Page 63 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHASE
“How are you doing?” Mom asks softly, her fingers gently rubbing Shadow between the ears. She’s lucid today, but there’s that distant look in her eyes, as if she isn’t completely here. “How is Jax?”
“Good. Growing so big, see?” Becky pulls out her phone and taps a few times on the screen before turning it to Mom to presumably show her the pictures of her son. “Can you believe he’s almost one?”
Mom’s mouth curves into a smile. “He’s really grown.”
“I know, he’s been eating like he’s a teenager, I swear.
Next week we’re celebrating his birthday.
I’m making this big chocolate cake for him, and everybody will be around.
He really likes this one cartoon, so I got him all the decorations and everything.
It’s probably way too much, but he’ll only be one once, right?
I already talked to the nurses, and somebody will come to pick you up for the party if you’re feeling up for it; what do you think? ”
Mom nods slowly, her frail hands landing on Becky’s and giving them a soft squeeze. “I’m gonna try.”
“You’ve gotta. Jax loves to have you around, and we need our family there.” Those sharp green eyes turn to me. “That includes you, too, buddy. It’s bad enough that Matthew isn’t coming. You have no excuses.” A sly smile pops on her lips. “As a matter of fact, I’m expecting you to bring a date. ”
That gets Mom’s attention. “You’re seeing somebody?”
I glare at Becky, silently promising retribution, but it only makes her grin widen. “Oh, he’s seeing her alright. They live together.”
“She lives in the cottage,” I correct absentmindedly.
The image of Rose and Kyle’s smiling faces when I come home pops into my mind and makes my heart squeeze tightly.
Lately, I’ve been spending more time with them over at the cottage than I did at my own place.
In my own bed. But living together? The thought makes my palms sweat, and yet, I can see it.
See Rose’s head resting on my pillow. Hear the echo of Kyle’s laughter—the rush of footsteps through the house. Dogs barking—the smell of sweets coming from the kitchen.
“Close enough.” Becky’s clipped words snap me out of my thoughts. “Not just that, can you believe he went out of his way to go see her at the café? And he volunteered to go to her son’s class for career day.”
“I didn’t volunteer. He asked, and I agreed.”
Becky waves me off. “The same thing.”
Mom’s brows rise. “She has a son?”
“Yeah.” Lifting my hand, I rub the back of my neck. “Kyle. He’s seven. Cute kid.”
“He’s so cute, look at this.” Becky swipes over her phone, her lips pursed. “Oh, it’s here. They came together for our Fourth of July party.”
My brows pull together. “You have photos of that?”
“Do I have photos he asks,” my sister scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Of course I have photos, you dumbass. Men, seriously.” She turns back to her phone. “This is Kyle.”
Intrigued, I move closer just as she flips through a few more photos. “Aha! And this is Rose.”
I glance over her shoulder to find a photo of Rose sitting with the other women, dressed in that bikini that’s going to be my undoing.
Becky slides through a few more photos, showing them to Mom.
I suck in a sharp breath as I see the photo of Rose and me sitting on the docks that night.
We’re just two blurry shapes in the distance, but I remember that moment as vividly as ever.
Her lean fingers intertwined with mine, the sound of her soft voice piercing through the loud buzzing in my ears.
“See? That’s the two of them. Thinking they were sneaky.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you found somebody who’ll be there for you. Maybe you should bring them around sometime.”
“I’ll try, Ma.”
“Now, just to get your brother back home and settled.”
Becky locks her phone and puts it back into her bag. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. You know Matthew. The further he’s from Bluebonnet, the happier he is.”
Mom hums noncommittally. “I don’t know about that.”
Just then, my phone chimes, so I pull it out to check the message, thinking it’s Rose, but it’s from Mae.
Becky quirks her brow. “Problems?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “It’s Mae. She’s been bugging me for days now to go and check out some horses. She knows a guy who’s rehabilitating them before he finds them a new home.”
“That would be nice,” Mom comments. “You’ve always loved riding.”
“That was a long time ago, Ma.”
“Maybe, but is there any harm in trying? It’s not like you don’t have space for them.
And who knows, maybe you’ll find out you enjoy it again.
” She places her hand over mine. Her skin feels paper-thin and dry, her grip weak.
“Loss is hard, that’s without question, but there is nothing we can do about it, Chase.
We can’t change the past; all we can do is continue moving forward, one foot in front of the other, and make the best of what we’re given.
Don’t waste the opportunity you’ve been given because you’re hurting; you might not get another chance. ”
Somehow, I have a feeling she isn’t talking just about the horses.
I nod at Malcom, who’s standing behind the counter, as I place the can of paint in front of him.
It’s a light green color that I had in mind for my old bedroom.
From the corner of my eye, I can see a cacophony out the window overlooking the street.
As a matter of fact, as I was driving into the town after visiting with Mom, I noticed that Bluebonnet is busier than usual, which is saying something.
“What’s with that?” I tip my chin in the direction where I can see a group of guys dragging some kind of wooden boards down Main Street.
Surprise flashes on Malcom’s face. Although I’ve been coming around a lot lately, between all the work I’ve been doing on the house, we’ve never exchanged more than a hello and thank you.
“It’s the town fair this weekend. Like every year.”
My brows pull together in confusion, and Malcom must see it because he explains, “Founder’s Day? There will be live music, different food stands, and shops scattered throughout town, games for kids... Stuff like that.”
“Huh.”
Now that he said it, I vaguely remember people talking about it recently. If I tried hard enough, I could see glimpses of it from my past—when my dad was still alive, and we all went like a family. A lifetime ago.
“Is this going to be all?”
Shaking my head slightly, I nod. “Yes, thanks.”
I pay for the paint, take the can, and leave the store, the hot afternoon air slamming into me as I walk to my car, taking in the street. A handful of stands have appeared on the side of the road, people chatting as they work.
A few familiar faces spot me, so I nod politely as I make my way to my car. The lights flash as I unlock it, just as the door to the bar opens, and none other than John O’Neil comes out.
The hair at my nape prickles as his eyes meet mine, my jaw set in a firm line. The guy’s a sleazy prick of epic proportions. How Rose ended up with him in the first place, I’ll never understand.
Opening the trunk, I drop the paint inside and turn around, ready to get the hell out of here, when John’s smug words make me stop in my tracks.
“Enjoying my sloppy seconds, Williams?”
Fucking asshole.
My fingers curl into a fist as I try to hold back my anger.
Keep on walking.
No matter how much I want to punch him in the face and erase that smug expression, I know I shouldn’t. It’ll only fire him up further, and knowing his MO, he’d do something to upset Kyle or Rose.
But does the idiot get the memo and go on his way?
Of-fucking-course not.
“Lucy told me you were all nice and cozy with my wife the other day. Although let’s be real, her pussy hasn’t been the same since giving birth, so I can’t imagine you do?—”
I spin on my heels, my fingers curling around the hem of his shirt, and tugging him closer to me. Rage, hot and heavy, burns in my gut as I hold him close. In the distance, I can hear Shadow growl from inside the truck.
John’s eyes widen, breath hitching as I lean down and growl softly in warning. “You’ll get her name out of your fucking mouth, O’Neil.”
Slowly, the corner of his mouth lifts. “Or what?”
With how close we’re standing, I can smell whiskey on his breath. The guy’s drunk, and it isn’t even the end of the workday.
“Or I’ll do it for you.” Fuck being levelheaded. I’m done with him and his antics. “This is your last warning. One more disrespectful word about Rose or Kyle, and it’ll be the last thing that comes out of your mouth.”
John’s eyes narrow. “She’s my wife, maybe you should remember that.”
“ Ex- wife,” I remind him, tightening my grip on him. We’re so close our noses are brushing. “Maybe you should remember that. Besides, didn’t you find yourself a new fiancée? Maybe you should focus on her and leave Rose and Kyle in peace.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” John smirks, amusement dancing in his irises. “We might be over, but she’ll never get rid of me.” He jabs his finger into my chest. “She was mine first, asshole. You’d better remember that. You might fuck her, but she’s my wife, and Kyle’s my son.”
Shadow barks, and John jumps slightly in surprise, his smile falling as his gaze darts over my shoulder where Shadow’s watching him through the closed window. “I’d look over that beast of yours. Wouldn’t want somebody to put it down for being dangerous.”
I step in his line of sight, glaring at him. “They’re people, not property.”
“They’re mine, ” he cackles, and there is almost a wild look on his face. “Play house all you want, but I’m not going anywhere. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” John jerks out of my grasp and leans closer, hatred shining in his gaze. “This isn’t done, Williams.”
Without waiting for an answer, he turns around and marches away.
My heart is beating wildly inside my chest as I watch after him for a while longer, his threat still hanging in the air.
No, I don’t think it’s done either.