“Like Wild Card?” Grady asked, gritting his teeth.
“Pops didn’t weigh in favor of either of you. In fact, he made a point that it could be anyone, including someone I haven’t met yet. He wants me to stop building relationships for the short term, and figure out what I want long term.”
“Marriage and kids?”
“Marriage, kids, retirement, dying from something normal like a heart attack or a car accident. I’ve never taken the time to think about it because I honestly never planned on living long enough.”
Grady looked up at me with deep creases in his forehead. “You’ve never thought about getting old?”
“You’ve only been in my life for a little over a year, but how many times have I faced death in that time? It’s like a shadow that follows me. It’s part of who I am. Planning a future seemed irrelevant if I wasn’t going to be around to live it.”
Grady looked away, thinking. “But, Nicholas,” he said, shaking his head. “You adopted him. You committed to him.”
“He had no one,” I said, wiping another round of tears away. “No one was there to love and protect him. No one was there to hold him, clothe him, feed him. I knew I could give him a better life, and when I died, Charlie would keep him safe.”
Grady whispered back my words like an echo, “When you died.”
“When,” I said, nodding. “I can picture Nicholas graduating college, getting married, having children. I just can’t picture myself being around when those things happen. I need to figure out what that looks like, what I want that to look like, inside my own head.”
“Is it possible that I’m in that future?” Grady asked.
“I don’t know. First, I’m angry and hurt for what you did. In my head, I understand your actions. In my heart, you cheated on me. You lied to me. You turned your back on me and my son. And worst of all, you devastated Nicholas.”
“Most of what I did was to protect both of you.”
“Sleeping with Sebrina had nothing to do with us,” I said, standing to walk toward the atrium door. “Take the ring with you when you leave.”
The cool air felt good on my hot skin. Instead of walking toward the driveway, I turned to the right, walking around the house and into the back yard. I called out to warn the security team as I walked down the short hill to the patio area below.
“Why are you wandering around by yourself?” Bones asked.
“I think it’s about time I walk alone for a while, don’t you?” I said, grinning at how cute Bridget and Bones looked together as he held her so her back was snug against his chest.
“Am I supposed to understand that?” Bones asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No,” Wild Card said, walking out of the basement gym onto the patio. “But I do.” He walked toward me. “I got a call from a buddy who needs my help on a job. You going to be okay for a week or two if I leave?”
“You’re not staying for the rest of the tournament?”
He shook his head. “This job can’t wait. Jackson said he’d take my place in the paintball competition. As for The Circle of Hell, I’m betting the winners will be local.” Wild Card tilted his head at Bones. Bones smiled proudly. “I can challenge them for their titles another time. Besides, Tech promised to send me the video highlights.”
“You’ll be missed, but I get it.”
“You’re good then?”
I hugged him. “I got this.”
“I know you do,” he said, kissing my cheek. “I’m going to say goodbye to Nick and Jager before I take off. Call me if either of you need me.”
“Jager?”
“The dog,” Wild Card answered as he jogged backwards into the field. “By the way, I’ve secured a promise from Nicholas to brush his teeth without argument.”
I smiled at Wild Card as he continued to jog backwards. “You mean bribed?”
Wild Card shrugged. “Do you care?”
I shook my head. “Be safe, Mr. Wesley.”
“What fun would that be?” he asked before turning and jogging away.
“What was that all about?” Bones asked.
I didn’t answer. I watched Wild Card throw the ball for the dog and then steer Nicholas away from everyone so they could talk. Nicholas nodded several times before something Wild Card said made him laugh. Nicholas looked over at me and waved. I smiled and waved back.
“You okay?” Bridget asked, stepping away from Bones and looping her arm through mine. “You’re crying.”
“They’re happy tears, Bridget. Happy tears.”
Thank you for reading Hearts and Aces.
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