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Owen laughed.

“The Mrs. giving you grief?”

“Oh, she means well, but she’s made it pretty clear I can’t be trusted to take care of myself after my fall so she’s everywhere. Man can’t even take a crap in his own toilet without an audience, and that’s where I draw the line.”

“Well, I’ve got as many toilets as rooms in this joint, so make yourself at home. I promise we won’t even send a search party unless you tell us you need another drink.”

“Ah, that’s why I love you, son,” Alan said, patting Owen on the back before helping himself to one of Steve’s beers. “Yours are cold,” he added when Steve shot him a look that meant business.

“Forgiven,” Steve said.

Owen made himself busy getting the food out to the table while he thought about Alan’s simple, straightforward comment. Aside from the “I love you,” he’d called Owen “son.” Owen’s heart swelled to the point of bursting and heat built behind his eyes. Oh, hell no.

He had five cases of beer, ribs, enough sides to put them all in a post-Thanksgiving-like coma, and three of his best friends. The last thing he needed was to make an ass out of himself over something his neighbor said in passing. But still, it was the first time he’d heard any of those words since he was a kid and damn if they didn’t affect him.

“Looks like we won’t starve if the zombies attack, either. Jesus, Owen. There’s only four of us. I can eat, but this is some next-level meal-prep shit.”

“It looks fantastic, buddy. Thanks for doing all this. Now I really feel bad bringing Coors and not much else.”

“Don’t. As long as you brought an appetite, you’re good. I needed the distraction today.”

“Guess you heard about the departure,” Brad stated. “I was gonna tell you, but since you have an in-house spy, I figured you were caught up.”

“Departure? You gentlemen speaking in code now? C’mon, catch an old man up. I need some adventure in my life.”

“Paige is leaving, Dad. Tell me you at least know that much.”

“Oh, that departure. Well, she ain’t gone yet, son.”

Alan nodded to Owen.

“True. That’s what I need to talk to you guys about. But first, let’s eat. Grab a plate and fill it. Any leftovers are going home with you guys, so don’t be shy.”

Once they were all seated around Owen’s handcrafted dining table, mouths full and moans of delight echoing off the walls, the talk of sports teams won and lost that week, Steve was the first to speak up.

“So, I’d say go get her, man. Whadadya gotta lose?” he asked with half a pork rib hanging out of his mouth.

“Seriously bro. Chew, swallow, then talk. Didn’t your momma teach you anything?” Brad asked.

“You don’t wanna know what my momma taught me,” Steve said, laughing and spraying bits of meat on the plate in front of him.

“You’re disgusting,” Brad echoed. Light laughter came from the men who’d known Steve long enough to know he was mostly talk and entirely entertaining.

Steve just smiled and threw up his hands as if to say, “And?”

“But seriously,” Brad added, looking at Owen, “I do agree with his point.”

“You think I should go over? Like tonight? I think the thing I’ve been struggling with is asking her to stay.”

“Why? She can always say no, right?” Steve asked.

“Well, what if she says yes?” Owen asked, his voice quiet, serious.

“Then you get everything you ever wanted? I mean, that’s the goal, right? For her to say yes?”

Owen paused before he answered. There it was again, the simple plan, the one that, at least on paper, gave everyone everything they wanted.

But Paige was anything but simple.