“Sorry?” I asked.

“Bailey’s told me the way you look at Sage when Avery comes for lessons,” Lennon said.

I turned a narrowed gaze on Bailey. “What is he talking about?”

Bailey rolled his eyes. “Don’t act oblivious, Cal. It doesn’t suit you.”

I sat back, huffing a breath. “Someone please explain.” There was no way in hell Bailey, or anyone for that matter, could tell I looked at Sage a different way than all the other women . She was gorgeous, but she also didn’t flaunt it. She was the kind of girl who didn’t see herself as beautiful, but the rest of the world did, and that made her more attractive. 

But not just that. It was also the fact that she very clearly would hang the moon for Avery if she asked. She was selfless, maybe even a little too selfless, but so was I.

On the other hand, my ex was so beyond selfish that she’d given me an ultimatum. I’d chosen my happiness over following someone I knew wasn’t my forever. From that day forward, I knew I’d made the right decision. After closing myself off for so long, something about Sage stuck out to me, and without me even realizing it, she became an everyday thought.

Maybe some people didn’t believe in fate, or that things happened for a reason, but my choices led me right here, and I had to believe it was for the better.

Bailey kicked his feet up on the railing, his hands crossed behind his head. “All I’m saying is that you never give any of the other children’s mothers the time of day, never ask them to go relax during the lesson. Never ask your mom to bring them a pack of ice for their knee.”

“It was the nice thing to do,” I defended.

“Oh, come on, Cal,” Lennon piped in. “Don’t act like that’s the only reason you’ve done those things.”

“I’ve seen it, too,” Reed added quietly from the side.

Bailey tilted the tip of his bottle in Reed’s direction. “See.”

“You guys are looking too far into things.” There was nothing going on between me and Sage. Nothing.

Bailey sprang forward, staying in his seat but pinning me with his stare. “Are you seriously dodging around this right now?”

“I’m not dodging around anything.”

“If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life is fucking short, Cal. Don’t sit here wasting your time with this bullshit. Ask her out.”

My eyes widened. “Ask her out?”

“Yes, you idiot! Ask her out.” Bailey was passionate, I’d give him that. But just because he’d gotten together with Lettie after her disappearing for five years didn’t mean he should start finding us girlfriends, too.

We had our mom to worry about with that.

“I barely know her,” I pointed out.

“So?” Bailey exclaimed. “Asking someone on a date is an excuse to get to know them. A date isn’t getting married. It’s to talk, to learn more about each other.”

“Since when are you such a fucking romantic?” Reed groused.

“Since I got with your sister, Bronson,” Bailey quipped.

Reed shook his head. “Stop reminding me.”

Lennon shifted in his seat. “There’s no harm in asking her out, Cal.”

My eyes scanned the horizon, wishing I could find the right answer there. It wasn’t often I went out of my way to put myself into uncomfortable situations, and if Sage rejected me, it’d feel a whole hell of a lot worse than just uncomfortable. What if she never brought Avery back for another lesson? Then Avery would be upset, Sage would blame it on me, and I’d feel like shit.

“I’ll think about it.” Because if I said no, they’d just keep pestering me about it.

For the next couple hours, we alternated between water and beer, then we all headed home for the night. I hadn’t decided what I’d do. I could take the risk and ask her out, and best case scenario, she’d say yes and we’d go on a date. But worst case scenario—I could ruin everything by doing it. Was I willing to risk that?

But the longer I thought about it, the more I was convincing myself that yes, I was willing to risk it if it meant I got to know Sage a little more.

There was so much I wanted to know about her, and not just her, but Avery, too. 

I wouldn’t tell the guys my decision because chances were, I’d chicken out, but for now, I settled on maybe.

Maybe I’d ask Sage McKinley on a date.

17

Sage

“Are you sure you’re okay with hanging out at Mrs. Bronson’s house while I’m at work?” I asked Avery for what had to be the fifth time.

“Yes, Mama. I like hanging out with her,” she said, like the two of them were best friends.

I pulled to a stop in front of the white farmhouse, turning the key in the ignition. I grabbed Avery’s backpack off the passenger seat and got out, handing it to her where she stood. 

I’d taken Callan up on his offer for his mother to watch Avery, but today was the first day, and possibly the last. I didn’t want to inconvenience Charlotte in any way—she had to be busy with the rescue. I considered today a test run, though I was well aware she’d insist it was fine. She’d been more than eager when I called her a few days ago to set this up.

“I packed you snacks and your art supplies. There’s also a few ponies in there you can play with,” I told her. 

She stepped forward for a quick hug, her voice muffled in my shirt when she said, “Thanks, Mama.” She let me go, then smiled and waved at something—or someone—behind me. “Hi!”

“Hey, Avery.” That voice. God, I hated how it made me buzz with awareness. Hated how just two words from him could make me want to fix my hair and double check that I didn’t have any crusted bits stuck to my eyelashes.

Avery turned, bounding up the steps to the porch as I swiveled, finding Callan walking in my direction. 

He came to a stop a few feet away from me, but I wished he’d step closer. It felt like forever since he was at our house, and while yesterday was my day off and I tried to be as present with Avery on those days as possible, it was extremely difficult when I kept remembering him standing in my kitchen, or playing in Avery’s room, or cleaning the counter. This man had been to my house one time and I was daydreaming of him coming back.

What was wrong with me?

“Are you heading to work?” Callan asked. He was wearing a navy blue striped button up tucked into blue jeans. His boots looked so worn, I swore there had to be holes in the bottom.

“For a few hours. Charlotte’s watching Avery until I’m off. I figured you’d be working, given the time.” I wasn’t sure how he expected to help watch Avery when he worked similar hours to myself, but since he was technically self-employed, I didn’t really know what to expect out of his set schedule. That, and I also felt bad asking him.

“Yeah, no, I am. I’m in between lessons right now,” he replied, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck, which was shaded by his cowboy hat.

“Do you typically work all day?”

“Sometimes. There’s a couple days a week that I have a chunk of free time during the afternoon, and I give myself two days off. I’d work all seven, but my mom insists her kids take a break.” He dropped his hand back to his side.