Page 51 of Gator
I barked out a laugh. “Exactly.”
She nodded. “She always worried about what her so-called friends would think. I always worried about what Julius wouldfeel. We saw the same child with our eyes, but not with our hearts.”
“Can’t imagine that was easy,” I said.
“It wasn’t,” she admitted. “Still isn’t. But I made peace with the fact that I can’t fix her. Only thing I can do is love him harder. Make sure he knows there’s not a damn thing wrong with the way he shines.”
I felt something shift in my chest—like something sacred being passed to me. “You don’t gotta worry about that,” I said. “Not on my watch.”
She smiled at me then, proud and just a little teary. “I didn’t think I had to. But it sure is nice to hear.”
Chapter fifteen
Julius
My grandmother’s birthday party had gone better than expected. My family can be a lot, but Gator fit right in. He didn’t even let my mother get to him, and she was an expert at making people feel less than.
When we got back to HQ and we got on the elevator, he pressed the buttons for both the eighth and the tenth floor. “I’m going to get off on the eighth floor and check in with Wolfe and Kat. You go on up and let Trixie out of her cage.”
“Okay, I’ll see you up there.”
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. He leaned over and gave me a kiss. “I won’t be long.”
The elevator continued to the tenth floor, and I crossed over to the condo and tapped my card. The lock clicked, and I pushed the door open just as my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I checked the screen and saw that it was a text from my friend Spencer asking me to give him a call. We’ve been friends since we were kids back in Austin. I hadn’t kept in touch with most of the people from back then, but Spencer had been a few years younger, and he’d been almost like a little brother to me.
He’d had a rough home life early on, but then he’d hit the jackpot when he was adopted. He not only gained two dads who had his back, but two families that welcomed him with open arms. Then, a couple of years ago, he fell in love with a cowboy who lived in River Gorge. I was nothing but happy for him. He was a great guy, and he deserved to live his best life.
I shoved my phone back in my pocket and crossed the room to Trixie’s cage.
“Hey there, pretty girl.”
“Ju Ju is home.”
“That’s right. I’m home.” I opened up her cage, and she climbed right on the door. I put my arm over for her, and she stepped over on it.
“Going up.”
I lifted her to the top of the cage.
“I need to go change. You wait right there.”
“It’s shower time.”
“Not tonight. I just want to put on something comfy.”
I called Spencer on the way to the bedroom, and he answered right away.
“Hey, Jules.”
“Hey, Spence, what’s up?”
“Nothing, really. I just wanted to check in and see how things are going, and to make sure you know the offer still stands if you want to come to the ranch.”
“I know it does, and I appreciate it, but I’m safe here with Gator.”
“Keith told Nash you were in good hands.”