Page 23 of Ready, Willing and Abel

“More than that,” I mutter.

“Exactly. So if you’re done, walk away. I’ll be there to support you in any way I can.”

“Miss me being around and telling you what to do?” I joke.

“Fuck no. But more family close by means more babysitters so I can knock Marley up again.”

“She hasn’t even had that baby.”

“I know, but she’s so damn sexy pregnant.”

“Don’t want to think about it.”

“You love her?” he asks.

“Marley?”

“No, dumbass. Esme. Do you love her?”

“Yeah. It’s fast, I know it’s fast.”

“There’s no magic timeline. Dad always said he knew about Mom when they first met,” Evan says.

“Yeah,” I chuckle. “In the third grade.”

“They still love each other. And I knew with Marley. I could have saved myself some lonely months if I’d had the balls to tell her that night.”

“So is that your advice?”

“Yes. Do whatever it is you have to do there, then get your ass home and get your girl. In the meantime, Marley and I will take care of her.”

“Thanks,” I say. “Hopefully by the time you’re done watching, I’ll be nearly back to Saddle Creek.”

Back to Esme.

chapter

twelve

Esme

Mia arrives while I’m in the pen with the goats, giving them food and water.

“How are the babies today?” she asks.

“Ornery, as usual.” I narrow my eyes at her. “Wanna tell me why you were already on your way here?”

She winces. “Let’s go inside. I’m just guessing from the fact that you’re not already neck deep in a pint of ice cream that you haven’t been online?”

“No. But clearly I should if you and Abel have mentioned it.”

“Is he here?”

I shake my head. Giving her a brief overview of what happened on our date and after. I chew on my bottom lip while we sit at my kitchen table. Mia’s already making fresh iced tea and has pulled a package of cookies out of my cabinet.

Curiosity gnaws at me, willing me to look. What did he not want me to see?

“I can’t not look,” I tell my sister.