Wide Open Spaces (Shooting Stars #2) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,64

Tina told me her plans.

“She’s leaving Bre and me here to go live with her boyfriend?” he asks again, and I take a step toward him, wrap my hand around the back of his neck, and drop my head toward his.

“She’ll be a forty-five minute flight away. You can go see her anytime you want.”

“And see him, right?” He laughs, but it sounds pained and bitter. “He doesn’t even talk to us! He doesn’t even act like we’re there when we’re at her house and he’s there with us.”

“We’ll find a way to make it work, bud. Your mom and I will find a way to make it work so that when you’re there, he’s not, or she’ll come here to see you, if that’s what you and Bre need.”

“What’s the point? Bre’s right. Mom doesn’t care,” he mutters, dropping his eyes to the ground, sounding defeated.

“She loves you,” Shel cuts in, and Steven lifts his eyes to her. “I know this transition will take time, but your mom loves you. I’ve seen you together, and have seen pictures. I know you and Aubrey are both her world.” Steven’s muscles tighten under my hand. “Just give it time, honey. Everything will work out. You’ll see. Your dad and I will make sure you can see her as often as you and Bre want. Right, Zach?” she asks, and even though this isn’t the time to smile, I feel myself do just that, because she has somehow just placed her self in the middle of this.

“We will,” I agree, giving his neck another squeeze. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Sure,” he agrees, not sounding sure at all, and I touch my forehead to his.

Hearing the front door open, I don’t pull away until I hear Bre ask, “Is everything okay?”

My eyes move to her. “Everything’s fine, gorgeous.”

“Then why does Steven look so upset?” she questions, and I hear Shel say something to Hunter about Penny then the sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor, along with the sound of paws, and I know Bre must have brought Penny over with her.

“Your mom is going to talk to you and Steven this weekend about her plans to move to Anchorage.”

“I told you,” Aubrey says, looking at Steven. “I told you that she was going to move away with him.”

“Shut up, Bre,” Steven growls, as I hear footsteps coming back toward us.

“Aubrey, don’t. Now is not the time for an attitude,” I stop her, seeing she’s getting ready to say something in return.

“Fine,” she huffs, glaring at Steven and crossing her arms over her chest.

“Once your mom talks to you both, we’ll sit down and figure out how we’re going to move forward, but I don’t want this to be something you two fight about. Do you both understand?” I ask, looking between them, and they nod.

My cell on my hip rings, causing me to sigh, because I know it’s work and I can’t ignore it, even though I want to. “Hello?”

“I know you just left, but there was a fight that broke out at the Harbor, and both men involved were sent to the hospital and are asking to press charges against each other. Arney’s already there, but he needs backup,” Darla says, and I look at Shel. We made plans two weeks ago to have dinner with Austin, Lea, Rhonda, Ben and their son Braden and two weeks ago we had to cancel when I got called out for work and it looks like that is going to happen again.

“Tell them I’m on my way.”

“Will do,” she says, hanging up.

“Sorry, baby, I gotta go. Take the kids out to Austin and Lea’s, and I’ll meet you there or at the restaurant as soon as I get done taking care of this.”

“Go on, we’ll be fine,” she replies, making me wish I could kiss her in a way that expressed what I’m feeling. Because as long as her list of shit she needs from me is, my list only includes two things: our kids being happy, and moments like this, when I know she understands my job is important and doesn’t ask a million questions about when I’ll be back, or get angry at the fact I have to leave to begin with.

“Be good,” I point at Aubrey and Steven, then walk to Shel and drop my mouth to hers for a quick touch before heading out.

Knocking on the door at Austin and Lea’s house a half hour later, I listen to the