Chapter 8
Bryce
“Oh my god,” Hudson crowed as he walked through the gym doors. “Is this a gym or music time at the senior citizen center?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Casey shot back. Standing from his current project, which consisted of replacing and patching drywall, he pointed a finger at his youngest. “Don’t come in here with that shit.”
“Carrie” by Europe played from the speakers of an old boombox style radio, cassette, CD player we’d found in a closet while cleaning out the junk. We’d spent a couple days clearing out shit we didn’t need before we could really get started on the renovation.
Things had gotten a bit weird with Casey Joe for a moment, but he seemed to want to ignore things—which appeared to be one of his finely-honed skills if I had to guess based on the short time I’d known the man—and I was fine with following his lead for the time being.
We’d found a pretty good routine living and working together, and I wasn’t about to push any boundaries.
At least not yet. I considered the guy a friend, but I wasn’t going to overstep.
“If you’re playing that on a tape, I’m going to call the nursing home and see about getting you a room,” Hudson went on, his smile huge, and his blue eyes sparkling.
“Get your child,” Casey Joe bit out as Lance came through the doors. “I won’t be disrespected.”
Hudson cackled. “I can’t help it. Old people music creeps me out.”
Lance rolled his eyes. “This isn’t old people music. We aren’t old.”
“Whatever you say, babe,” Hudson said, smacking a kiss to Lance’s lips. “Y’all might not be old, but this music is a total downer.”
“He’s not wrong,” I said with a wink for Casey Joe.
“Sorry, I popped a—” he glared at Hudson, “—fuckin’ CD in and hit play. Wasn’t trying to set the damn mood.”
“Well, get yourselves in a social mood because Jack is really nervous about his first Lemon Drop meeting, and he’s being cute as hell.” Hudson glanced around the gym. “I’m so pumped for when this is open. Swear, I’m gonna be your first client.”
“Double chargin’ you for a damn membership,” Casey groused. He made one more swipe of spackling. “Better call it if we’re gonna get cleaned up and over there in time.”
Jack had let his social club idea take hold, and he’d been making plans left and right ever since.
He’d opted for a soft type launch with very little fanfare.
A few signs at the Roadhouse and around town, plus a newsletter announcement to those who were local was all the advertising he’d done.
Part of me worried he’d have way too many folks show up, and part of me worried he wouldn’t have any.
Everyone loved Jack. Everyone loved Henry.
Hell, the Riggs family was pretty much universally loved in and around Haven Grove, so I didn’t think Jack would have much trouble getting people to come to his shindig, but I still wanted to be there to show my support in case the word hadn’t gotten around town for this first one.
Being in Haven Grove, feeling so welcome and comfortable so quickly, was a huge difference for me.
I’d been right on the edge of popular back in high school.
In college, I pretty much toed the same line.
I fit in fine with pretty much all the groups of people, even if I never really felt like I belonged to any of them.
Once I was on my own and building my career, things pretty much continued the same way.
I was kinda like a chameleon with all the people I interacted with on a regular basis.
I adjusted to what they needed me to be.
I played the part. I put up the facade. They either never caught on I wasn’t really one of them, or they just didn’t care.
I was good for their image, and in ways that counted the most—or the least, depending on how you looked at it—they were good for mine.
But never once did I feel like I belonged with them. Never once did I feel like I was welcome or safe. I’d gone forty-eight years just coasting through life, barely skimming the surface of relationships—never digging deep into anything real—and I wanted more.
Of course, it had taken me half my life to realize and admit I wanted more.
But there I was.
Coming back home had done something for my heart I hadn’t realized I needed.
Moving to Haven Grove had been the reset I so desperately longed for.
Meeting the Riggs family and folks around town was a fresh start, and my soul was absolutely giddy with the idea of having friends to spend the next half of my life with.
To build a life with.
“We just wanted to stop by and—”
“Give us shit about our music?” Casey Joe interrupted Lance.
His best friend smiled and wrapped his arm around Hudson’s waist. “I wanted to see the progress on the gym.”
“I wanted to see the progress and give you shit,” Hudson said. “Just so happens you were playing elderly music. You make it so easy sometimes.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, shit. I forgot. Henry wanted me to ask about your appointment. It’s this week, right? You want one of us to go with you?”
Casey Joe scowled. “I’m fifty-fuckin’-four. Think I can drag my sorry ass to a doctor appointment without my boys holdin’ my hand.” He put the lid back on the spackling. “Can even wipe my own ass if you can believe that,” he muttered.
“We just wanted to make sure you knew we’re willing to go,” Hudson said, only the slightest tinge of hurt in his voice.
“That’s what friends and family do for each other.” Lance gave Casey a none-too-happy look.
Casey shoved a Dum Dum in his mouth and grunted. “Yeah, yeah. I know. But I’m good. Thanks.”
“You’ll let us know what they say about your numbers, right?” Hudson asked. “You’ve been following the doctor’s advice on food and exercise?”
“Made it this damn fuckin’ far in life, pretty sure I can make it at least a few more years.
I’m done talkin’ about fuckin’ medical shit,” Casey Joe growled around the sucker.
“We’ll see you there.” He gave a wave and headed toward the back where I assumed he’d stomp up the stairs to our apartment so he could get ready.
I glanced at Hudson and Lance. “Seems he’s…”
“An asshole who gets super anxious about doctor appointments because he’s worried he’s dying, but he’s not been willing or able to commit to healthier eating and exercise?
” Hudson offered. “Yeah, seems he is.” He ran a hand over his eyes.
“I offered to run with him. I offered to do weights with him. I mean, it’s good he’s stopped smoking—like, really good; I never really thought he’d be able to do that—but I know he’s still eating like shit and drinking too much. ”
“He won’t change until he’s ready,” I said. “But I’ll work on things on my end.”
Hudson and Lance both looked at me like I’d grown two heads.
“What?”
“Why would you be willing to help someone you barely know? Especially when he’s such an asshole most the time?” Hudson asked.
I shrugged. “When you grew up in the small-town way of life, and you move away, you find yourself missing parts of it. I didn’t realize how much of it was still engrained in me until I came back.
” I glanced toward the back of the gym. “You all have been good to me when you didn’t really have to be. ”
“You’re a good person,” Lance said with a smile. “Believe me, small towns know. Small town hospitality is something given to most without question, but everyone recognizes when there’s something special about a newcomer.”
“Probably smelled the small town on you,” Hudson teased. “Like dogs. We recognize our own.”
I laughed. “Well, I’m grateful for it. Casey is someone I consider a friend.”
Hudson and Lance exchanged a look before giving me raised brows.
“What?”
“My dad doesn’t have a lot of friends.”
I huffed out a laugh.
“No, really. Casey doesn’t have a lot of friends. I’m here because I knew him before. But most people won’t put up with his shit,” Lance said.
“He’s not that bad.”
Their eyes remained fixed on me like they were waiting for the punchline of a joke.
“He’s not.” I looked toward the back again.
“He’s a grump, and he has a foul mouth, but his bark is worse than his bite.
I kinda get it, though. He’s had a lot to deal with, and his health is something scary.
I can’t imagine having a heart attack and not knowing if I was going to live or die.
” I shoved my hands into the pockets of my work jeans.
“Yeah, but he was an asshole before his heart attack,” Hudson said. “Kinda even more of one.” He gestured between him and Lance. “We put up with him because he’s family, we love him, but a lot of people won’t deal with it.”
Lance nodded. “I mean, the town pretty much loves him, but most of them have known him as long as we have. Anyone he’s tried to…” His words trailed off. “Well, I don’t know that he’s dated anyone, but I know he doesn’t do well getting to know people or letting down his guard.”
“Maybe that’s why we hit it off. No expectations. No guards up or down.”
Hudson shrugged. “If you say so. I’m glad he hasn’t run you off. Not sure what’s gonna happen if you tell him he needs to eat healthy though.”
I laughed. “Oh, I already took the brunt of that misguided conversation. You know the saying about when you know better, you do better? Well, I know better now.” I winked.
“I know he likes snacks and shit. I’ll try to have some healthier options for him.
Or maybe try to fill him up with healthier meals so he’s not hungry for the junky snacks. ”
Lance nodded toward the expanse of unrenovated gym. “Maybe once this is up and running, he’ll be more willing to work out. We can all make it a point to get here and put in the work, that way he can join us if he wants.”