Page 121 of Mountain Daddy (Mountain Men #2)

Kendra

With my Chilean coffee in hand, I step onto the back deck.

Even though I work from home now, and I like my job, there’s still something about a Sunday morning.

Not that my mornings were like this back home.

Home.

It feels wrong to call Delaware home.

Sitting on the steps, I take a deep breath while my gaze wanders over to Buddy’s doghouse.

Sticks are spread around in the grass just in front of the little house. The tattered corner of a blanket sticks out of the doorway. And I can just see a tuft of fur in the shadows.

My lips pull into a smile as I picture him sleeping, curled around his antler.

Yesterday morning, after sleeping in, Dad and I came out here together to give Buddy the antler Luther found.

The scratchy yowling sounds Buddy made were hilarious.

He was bouncing around, tossing it in the air, tearing around the yard.

His joy was visceral.

And, like I seem to do over everything nowadays, I cried.

I shake my head remembering it.

Dad probably thinks I’ve been having a weeks-long mental breakdown. And honestly, it might be true.

But yesterday, in that moment, I felt something shift.

I’m happy here.

Even with the hurt. Even with the sad.

I’m happy here.

This is my home now.

And I’m going to find a way to be okay around Luther.

I can’t separate him from home .

I’m not willing to lose the relationship I’m building with my dad just to avoid him.

And… isn’t that the decision Luther made?

Even if he added in some other imaginary reasons, ultimately, he didn’t want to lose his friendship with Dad.

He chose my dad over me.

It still hurts.

Still makes me sad.

But if I look at it from a distance, I can’t blame him for his priorities.

I can’t blame him for not sharing my feelings.

And if it wasn’t going to work, then I’m glad it ended when it did.

I’m glad it ended before I handed him my entire heart.

I take another inhale of the fresh morning air.

Today, I’m letting go.

I exhale my breath.

Today, I’m letting the bad die.

I’m on my second cup of coffee when the back door slides open, and Dad’s footsteps thump across the wood surface of the deck.

“Morning.”

“Morning.” I stop reading and set my phone down.

“How’s Buddy?” Dad lowers himself into the chair beside mine, groaning as he does it.

“Sleeping.”

Dad grunts and takes a sip of his coffee. “Good stuff.”

“Yep.” I take a sip of my sweeter, creamier version. “Luther knows his beans.”

It’s the first time I’ve brought up his name since…

It feels a little forced, but it’s a normal thing to say.

It’s what someone would say if the coffee came from a friend.

Friend.

That’s another pill to swallow.

Dad shakes his head. “You two are so weird.”

I look at him, brow raised. “We’re weird? Have you met yourself?”

Dad rolls his eyes. “Luther knows his stuff,” he says in a high feminine voice, then he switches to a deep tone. “That’s Kendra’s chair.”

I laugh. “You sound ridiculous.”

“ You sound ridiculous.”

I shake my head. “And what chair is mine?”

He takes another sip of his coffee, gesturing with his free hand. “At the fish fry, before you bailed.”

“Bailed,” I repeat dryly.

Dad never really believed I wasn’t feeling well. Pretty sure he thought it was a lie because I was bored. Which is still better than him knowing the truth.

He huffs. “Yeah, well, if you’d come back, you’d have saved us from the flock of women trying to flirt with Rocky.”

I purse my lips, thinking about those women. How that one reached for him. “Maybe Luther liked the attention.” I emphasize his name just to be a pest.

Dad scoffs. “Not him. He’s no saint, but he’s damn close. Been forever since I’ve seen him interested in anyone.”

I hum as I take that in.

On the topic of women, I’m tempted to ask Dad about Ashley’s mom—since he’s the one who interrupted our conversation back in the coffee shop. But it still feels like something I should hear from Luther himself.

Dad stretches his legs out. “Well, won’t have to worry about the clingers tonight.” He looks around. “If it stays this nice out, maybe we should eat outside.”

I turn my head slowly to look at Dad. “What’s happening tonight?”

“Steaks.” He grins.

I lift an eyebrow, hoping he can’t hear my heart pounding.

“With Luther .” He uses his high-pitched voice again.

“You’re obnoxious.” I close my eyes and lean back in the deck chair.

Guess it’s time to put my new mindset to the test.