Page 32 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY

ROSE

Putting the truck into park behind a few other vehicles, I glance up in the rearview mirror to find Kyle watching out the window, a distant expression on his face.

He’s been quiet ever since he got back from John’s, and I don’t know what to make of it.

I tried talking to him about how his visit went, but he just said okay and quickly changed the subject.

I don’t know what to do. Should I push for more or let him have the time he needs to process?

A lot has happened in the last few months, a lot of changes.

If I, as an adult, need time to deal with all of it, a child surely does, too.

I turn in my seat, and Kyle slowly glances at me.

“Are you okay?”

Fine.

“You sure? If you don’t want to be here, we can go home and hang out, just the two of us.”

Kyle shakes his head before I can even finish. No, I want to go swimming with Levi. You said I can swim.

The corner of my mouth lifts at his sudden eagerness. If there was any kind of water, good luck to anybody who tried to stop this kid from entering it. “Of course, you can go swimming. Let’s go then. Can you help me carry some of the stuff?”

We get out of the car, and I hand Kyle his backpack and one of the plastic containers, while I grab the rest.

Soft music is playing in the air as we make our way to the little group that’s gathering by the lake.

The place looks exactly like it did ten years ago when we used to come here to party as teens, but now, instead of booze and blasting music, the place is filled with splashing water, kids’ laughter, and the smell of barbecue.

My footsteps slow as I take in the group.

Miguel, Blake, and Aaron are standing by the fire, chatting among themselves.

Emmett and Kate are by the lake with their toddler.

Savannah, Levi, and another boy I don’t recognize are with them, urging the little girl to enter the lake, but she’s just extending her arms toward her daddy.

Kate’s sister is sitting on the dock with an unfamiliar guy, most likely her boyfriend.

Just then, Becky gets out of the little tent that’s placed under one of the parasols for extra protection and lifts her gaze.

“There you are! I was just putting Jax down for his nap.” A smile spreads over her lips as she joins us. “I was worried you would ditch us.”

“Yeah, right. No way I’m getting out of it after I promised this one he gets to swim in the lake and hang out with his bestie.”

Becky’s smile widens as she shifts her attention to Kyle and signs: “Is that so? You know how to swim, or will we have to pull you out?”

Kyle giggles softly, some of that seriousness that’s been clinging to him the last few days disappearing. “I’m the best swimmer.”

“We’ll see about that.” Becky winks at him. “Want me to take this?”

Kyle hands her the plastic container with cookies, just as Levi excitedly calls his name. He gets out of the water and runs toward us.

“Kyle, don’t?—”

But it’s already too late. Levi is signing to him, and before I can even finish, the two of them are going back toward the lake together. “I’m going to swim, Mom!” he yells over his shoulder, not even bothering to check if I have something to say to him.

“We’ve been dismissed.”

I shake my head. “I guess it’s a good thing I insisted I put sunscreen on him before leaving. I had a feeling this would happen.”

“That’s good to know. Jax can’t run off now because he’s small, but in a few years, it’ll be pure chaos; I can already see it.” She lifts the container. “Thank you for these. You didn’t have to bring anything.”

“It’s not a problem. You guys are doing all of this, and we really appreciate you inviting us.” My gaze darts to the lake, where now all three boys are running into the water together. “I think Kyle needed this.”

“Let’s put this away.” Becky tilts her head to one of the tables they put out, so I follow after her. “Is he okay? How did the visit with John go?”

“He says he is, but he’s been quieter than usual and pretty moody.”

Becky hums softly. “It’s a change, alright. Especially for a kid.”

“It is, but it doesn’t help that John’s being an ass about it,” I mutter, words out before I can think them through.

Dammit.

I place the container I’ve been carrying on the table, my hair falling into my face and shielding it from view. I hope Becky doesn’t catch the resentment in my tone, but when I straighten, I find her giving me a knowing look. “He’s being an ass in what way?”

“Who’s being an ass?” Savannah asks as she joins us.

“Rose’s ex,” Becky explains, before continuing, “I mean, don’t get me wrong, John’s always been an ass, even when we were teens, and the few times I’ve seen you guys together since you’ve come back, I can’t say he’s changed much.”

Shit.

So much for people not noticing. Or maybe I’ve just been lying to myself all those months that people don’t see it because it was easier that way. Easier to pretend things would go back to how they used to be. But nothing was the same anymore, was it? I certainly wasn’t the same.

Two pairs of eyes watch me intently, waiting for an answer.

“He’s not really…” Sighing, I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear as I weigh my words carefully. “Hands-on with Kyle.”

“He doesn’t sign with him,” Becky points out.

“No, he doesn’t.” There’s no point in lying about it.

Savannah glances at me, an apologetic smile on her face. “I don’t think I’ve seen him once pick him up from school or come to one of the games.”

Just hearing her say it has my annoyance rising. Not at the two of them, but at myself for not standing up to John sooner, at him for acting that way.

“He doesn’t think he has what it takes to make it all the way, so why bother?”

The two women exchange a look. “Because they’re kids and it’s fun? It’s not the freaking NFL.”

Becky snorts. “Isn’t that what you said to Blake when he decided he wanted to take over as the coach?”

“Sure did.” Sav smirks and lifts her glass in a little salute, her gaze darting over my shoulder.

I follow her line of sight. Blake has joined Emmett, the two of them playing with the kids in the lake.

All of them are standing in the shallow part.

Emmett’s daughter is sitting on his shoulders, a cute pink hat on her head, her little fists holding his hair.

Blake’s daughter is sleeping in the crook of his arm as he plays with the boys who are tossing the football, all of them laughing.

I lift my hand, rubbing at the middle of my chest as I just watch them, that familiar ache squeezing around my heart tightly at the image in front of me. Of the life we could have had, but never will, and it only makes me despise John a little bit more for taking this from Kyle. From us.

Blake must feel us watching because he shifts his gaze and flashes Savannah a grin. “See something you like, Blondie?”

“That man.” Savannah shakes her head, but there is happiness radiating off of her.

“I know. Makes you want to sneak out and do some very inappropriate things.” Becky’s gaze darts to me, her smile falling. “I’m sor?—”

“Don’t you dare apologize for being happy. You guys deserve it. The fact that I ended up with an asshole isn’t on you.”

Becky offers me a small smile. “How about I mix us some drinks? I’ve brought the good stuff.”

I shake my head. “No, I’ll be driving?—”

“Later in the evening,” Becky contradicts, already pulling stuff out from the cooler. “The day’s long. And Sav can’t drink, so I need a partner.”

“A partner for what?” I turn around to find Kate sliding onto the bench next to me, smiling. “Hey, Rose.”

“Drinks.” Becky quirks her brow. “You want some?”

Kate quickly shakes her head. “Not today.”

“Since when are you not drinking?” Becky narrows her eyes at Kate, her cheeks turning pink.

“I get Sav, she’s still nursing little Poppy, but the rest of you have no excuses.

You’re making me feel old. Like, seriously, we were sneaking out here to drink and party, and now we can drink, but we choose not to? No, can do, missy.”

Becky places a drink in front of each of us. “Drink up, buttercup.”

Kate pushes the glass away. “Not today. I’ll just stick to water.”

Becky squints at her best friend. “Why the hell would you—” Her words trail off, her gaze going to the lake for a moment before it returns to Kate. “Are you?—”

“Shh!!” Kate hisses, giving Becky a warning look. “It’s still way too early.”

A wide grin spreads over Becky’s face. “I knew it. I knew something was going on. Emmett’s been walking around like a damn peacock.”

My brows pull together as I glance at Savannah to see if she knows what’s going on, just when she whispers, “You’re pregnant?”

My head whips in Kate’s direction, who lets out a long sigh, clearly exasperated.

“So much for keeping it under wraps. I should have known this would happen.”

“Screw that.” Becky rushes around the table, her red hair bouncing as she wraps her arms around her best friend. “This is amazing news. Congrats!”

“Thanks. It’s just been a lot lately. Between the job and the morning sickness kicking my ass…”

Becky gives her a sympathetic look. “It’s the same as with Kaylee?”

“Yup. So I’m buckling in for a long ride. But Emmett’s amazing.”

“I bet he is. That guy’s been obsessed with you since we were seventeen. Besides, he was meant to have a big family.”

Becky was right about that one. The moment Kate walked into our little town, our junior year of high school, and Emmett laid his eyes on her, he was a goner.

Nothing and nobody else existed for him.

I should know because I had a crush on him the summer before, and we even kissed, but he completely ghosted me after that.

“Shush with that.” Kate swats Becky on the arm. “It’ll get to his head. I told him I’m done after three, take it or leave it.” Her expression softens. “But then I see him with our daughter, and it’s hard to say no.”

Becky giggles. “Don’t you say.”

“You think it’s another girl?” Savannah asks.

“Maybe? I don’t know.” Kate shrugs. “It doesn’t even matter, really. We just want the baby to be healthy.”

“No drinks for you then, missy.” Becky takes the drink she put in front of Kate and clinks the Solo cup with mine. “I guess it’s just you and me.”

I take a slow sip from the drink, the alcohol burning down my throat and making my eyes water. “Damn, what did you put in here?”

Becky grins. “It’s gin-tonic.”

I eye the cup suspiciously. “It tastes more like plain gin.”

“That’s because she’s generally used to pouring coffee.” Savannah chuckles, which earns her a kick under the table.

“I’ll give you coffee.”

“Hey, I’m just telling the truth!”

The two of them continue bickering about Becky’s bartending abilities, when I hear Kyle call my name. I turn around and find him running toward me. He’s dripping wet, his hair sticking in all directions as he grins at me.

Come swim with us.

I push his hair out of his face, his skin chilly. “I don’t know. Isn’t it a bit cold?”

Please.

He purses his lips, giving me his puppy dog eyes, so I push to my feet. “Fine, I’ll come in a few.” I turn toward the women to find them watching me. “I’ve been summoned.”

Savannah gets up as well. “I’ll go with you so I can take Poppy. She shouldn’t be under the sun too long.”

I pull my dress over my head and place it in my bag.

“Damn, girl, you look hot.” Sav grins at me as we go to the lake.

My cheeks heat at the comment. I drop my eyes, fixing the string on my bottoms as I chuckle nervously. “I don’t know about that. It’s been way too long since I put a bikini on.”

The last time I wore one was probably a couple of years ago, but John told me I looked ridiculous, and I should cover up since I wasn’t a teenager.

Apparently, being a mother meant I couldn’t wear bikinis.

Sure, I didn’t have the body I had when I was seventeen anymore.

The pregnancy left marks on me, faint stretch marks marred my stomach and breasts, but it gave me my son, so I was determined to cherish every single one of them.

“Tell me about it. I didn’t even want to wear one. I still have some baby fat left.”

I give her a side glance. “Baby fat where?”

She looks gorgeous in her dark red bikini; it molds perfectly to her curves, accentuating all of her assets.

Savannah tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s what Blake said as well, but I don’t know.”

“You look amazing, Sav.”

Just then, we get to the lake, and Blake turns around. One of his arms slips around Savannah, pulling her to him, and kissing the top of her head. “That’s what I keep telling her.”

Savannah tilts her head back. She tries to glare at him, but there is no stopping a smile from forming. “You have to say that.”

“Well, it’s easy when I have a hot fiancée.”

He leans down to kiss her, so I quickly turn around, not wanting to intrude on their moment.

Thankfully, just then, Kyle grabs my hand. “C’mon, Mom! Hurry up.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Grateful for the distraction, I let Kyle pull me to the lake. The water isn’t too cold, but it’s not warm either.

Kyle turns over his shoulder. “I’ll race you!”

With that, he jumps into the lake, and I take a step back as the water splashes me. Kyle gets out to the surface after a few feet and turns around, grinning.

“Kyle Johnathan O’Neil, you did not just do that.”

“You’re such a girl,” he yells loudly, chuckling.

“I’ll give you a girl, brat.”

I jump into the lake, goosebumps rising on my flesh at the first impact of the cool water on my hot skin. I peek underwater, my vision blurry, but it’s enough for me to swim to my son and get to the surface just in front of him, splashing him back in the process.

Kyle giggles, and my chest fills with warmth. “Caught you.”

“No, you didn’t.”

He quickly starts swimming away. I give him a head start before I follow him. He gets back to the shore faster, joining his friends, who are cheering him on.

“See, I’m faster!” he insists, glancing over his shoulder every so often so he can check how far away I am.

“Just like a fish.” I splash him a little, which makes him giggle. The boys decide to play with their ball, so I sit in the shallow part and watch them toss it between themselves as I soak in some sun.

“Hey, that’s Chase!”

My eyes fly open as my heart does a little flip inside my chest. Just the mere mention of his name, and my body already reacts to him.

I haven’t seen him in a few days. Not after we spent the night on my porch. Did Becky invite him? Although it was hard to believe that Chase would willingly come here, not with all these people around.

I turn over my shoulder to find Kyle’s gaze fixed on the woods, a smile slowly spreading over his lips. My tongue darts out, sliding over my lower lip as I straighten, but before I can say anything, Kyle is already racing across the clearing toward the woods.

And the shadow of the man standing on the outskirts.

Chase.