Page 32 of More Than a Hero (Baytown Heroes #12)

He squeezed her hand once before continuing.

“I’ll be honest—I got into some trouble when I was younger.

Early teens. I was headed down a bad path, and I could’ve easily ended up in juvie, or worse.

” He exhaled sharply, rubbing a thumb along the back of Angie’s hand.

“But I was lucky. A store owner and a local police officer gave me a second chance.”

Bob leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable.

Pete glanced at him before continuing. “They didn’t have to, but instead of getting me locked up, they let me work off what I’d done.

The store owner gave me a job, and the cop…

he became a mentor. Probably the first real male role model I ever had.

” His throat tightened for a moment, but he pushed forward.

“Because of them, I stayed out of trouble. I graduated, joined the military, and eventually became a detective. Now, I work with the Drug Task Force because it’s what I’m passionate about. ”

A small squeeze from Angie’s hand made him look toward her. Her eyes were shining, filled with something deep and unwavering. He didn’t know if it was admiration or understanding—or maybe both—but it calmed the last bit of nervous energy in his chest.

When he glanced back at her parents and grandparents, he saw nothing but quiet approval.

“I never had a grand plan to mentor young people,” he admitted.

“But one day, I saw some kids… and I recognized them. They were like me at that age… angry, reckless, looking for something, anything to hold on to. With the help of one of the teachers at the middle school, we put together a program. We work with ten young men. We meet at the YMCA. Sometimes just to let them work out, other times to go over homework. But mostly, we just talk. About life. About the things no one else might be telling them.” He shrugged.

“It’s nothing formal. But I figure… maybe it’ll make a difference. ”

A beat of silence passed.

Roseann smiled, her voice warm when she finally spoke. “I think that sounds amazing.”

Pete glanced back at Angie, and the pride in her expression made something tighten in his chest.

He smirked slightly. “Well, I think what your daughter does is amazing, too. That Adopt-a-Grandparent program fills such a need for the kids.”

Roseann’s smile widened. “It does. But so does your work, Pete. And we’re grateful for people like you who take the time to see those kids.”

Pete nodded, his throat feeling oddly tight. He wasn’t used to people genuinely caring about the things he did. But maybe, just maybe… he could get used to it.

Angie gave his hand another squeeze, and when he turned to look at her, she was already smiling. And that made everything feel a little bit lighter.

The conversation continued to flow easily, shifting from one topic to another, but Pete still felt the weight of Angie’s gaze on him. He looked down, finding her watching him, her smile steady but not quite masking the concern in her eyes.

He gave a small shake of his head, reassuring her as he leaned in closer, his voice meant only for her. “It’s good. It’s all good.”

Her shoulders loosened, the tension melting away as she exhaled softly. And damn if that didn’t make him smile. It hadn’t felt strange to talk about his past with her family. It had been a relief.

There were no awkward silences, no pitying looks that made his skin crawl—just understanding and quiet acceptance. And that? That was something he’d never expected but found himself deeply grateful for.

Across the table, Roseann’s gaze flicked to Angie. “So now, tell us what Dr. Ketz said.”

Pete immediately turned his full attention to her.

Angie gave a small shrug, clearly trying to downplay it.

“Not much difference, except she wants to step up my medication. With my knee inflammation, she’s putting me on a course of cortisone for a couple of weeks, and I’m starting a new medication.

” She hesitated, then added, “I had an injection, and they already ordered the next shipment. Every other week, I’ll give myself an injection, and we’ll see how it goes. ”

She made it sound so simple, so matter-of-fact, but Pete didn’t miss the way her family’s expressions shifted. There was no dramatic reaction, no one pressing for details, but the concern was there, flickering in their eyes, heavy in the momentary silence that followed.

Angie noticed, too. She looked almost relieved when no one pushed further, when the subject naturally drifted back to other things.

Pete knew she didn’t want to be fussed over and didn’t want her health to become the centerpiece of every conversation.

So he filed it away in the back of his mind, knowing he’d check in on her later.

By the time the meal was finished, the dishes were cleared, and the kitchen was being cleaned, Pete found himself elbow-deep in warm water, scrubbing plates alongside Bob and Stan.

To his relief, there was no gossiping—just the occasional chuckle as Bob and Stan exchanged old family stories, while Pete quietly took in the easy rhythm of it all.

A normal family. A family where cleaning up together wasn’t a punishment but just something you did. More like the continuation of the meal and the time spent together. And for the first time in his life, Pete found himself wanting to be part of it.

When it was finally time to leave, Roseann stepped forward, looping her arm through Ellen’s. “I’ll take Mom back to Careway.”

That simple statement set off a chain reaction—one that Pete had quickly learned was mandatory in this family. The round of hugs began again. This time, he didn’t hesitate.

Dorothy, warm and soft, pressed a kiss to his cheek before stepping back. Ellen squeezed his hands tightly before pulling him into a surprisingly strong hug. And Roseann had hugged him once and clearly had no intention of stopping now.

And then there were the handshakes. Stan’s grip was firm, accompanied by a nod that carried an unspoken approval. Bob clapped him on the shoulder before shaking his hand, his expression unreadable for half a second until a slow smile spread across his face.

“You did good tonight, Pete,” Bob said, his voice gruff but genuine.

Pete nodded, something settling deep in his chest. “I appreciate that, Bob.”

He wasn’t sure what he had expected coming here tonight, but whatever it was, it wasn’t this overwhelming sense of belonging.

As they stepped outside into the crisp evening air, Pete inhaled deeply, letting the coolness clear his head.

The stars were bright above them, and the night carried a stillness that felt oddly peaceful.

Angie’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. She looked up at him, something playful but undeniably hopeful in her eyes. “You want to come to my place?”

He grinned before sliding an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, letting his lips graze the top of her head. “You better believe it.”

And just like that, he knew he’d follow her anywhere. But tonight, spending time with her in the quiet intimacy of her home? That felt like he’d just hit the jackpot.