the surface. I grabbed him by the shirt and flung him. He stumbled then righted himself and lunged at me. “That’s the best you can do? Pussy,” he taunted. He jutted out his chin and held out his arms. “First shot’s free.”
Brody had it coming.
I took the first swing. My knuckles slammed into his nose. Blood spewed all over, but I didn’t stop. Another punch to the gut, and I thought he’d go down, but he didn’t.
He slammed his fist into my jaw. I shook my head and tackled him to the ground, raining punches on him.
“Brody! Jude!”
Dazed, I looked over at Lila just as Brody’s fist connected with my temple. Blindsiding me. Motherfucker. I rolled onto my back and we lay there writhing and panting, my hand on my head.
“Oh my God. What is wrong with you two?”
Head pounding, vision blurred, I sat up and waited a few seconds for the world to stop spinning. Then I got to my feet, weaving a little and took a few deep breaths to steady myself. The funny part? I could have beat him to a bloody pulp but I’d held back. And he’d punched me in the head. My weak spot.
Like I said, Brody had always fought dirty.
“Brody. Where’s Noah?”
“Fuck,” he said.
Brody put his fingers between his lips and whistled. Seconds later, the border collie raced across the field and stopped at his feet then sat up and looked at him. “Shit. Buster. Where’s Noah?”
“You’re asking a dog where your son is?” Lila asked, panic raising her voice a couple octaves.
“It’ll be okay,” I assured her. “He couldn’t have gone far. We’ll find him.”
She shook her head and strode toward the barn. “Noah!”
The three of us separated, calling his name. I headed in the direction where I’d last seen him when he ran across the field chasing the dog that was now following close on Brody’s heels.
“Noah,” I called as I jogged across the field. Up ahead, I saw a flash of red dart behind a live oak and I slowed my pace, my approach stealthy and quiet so he wouldn’t run again. When I reached the tree, his head popped out to check if I’d caught him. Having spotted me, he took off again and I chased after him, grabbing him around the middle and lifting him off his feet.
“Put me down!”
I set him on the ground and turned him around to face me, keeping a firm but gentle hold on him so I wouldn’t hurt him but he couldn’t run away again either.
“You scared us. Your mommy and daddy are looking all over for you. Are you going to come back with me or do I have to carry you back?”
“Let me go.”
“As long as you promise not to run away again.”
He thought about it for a minute then nodded and I walked him back to Lila who ran to him when she saw him.
She lifted him off the ground and into her arms. His legs wrapped around her waist and she held him close, stroking his hair. “I was so scared I lost you.”
Noah lifted his head from her shoulder and patted her cheeks with the palms of his hand, smearing dirt across her cheekbones. “You can’t lose me. I’m your Noah.”
“Yes, you are. And I love you so much.”
“Love you too. Put me down.”
Lila set him on the ground and took his hand. “We’re going home now. Brody, get his bag please.”
“Come on, L. Don’t—”
“You two can finish whatever it is you were doing. He’s coming home with me.”
“I’m gonna stay with Daddy,” Noah said.
“Not tonight. He’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Why can’t I stay?” he asked Brody.
“Because your mom says so. That’s why.”
I followed Lila and Noah across the field, around the side of the house and to their car. Not sure why. I knew she didn’t even want to see my face much less talk to me.
“Bye, Uncle Jude,” Noah said after Lila belted him into his car seat. She stepped aside to let me say goodbye. Which was more than I deserved.
“Bye Noah.”
“You got blood on your shirt.”
“Yeah. I was being stupid. Fighting is stupid. It’s not the right way to settle an argument. It’s better to use your words.”
He nodded. “That’s what Mommy and Grandma say.”
I smiled. “That’s what your grandma always told me too. You should listen to your mommy. She’s smart. A lot smarter than me.”
He nodded and I tapped his fist with my bloody knuckles then backed away from the car. I