More Than I Could (87)

“How was your trip?” I ask as cheerfully as I can. “Do you want a coffee?”

“Oh no, honey. Lonnie got me up at four this morning to make it the rest of the way. I’ve had more coffee than my bladder can handle in one day.”

I smile at her. “Kate is good? Did you have a nice time?”

“We did. Oof,” she says, wrapping her arms around Kennedy as she practically dives into her grandmother. “There she is. Hi, sweetheart.” She squeezes her tight. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Gram. Where’s Pap?”

“He’s at home waiting on you.”

Kennedy beams. Seeing her smile like that warms my heart. She’s going to be just fine.

“What are you doing today?” Maggie asks. The question is a generality, but she’s looking at Chase.

He side-eyes me. “I’m heading over to Luke’s to help with his fence for a little while.”

Maggie looks surprised. “Oh. Okay. What about you, Megan?”

Come up with something. Don’t look lame.

I slide my phone out of my pocket. “I’m having brunch this morning.”



Me: Hey, Gavin.





Gavin: What’s up?





Me: Busy?





Gavin: Why?





Me: Pick me up in 20.





Gavin: Why?





Me: You’re taking me for brunch.





“Who are you having lunch with?” Maggie asks.

I smile. “Gavin.”

Chase flinches, but he doesn’t say a word. Fucker.

Maggie laughs. “Tell that boy to come by the house today, all right? Kate sent a few things home with me for him.”

“Sure.”



Gavin: I am? <covers face with hands emoji>





Me: You are.





Gavin: Does Chase know this?





Me: He does now.





Gavin: Are you trying to get me killed?





Me: I’ll protect you.





Gavin: You’re paying.





Me: Fine.





Gavin: Give me ten.





Me: Hustle.





Gavin: You’re bossy for someone desperate for a brunch date.





Me: I’m really not in the mood for your mouth.





Gavin: Take it or leave it.





Me: Take it. Hurry.





I put my phone in my pocket again.

“Well, we’ll see you guys later,” Maggie says, tapping Kennedy’s back to head to the door. “Have fun today.” She practically skips to the door. “I love all of my kids doing things with each other. It just blesses this mama’s heart.”

I laugh and turn back to my coffee. Chase’s gaze stops me.

“Yes?” I ask, taking the creamer out of the fridge.

“I didn’t know you were going out with Gavin today.”

“Well, you haven’t talked to me, so how would you know?”

He glares at me. “Are you fucking with me?”

I sigh dramatically, ignoring how hot he is when he’s mad. “No, Chase, I’m not fucking with you. But I’m also not sitting alone in your house on this beautiful day. That would be a little awkward, don’t you think?”

He turns away from me, not expecting that reply.

My feelings were more hurt at his about-face before, but now I’m just mad. His behavior makes no sense. I’m willing to cut him some slack because I know he’s stressed, but I’m not going to tolerate him being a dick for no reason.

“Besides,” I say, adding the creamer to my coffee. “Your mom is back now. There’s no reason for me to be here, and I want to tell Gavin goodbye.”

I hold my breath and wait, hoping he’ll give me a reason to stay.

“Are you glad she’s back early?” he asks.

“Yeah, if you’re back to this grumpy cat bullshit, I am.”

He stills momentarily before going back to searching through the junk drawer.

“I don’t know why you aren’t talking to me,” I say. “But it’s not a good look.”

“I’m talking to you. That’s what this is. Talking.”

“You know what? I’m glad you’re doing this.”

He turns around to face me. His eyes hold the shield between us that I haven’t seen in a long time.

“You almost had me convinced you were different,” I say, denying the lump in my throat to settle in and make itself at home. “But if you can act like this when I didn’t do anything but try to help you, then I can only imagine what you would be capable of in an actual fight.”

His chest rises and falls.

“You’re pathetic,” I say as Gavin pulls into the driveway.

I slide the creamer back in the refrigerator. Then I blow past Chase, leaving him brooding beside the sink.