Calmly, Carefully, Completely(51)

I nod. “I don’t have any sisters.”

“Your girl, Reagan,” he says. He smiles. “She looks like she can take care of herself.”

“She can kick my ass.” It’s true.

“You think she’d teach me some of those karate moves?” he asks.

I grin. “You could ask her.”

“I wish somebody had taught my sister how to do some of that stuff.” He gets that faraway look again.

I’m not sure that would have changed her situation, but I nod anyway.

Edward gets up to throw his plate away and turns back to me. “When I get out, do you think I could come hang out with you and your brothers? Phil was telling me how you live close to me.”

I nod. “I don’t see why not.” I don’t know this kid, but I know he’s had a rough time of it, and it was no fault of his own. “We could shoot some hoops.”

He grins. “Okay.” He goes to change into a swimsuit. The youth boys all get the night off. They’re going to use the pool and just play around and be boys for the rest of the evening.

I concentrate on my dinner. Now that Edward’s not here, it’s easier to swallow. I don’t have any sisters, but I have a niece named Hayley, and I’m not the only Reed boy who would kill anyone who tried to hurt her. She’s five, and I haven’t seen her in a long time. Hell, she probably doesn’t even remember me. But I could walk out of here today and give my life for hers with no regrets.

The dining area starts to clear out, and I realize I must have been lamenting over Edward’s situation a little too long. Mr. Caster sits down across from me and rests his elbows on the table. He blows out a breath. “My daughter’s no longer talking to me.”

I don’t respond and shovel a spoonful of spaghetti into my mouth so I’ll have an excuse not to.

“Apparently, she likes you a lot.”

I take a bite of bread. I still don’t speak. The food is hard to swallow.

“Her mom’s not speaking to me, either,” he says. He grins a sideways smile. “I kind of like having sex with my wife, so I figured I better come over and clear the air.”

I choke on my spaghetti. I look up at him as I try to catch my breath, coughing into my closed fist.

“Women have ways of getting what they want, Pete,” he says. “And my wife wants Reagan to make her own choices.” He inhales and exhales deeply. “I guess you’re her choice.” He jabs a finger at me. “But if you hurt her, so help you God, I will hunt you down and do things to you that can’t even imagine.”

“Yes, sir,” I squeak out. I clear my throat. “I just met her,” I remind him.

He shakes his head. “She’s known you in her head for two and a half years, son. You didn’t just meet her. You became her hero the night you took care of her. Now, how much of that is in her head and her head alone remains to be seen. But she feels a connection to you, and you’re the only one she’s ever let in. So, you’re in, with my blessing.”

I grin. “Thank you, sir.”

I look over to where Reagan’s sitting, but she’s not looking at me. She’s looking at the table. I take the last bite of my food and get ready to go to her. But by the time I get there, she’s already getting up and walking away. “Reagan,” I call to her.

She heaves a sigh and turns toward me. She kicks at a rock with the toe of her flip-flop. “Can I see you later?” I ask.

“Why?” she asks. She doesn’t look me in the eye.