“I can’t see how you could fit anymore in. I’m tired just listening.”
Jude smiled. “It was fun.”
“Yeah,” Noah said, fully awake now. “Lots of fun. We went digging too,” he reminded Jude.
“Oh yeah, how could I forget?”
“What were you digging for?”
“Treasure,” Noah said.
“Treasure, huh? Did you find any buried treasure?”
“Yep. I got lots.” He emptied his pockets, turning them inside out, and set all the rocks on the floor of the tent.
“Wow. Yeah, that’s... quite a treasure.” I tried not to laugh but I couldn’t hold it in. Noah scowled at me then stuffed all the rocks back into his pockets like I’d offended him. “Stop laughing.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. Those are nice rocks.”
He glared at me. “They’re not rocks. They’re magic moonstones. When you rub them, your wish comes true.”
“Is that what Uncle Jude told you?” I cocked a brow at Jude. He shrugged, the corners of his lips twitching. Guilty.
“Where have I heard that one before?” I muttered.
Jude laughed so hard tears sprang to his eyes.
“It wasn’t that funny.” But he didn’t hear me because he was still laughing.
“I have to pee,” Noah said, jumping up and holding himself.
“Just water the lawn,” Jude said. “We all did it.”
“Not me.” I pulled down the zipper of Noah’s jeans and Jude held the tent flap open. Noah barely made it outside the tent before he was spraying the back yard and laughing like it was the funniest thing ever.
“Your mom made lasagna,” I said as we crossed the lawn to the back porch. “I think she’s expecting us to stay for dinner.”
“Do you have other plans?”
“No, but...”
“But what?” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and on instinct, I leaned into him before I realized what I’d done. I ducked out from under his arm. We were no longer a couple but we were acting like one. As if on cue, my cell phone rang and I checked it on my way into the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, I swiped my finger across the screen and answered the call.
“Hey Brody. Hang on. Noah’s just washing his hands.”
I didn’t mention that Jude was holding him up at the kitchen sink and helping him.
“Are you at Kate’s?” he asked.
“Um, yeah. We’re just about to eat dinner.”
“Yeah, I only have a few minutes.” “So Alive” was blaring in the background.
“Is that the Goo Goo Dolls?” I asked, aiming for a diversion.
“Yeah, they’re performing.” The rodeo world was a completely different world. But it was Brody’s world and he felt at home there.
“Everything okay with you?” he asked when our silence stretched out for a few seconds.
“Yeah. I worked all day. I just got here.” Jude set Noah down and gave me a look I couldn’t read. “Good luck tonight. Be careful, okay? And watch out for that shoulder.” And all the rest of the bones in your body you’ve broken over the years. God, who would be crazy enough to ride a bucking bronc? Brody, that’s who.
“Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be just fine. Did you—”
“Lemme talk to Daddy.” Noah reached up with both hands and I handed him the phone, biting my lip as he held it to his ear. Then he proceeded to talk a mile a minute, giving Brody the highlights of his day. Every single last one of them.
“Okay. Bye Daddy.” He nodded even though Brody couldn’t see him. Whatever Brody said made him nod again.
“He can’t see you, Noah,” I reminded him.
“I will. Love you too.” He thrust the phone back into my hand and climbed into his booster seat at the table all ready for dinner now. When I checked my phone, Brody was still on the line.
“Hey. Talk to you later. We’re about to eat.”
“Yeah. Wouldn’t want to keep Jude waiting.” He cut the call and I sighed, then pocketed my phone as Kate took the seat next to Noah, leaving me with the seat next to Jude.
Even though Brody wasn’t here, I felt caught in the middle. The funny part was that if Noah had spent the day with Gideon or Jesse, Brody wouldn’t have cared. But because it was Jude, he was annoyed.
I ate a bite of lasagna, which was as delicious as always, but suddenly I had no appetite.
“I’ll talk to him,” Jude said, his voice low.
I snorted. “Yeah, because that worked out so great the last time.” I shook my head. “Just stay out of it. Everything is fine.” I forced a smile for Kate. “Thank you for dinner. It’s delicious.”
“I’ll believe that when I see an empty plate.”
I forced myself to eat a few more bites when all I really wanted to do was get Noah into the car and go home. Maybe drink a glass of wine. Or a bottle.
When dinner was over, Jude walked me to my car with Noah riding on his shoulders. The rain had tapered off to a light drizzle that cooled my overheated skin. This couldn’t be good, the way he was insinuating himself into our lives. After spending the whole day with Jude, Noah was already attached.
I waited until Noah was in his car seat with the door closed before I voiced my concerns. Again. “Listen, Jude… this is… you need to take a step back.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why? Because it’s what you want? Or because you don’t want to upset Brody?”
“Both.”
Jude raked a hand through his hair and clenched his jaw. “Let me get this straight. You’re worried about upsetting Brody but you don’t give a shit how any of this affects me?”
I gaped at him. Was he for real right now? “I spent an entire year putting you and your needs first. Worrying about every little thing I said and did. Blaming myself for upsetting you. I
