nowhere to be except alone with my thoughts and my phone that has those pictures and millions of missed calls because of those pictures.
“Okay.” I nod. “What do you want me to bring?”
She grins, her eyes searching mine. “Just yourself and a side to share. We’re going to do burgers and hot dogs. Tulip always brings desserts for everyone, and I’ve already begged her for her Hummingbird cake. I hope I’m not stepping on any toes, but you’re single, right?” she asks.
I let out a snort, unable to keep it in. “I am,” I say.
“Would it be weird if I said that I really think my friend would totally be into you. I mean he’d be pissed as hell if he knew I was doing this and there’s no pressure, it’s just our whole group is couples and I know he feels like a third wheel sometimes, might be nice if he meets someone new,” she says with a shrug.
My heart hammers against my chest and I wonder if I should cancel, then I decide that maybe I would meet someone nice and who the hell cares? Plus, I can leave any time that I want to. I’ve never been shy, not even when I was a kid, why would I be now?
“I’m only in town for a few weeks, but yeah, that sounds like fun.” I smile.
Before leaving Channing and the store, I get enough food to put together a charcuterie tray to share, along with some food to keep in the hotel for myself.
I’m going to allow myself the evening to be around these new people, but tomorrow I need to get started on the task at hand, the whole reason I’m here. Tomorrow, I need to go through my childhood home.
FORD
I’m not sure why we aren’t having a barbeque at anyone’s house, but instead we’re doing it at the fucking park, but I decide not to complain.
Grabbing my fishing poles and tackle box from the back, I decided to do a little catfishing while I’m here. Reese likes to cast his line out, so I made sure to bring the Cars fishing pole that I grabbed for him at Walmart about a year ago.
“Unca Ford,” Reese yells at the top of his lungs as soon as he sees me approaching.
I watch as his little legs start to move and I set the fishing poles and tackle box down right before he launches himself into my arms. Picking him up, I pull him against my chest as he giggles.
“We fish?” he asks.
“Yeah, buddy. We’ll go fishin’.”
“Yay,” he cries.
Setting him down on his feet, I pick up my box and the poles, shifting it all to one hand so that I can hold his other hand. Together we walk hand-in-hand to the rest of the group. All my friends are here, with their little ones.
I can’t stop the pang of sadness that washes through me at the sight of everyone with their families. That’s what I always dreamed of and I don’t have it, at my age, probably never will. The only thing that I can be at this point is the best fucking Uncle Ford that I can be. And I will.
Channing and Exeter are standing near the food, arranging shit around as I approach the group.
“Reese, you shouldn’t have run off,” Channing scolds, a small smile playing on her lips.
Reese looks down at his feet, then lifts his eyes up to his mama’s. “I had to,” he simply states.
“You had to?” she asks, arching a brow.
He nods his little head. “Unca Ford needed me,” he sighs.
Pressing my lips together, I try fucking hard not to laugh at the kid. “He needed you?” Channing asks him when he doesn’t continue.
“Unca Ford is all alone, Mama. He needed me to help him not be lonely,” he explains, his blue eyes wide and too fucking cute.
He’s far too observant, or maybe he’s been listening to Rylan and Channing talk when he isn’t supposed to. Doesn’t matter, I take no offense because he’s absolutely correct.
Channing can’t hold it in, she laughs softly as she shakes her head. “Go on and help your daddy,” she instructs.
“Bye,” Reese calls as he turns and runs toward Rylan and Wyatt who are getting the grill ready.
“Sorry about that,” Channing murmurs.
Shaking my head, I reach for Brooks who is wiggling in her arms. “Goddamn, woman, what’re you feedin’ this kid?” I ask on a groan as I pull her into my arms.
She gasps, lifting her hand