Chapter Twenty-Nine
West
“Good morning.”
I peer up from the blender as Grandpa joins me in the kitchen. “Morning.”
I add a scoop of protein powder to the blender, and his eyes are still on me as I start it. He’s got this goofy grin set on his face that I don’t understand yet.
“So… any reason you’re looking so refreshed today?” he asks loudly, contending with the whir of the blender.
I peer up, lift my finger off the button, and it goes silent.
“I ran into your better half this morning,” he explains. “That got anything to do with you not moping around with your chin on the ground like usual?”
I smirk as I pour my shake into a cup. Maybe Grandpa’s right.
Maybe there is some extra pep in my step that isn’t usually there, and I can’t help but feel a little optimistic.
Last night was mostly shit, but there was definitely a bright spot.
Like, getting to hold my wife all night, in our bed, kissing her this morning.
Honestly, despite things getting off to a horrible start, this is the best I’ve felt in a long time.
“She stayed over,” I tell him, and he smirks.
“Ah, progress!”
I shake my head, smiling at his enthusiasm.
Progress, yes, but there were also setbacks.
For instance, losing control and having to spend time in a jail cell showed me I’m not as evolved as I thought I was.
I fucked up, and no one knows that as well as I do.
But it’s because, when it comes to Blue, I’m determined to protect her no matter what the cost.
Which, according to my actions last night, could also include my freedom.
My phone buzzes, and I ignore it, knowing it’s just more notifications about last night. I don’t need that shit. Not today.
“Want some eggs and toast? I can whip you up something.”
Grandpa waves me off. “Thanks, but no. I had a bagel with my coffee.”
I lean against the counter and sip my drink. “I’m staying in today and thought we could hang out. Maybe shoot some pool in the basement, watch a movie.”
Grandpa nods. “Sounds like fun, but you’re sure there isn’t someone else you’d rather be spending time with?”
He raises his eyebrows suggestively, drawing another laugh out of me.
“She’s got plans with her sister today. Besides, I’m trying not to push.”
If I’m honest with myself, she crosses my mind about every five minutes, and each of those times I have to force myself not to call or text. If I could spend every second of my day with her, it still wouldn’t be enough. But I meant that part about not wanting her to feel trapped.
“I don’t know,” Grandpa shrugs. “She seemed pretty keen on you this morning. Like she wished she didn’t have to leave.”
That lands with me, and I didn’t realize how badly I needed to hear it. Didn’t realize how badly I needed to know that someone else thinks we have a chance.
“That may be true, but like I said, she’s got things going on, so you’re stuck with me.”
He leans back in his seat, and I can still see his wheels turning.
“So, did you make it worth her while?”
I almost spit my shake across the room, fighting for my life when a laugh slips. “Damn, right to the point, huh?”
He shrugs. “Seems like a fair question.”
No wonder my brothers and I are so crass.
“We didn’t actually do anything that would make it worth her while,” I explain. “We just slept together. Literally slept together.”
The look of disappointment on his face has me smiling again.
“Well, what’s your next move?”
I take another sip, then shrug. “Honestly, I’ve been scared to think too far ahead.”
He looks at me like I’m an idiot. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what he’s thinking.
“Do I have to tell you how to do everything?” He rolls his eyes and rests both elbows on the counter.
“She decided to stay last night, which means her heart’s soft toward you right now.
This is when you have to be the most careful.
This is when a move in the right or wrong direction can either make or break you. ”
I hear him, but I’ve fucked things up one too many times to trust myself making big decisions like this.
“Since you seem to know how all this works, I’m open to suggestions.”
He rolls his eyes again. “Well, for starters, you need to commit to putting in the work to not only get your wife back but also fixing whatever’s broken inside yourself. That’s the key to keeping her.”
He means for that to sit heavy with me, and it does. I have a lot of work to do, and that isn’t lost on me. Basically, my shoulder isn’t the only part of me that needs to heal. My head and my heart need just as much work as the rest of me.
“I’m trying, but it feels like it’s never enough. I’ll think I’m doing the right thing, I’ll think I’m making progress, only to realize I’ve been completely delusional.”
Grandpa sighs. “Take out your phone.”
I arch a brow at him, but he doesn’t explain, so I do as I’m told. Then, I await further instruction.
“Send her a text,” he says. “Ask if she’ll have dinner with you.”
I go to my text thread with Blue, but don’t start typing right away. He doesn’t know the full story about last night, so I’m wondering if he’d still think this is a good idea if he did.
“There’s something you should know first,” I speak up. “I… was arrested last night.”
I can barely meet his gaze, but when I do there’s no judgment there. Only concern.
“What happened? Why didn’t someone wake me?”
“There wasn’t any point in ruining your night, too,” I explain. “But as far as what happened… Blue’s contactor stepped out of line, and I handled it.”
Doesn’t seem like I need to say more than that when Grandpa gives a thoughtful nod.
“And I take it Blue wasn’t too happy about you flying off the handle.”
I sip and shake my head. “Nope. She was not.”
Grandpa’s silent while he thinks some more.
“Well, I can see how this might complicate things, but even after all that, she still stuck this out with you.”
She did, and that isn’t something I’m taking lightly.
Grandpa lets out a deep sigh, then after a few seconds to give the situation some thought, he points toward my phone again. “Invite her.”
I give him another second to think that through, but when he doesn’t change his mind, I type out a message.
West: Any chance you’d like to meet me for dinner tonight?
“Let me see it,” Grandpa insists, and I move closer, turning my phone toward him. “Not tonight! Women don’t like last-minute invitations. Change it to this weekend.”
I quickly erase and correct the mistake. “Better?”
He reads it over, then nods in approval. “That’s more like it.”
I hit send, then set the phone aside, trying not to get my hopes up. Yeah, she stayed last night, but morning has a strange way of bringing clarity about the night before.
The phone dings, and Grandpa lights up. “What’d she say?”
I’m not even entirely sure it’s her, but he’s right. She texted back.
Blue: Sounds nice. Name the time and place.
I show Grandpa the screen again, and he’s smiling big now.
“See? The old man still knows what he’s doing. Now, if you can just get through the meal without messing up, you’ll be all right.”
A laugh leaves me, because he isn’t wrong. Getting Blue to agree to dinner is one thing. Me not fucking it up from there is another.
But she said yes.
And for now, I’m just choosing to take the win.