Love Me Forever - Juliana Stone Page 0,42

before, and Boone was just scooping his keys from his front pocket when he glanced to his right and spied an elderly woman on her front porch, newspaper in hand. She looked ancient in the dim light, with a head full of curlers, a pink-and-green tent dress that covered her from her neck to her ankles, and the fluffiest, brightest yellow slippers he’d ever seen.

Mrs. Crabtree, his high school biology teacher.

The two of them stared at each other for a good long while, and finally, she gave a slight nod before disappearing back into her home.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled into Cam and Blue’s place. He’d barely gotten out of the truck when Benji came barreling at him, all gangly arms and legs and more enthusiasm than a human should have this early in the morning. Boone scooped him up into a bear hug, and as always, that wash of emotion—pride, wonder, and joy—hit him in the chest, and he couldn’t help but grin.

God, he loved this kid.

“Daddy! Cam says it’s gonna be a beauty day for fishing. He said they bite more when it’s hot.”

Slowly, he let go of Benji and ruffled his hair while Benji chattered excitedly about their upcoming day and all the fish he was going to catch. Cam and Blue met him on the porch, Blue in a fluffy white bathrobe, sleep-heavy eyes barely open, and Cam grinning from ear to ear.

Benji ran past them to retrieve his overnight bag, and Cam wasted no time poking the bear.

“You look like you just rolled out of bed.”

Boone eyed him and shrugged. “I did.”

“Still wearing your work boots from yesterday.”

Boone scowled. “And?”

“Just seems like an odd thing to wear fishing.”

“What’s it to you?”

Cam chuckled. “I don’t give a crap what you wear fishing, but anyone with two eyes in their head can see you didn’t go home last night.”

“It’s none of your business,” he all but growled.

Benji ran out just then and, with a quick hug and kiss to Blue, darted past Boone. “Come on, Daddy!”

“Thanks for watching him last night,” he said to Blue, ignoring the big-ass grin on Cam’s face.

“It was no problem. Benji is a sweet kid, and he and Tawny are such great friends.” She paused and winked. “You might want to grab your boxers, though. They’re about to fall out of your pocket.”

Boone glanced down and swore before stuffing them back. Man, couldn’t he catch a break?

“Thanks again,” he said before jogging over to his truck and getting the hell out of there. They got home, and he quickly changed, loaded the boat with their gear and food, and by some small miracle, he and Benji were headed across the lake by five forty-five. He went out past Pottahawk Island and found the small inlet he and the boys used to fish at back in the day. It was quiet, there’d only been one other boat on the water, and he and Benji settled back, each with their own line and can of bait and the entire day to chill.

They made good work of the morning. Benji caught an impressive number of sunfish, which he painstakingly removed from the hook before tossing back into the lake, but he’d also snagged two largemouth bass, which he insisted he was going to clean himself for dinner. Boone didn’t have the heart to tell him it was a big job—they were full of bones. He figured Benji would either give up or finish like a champ.

Either way, Boone had caught one himself and some trout, which was one of his favorites. They had a late lunch of hastily prepared sandwiches, potato chips, and soda, and it was nearly three when he noticed Benji’s eyelids drooping. The kid was done in.

“You want to head back?” he asked. “We’ll have enough time to clean our haul and have it for dinner.”

Benji nodded and tried his best to stifle a yawn. By the time Boone had his gear stowed safely and the fish on ice, the kid was asleep. He dropped a kiss to his head and then headed out of the inlet. He sped toward his side of the lake, waving at several folks he knew along the way. It was pushing four by the time he tied up and unloaded their stuff.

“Daddy?”

Surprised Benji was awake, he turned around and spied him standing a few feet away. His hair was a mass of tangled curls and his glasses were dirty as hell. With dirt smudges on his