them.
“Hey there,” I called, trying to keep my voice steady. “Glad you could make it.”
Sofia climbed out of the truck, a covered dish in her hands. She was wearing a simple sundress, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked beautiful.
“Thanks for having us,” she said. “Max hasn't stopped talking about it all day.”
As if on cue, Max bounded out of the truck, his eyes wide. “Can I see the grill? Dad never let me help with the BBQ.”
There was a pang in my chest at his words. “Sure thing, buddy. Come on, I'll show you how to get the coals going.”
As Max and I headed to the backyard, Sofia watched us. I hoped I was doing the right thing, getting close to Max. I didn't want to overstep, but I couldn't help feeling protective of the kid. He reminded me so much of myself.
Rich and Cassandra arrived a few minutes later, bringing with them a cooler full of drinks. Soon, the backyard was filled with the sizzle of meat on the grill and the warm chatter of conversation.
I stole glances at her throughout the night as she chatted with Cassandra or helped Max build a tower out of spare firewood. Every now and then, our eyes would meet, and I'd feel that spark, the one that had never really gone away.
As the evening wore on and the sky turned a deep purple, Rich pulled me aside. “So, how's it going?” he asked, nodding towards Sofia.
I shrugged, taking a swig of my beer. “It's good. It's... complicated.”
Rich clapped me on the shoulder. “Just keep doing what you're doing, man. She's watching you, you know. The way you are with Max, how you've set all this up. She notices.”
I nodded, hoping he was right. As if on cue, Sofia approached us, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the fire.
“This was really nice,” she said, her voice soft. “Thank you.”
For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other. Then, without warning, she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. It was quick.
Sofia took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking a lot about everything. And I realized something tonight, watching you with Max.”
I held my breath, waiting for her to continue.
“You've changed,” she said. “You're not the same man who left all those years ago. You have embraced my son… and right now he needs that. So thank you.”
I took her hand in mine. “You know about my dad leaving… he deserves so much better. I hope I haven’t been overstepping.”
“No, of course not. He looks forward to hanging out with you and it’s good for him to have someone to look up to too.”
I nodded and she turned to leave.
“I should get Max home. It's getting late.”
I caught her hand. “I’m glad you came.”
She squeezed my hand. “Me too.”
As I watched her gather Max and say goodbye to Rich and Cassandra, there was a glimmer of hope. Maybe this was our progress. Slow and steady.
After they left, I started cleaning up, my mind replaying every moment of the evening. Rich and Cassandra helped, but they were itching to leave and give me some space.
“You did good today, buddy,” Rich said as they headed out. “Real good.”
“Thanks, man. For everything.”
As I closed the door behind them, I sighed. The house felt empty now, the silence almost deafening after the people filling it. I grabbed another beer and headed out to the back porch, settling into a chair and staring up at the stars.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
Max is already asking when we can come back. Thank you for tonight.
I typed out a reply, deleted it and then typed again.
Anytime .
I saw the three little dots and patiently waited.
Maybe we could do this again sometime? Just the three of us?
My heart raced.
I'd love that.
Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.