Chapter 49
JESSE
The backyard looked like something out of a ghost story, all dead grass, overgrown hedges, and a fence that leaned so much, it might fall over if someone just looked at it too hard.
At some point in the last fifty years, I was pretty sure there would’ve been a swing-set in this yard, but there sure wasn’t anymore.
Not right now, anyway.
I tossed a ball for Hubert, watching him sprint after it across the would-be lawn like it was a football field. At least he didn’t seem to mind the state of it. In fact, it looked like he loved his new home.
Jacque and I had closed on this place last week, a stately, but severely neglected Victorian mansion in Riverside that we were going to turn into our dream home. Apparently. That was what Jacque had said, anyway.
That it had good bones. Family bones.
At the back of my mind, I was just wondering if that meant I’d have to trade in one of my sports cars for a minivan in the near future, but instead of being terrified about that prospect, I was excited. It was so weird what meeting that woman had done to me.
Hubert brought the tennis ball back, his tail wagging like crazy.
He watched me scoop it up again. I drew my arm back and launched the ball across the yard once more, and this time, it disappeared briefly into a patch of weeds.
Hubert tore after it like his life depended on retrieval and I chuckled as the late November air bit through my clothes.
The house might currently be one strong breeze away from being declared a historical hazard, but at least the ghosts had probably been included in the purchase price. Besides, it had been a few weeks since our impromptu wedding and I was ready to lay down roots together.
Anywhere. Even here. As long as it meant we would be doing it together, I was in.
A huff of laughter came from behind me and I turned, already grinning. “There he is.”
Will stepped out onto the back deck, his gaze sweeping over the yard like he was mentally cataloging every structural issue—and there were many.
“You know there’s no insulation anywhere in the house, right?” he said by way of greeting.
I pressed a hand to my chest, feigning offense. “Wow. Not even a hello?”
“That was hello,” he shot back, chuckling. “Also, seriously, there’s none. I’m pretty sure the walls are just vibes too instead of being solid structures.”
“That’s great. I love an open-concept thermal experience.”
Will snorted, stepping down off the deck and walking closer, his shoes crunching over gravel that should’ve been lawn. “I’m not joking, Jesse. It’s going to be freezing.”
I shrugged, watching Hubert return triumphantly with the ball. “That’s pretty rich coming from a guy who lives in a black hole of maintenance otherwise known as an English castle.”
He snorted. “Exactly. That’s why I know how construction works and that you’re going to need a lot of it.”
I grinned, taking the ball from Hubert and tossing it again, a little farther this time. “Look, worst case scenario, fixing this place up bankrupts me.”
Will glanced at me with one eyebrow arching. “Is that really the worst case? Because you and I both know this place won’t bankrupt you even if you knock it down and rebuild it from the ground up. It’s going to be a mess, but it won’t make a dent in your accounts.”
“Okay, fine. That’s the second worst case anyway. The actual worst case is Jacque realizes she married an idiot and leaves me alone with it.”
“Yeah, that’s unlikely. I’m rather sure she knew you were an idiot and married you anyway.”
“One can hope.” I glanced back at the house, at the peeling paint, sagging gutters, and windows that definitely needed replacing. “I know it’s a lot, but we’ll get it done. I’ve already hired a crew to get started after Thanksgiving.”
“You’re really good with that? Living in a house like this instead of an overly modernized penthouse with a spa and a gym in the building.”
I huffed out a laugh. “No idea. Ask me again when I’m crying over contractor quotes.”
“That seems fair. I’m happy for you, though. You’re going to have so much space, assuming the yard doesn’t eat you first.” He went quiet for a second. “Have you talked to Zach?”
I shook my head. “No, not really.”
“Not really?”
“I mean, there’s been the stuff on the group chat. The logistics around you guys coming back home for Thanksgiving and whatnot, but that’s it.” I glanced at him. “You?”
“Same.”
After the gala, everyone had gone back to their own lives, their routines, and in Will’s case, another country.
I hadn’t exactly been making the rounds either, focusing instead on lying low until the initial fervor had died down and then settling into life as a married man—and moving Jacque and Hubert into my condo for the time being.
“Do we need to be worried?” I asked, keeping my tone casual. “With the Morris situation and the divorce. Do you think they’re going to come down on him? I was hoping that had all blown over.”
Will exhaled through his nose as he considered it. “I’m not sure. They’ll push where they can, but you already did them a favor. Indirectly, but still. You bought them a few months away from being the main focus of the press. That should make them think twice about coming after Zach.”
“Are you sure?”
He met my gaze. “Yeah. I’m sure. At least, that’s my opinion.”
“Alright,” I said. “Good.”
He rocked back on his heels. “I think it’s mostly everyone tiptoeing around Zach now. He’s been acting like he’s completely fine, but I don’t think that’s true.”
“Agreed,” I said immediately. “I think it’s just an act.”
Hubert came charging back toward us again and I took the ball, but my focus wasn’t really on him anymore. “How about I check in on him more regularly from now on?”
Will glanced at me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I don’t buy this whole unaffected act, but it’s not just that. None of us have been there for each other like we should after Mom. I know I’ve been worse than everyone else, but still.”
“True,” he said slowly. “I’ll try to be better too. Why don’t we start by me walking you through your house and pointing out all the stuff I think the contractors should pay special attention to?”
“Because you’re such an expert?”
He smirked. “No, because I live in a money pit too and I’ve learned a thing or two about what ends up costing more if you don’t get it done right the first time.”
By the time I got back to the condo that night, the cold had settled deep into my bones, but the second I stepped inside, I was flooded by warmth. Hubert barreled toward Jacque like we’d been gone for a year, making a beeline for where she was curled up on the couch.
She laughed when he climbed half onto her, her hand sliding into his fur even as she lifted her gaze to meet mine. “Hey, you. How’d it go with Will?”
“Hey.” I dropped down beside her without ceremony and pulled her into me like it was the most natural thing in the world, but at this point, it kind of was. “It went as well as it could, I guess. He’s not sure we’re not going to regret it, but neither am I.”
She smiled up at me, her head resting lightly against my shoulder. “Neither am I, but I’m hopeful. It’s going to be an incredible home for our kids to grow up in and the yard is any dog’s dream.”
“Sure, but in the meantime, what are we going to do to keep ourselves busy?” I asked. “Other than work, I mean. I need a break.”
Her lips curved into an amused smile. “Already?”
“Yeah. We got married, bought a haunted mansion, and survived your dog’s judgment for not being invited to the ceremony, so what’s next?”
She hummed thoughtfully, tilting her head. “Well, we could always go hunting for those chinchillas.”
I snorted. “Ah, yes. A classic honeymoon activity.”
“Very romantic,” she agreed.
“I won’t lie. It’s tempting, but I feel like we should aim higher.”
“Higher than chinchillas?”
“Yep.”
She laughed, bringing her hand up to my chest and stroking these absent little circles that threatened to make me forget what we were talking about. “Okay, so if not chinchillas, what do you have in mind?”
I shifted, turning fully toward her and bracing one hand against the back of the couch to cage her in. “Before I tell you, I have a question.”
“Mm?”
“How much do you trust our health insurance?”
She blinked a few too many times. “That sounds dangerous.”
“It can be, but I was thinking I could take you on our yacht.” I leaned closer, my voice dropping as I brought my mouth to her ear. “We could go on our honeymoon for a few weeks.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Our yacht?”
“Our yacht,” I repeated. “For a few weeks of sailing and exploring. Maybe even go on a few of those adventures we talked about. With Hubert, of course. He’s my stepson now. It would be weird not to include him.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You sure do know the way to a girl’s heart, don’t you?”
I grinned, dragging my lips from her ear to her mouth. “So, what do you think?”
She smiled into the kiss. “I’ll go, but I have one condition.”
“Anything you want. Just name it.”
“I get to pick some of the stops.”
“Done.”
“Make that two conditions,” she said. “The other is that there won’t be any jumping off the yacht.”
I pulled back to look at her. “That seems restrictive.”
“You’re turning thirty-five. Don’t you think it’s time you start acting like it?”
“I think I still need to make at least one more questionable decision.”
She raised an eyebrow at me, humor twinkling in her eyes. “You’ve made several. I’d rather not lose you to one only weeks after marrying you.”
When she lifted a hand to my hair and stroked her fingers through it, I groaned and relented immediately. “Fine. No jumping.”
“Good husband,” she teased. “No more concussions for you.”
I leaned over to kiss her. For a second, I let myself think about all the choices I’d made, those that had gone sideways, those had had burned bridges or built them, and every decision I’d ever made that had led me here.
And honestly, as reckless and irresponsible as some of them had been, I didn’t regret a single thing. Not if it meant I’d ended up on this couch, with my wife, with a house to renovate and a future to plan. Together.