17. Gia

CHAPTER 17

I drive the truck right up the driveway and park next to the house. For three days, I did my job, and I love my job, but I missed Dalton and the boys. I left earlier than I'd planned to just to make sure I made it home before the boys went to bed. They're supposed to start camp tomorrow, and I wanted to make sure I get to see them.

I'm both nervous and excited to see Dalton and the boys, and I practically run up to the porch and open the screen door.

As soon as Ethan and Evan see me, they scream my name and run to me. I drop down to my knees to catch them both in my arms, and they hug me like they haven't seen me in years instead of just three days.

"We've been sick," Ethan says.

I am holding each of their hands, and I look between them. "You've been sick?"

They both nod, and it's obvious they're still a little peaked looking. "Oh no! Why didn't you call me? I would have come back earlier."

Evan gives his dad the evil eye. "Dad wouldn't let us."

I look at Dalton, and he's giving me an uninterested look. I expected him to be excited to see me, but I was wrong because he looks at me like I'm an intrusion more than anything else. "Well, I'm sorry you were not feeling well. How are you doing now?"

"Better," they say in unison, and I laugh. "Well, good. Are you excited about camp tomorrow?"

Evan shrugs and looks at his dad again. "Dad says we'll have to see how we're feeling in the morning."

I nod. "Okay, well I thought we could go dig up some worms and maybe go fishing tonight. What do you think?" As an afterthought, I look at Dalton. "I mean, if your dad is okay with it."

"But it's going to be dark soon," Ethan exclaims.

I clap my hands together, excited. "I know. I love night fishing."

"Night fishing?" they ask at the same time.

I nod, laughing. "Yes, it's the best. Have you never been night fishing?"

They both shake their heads, and I turn to Dalton. My smile falters at the way he's looking at me. "What about it? You okay with us going night fishing?"

He shrugs. "Yeah, if that's what you want to do."

"All right, boys, go put on old clothes. I'll grab the supplies we need."

They both scamper up the stairs, and I walk over to Dalton. I'm hoping that he's hiding his true feelings and that once we're alone he'll hug me or at least act happy to see me. I get a few feet away from him, and he says. "Your car is ready. I parked it next to the barn."

"Oh," I say, surprised. I'm searching his face, but all he's giving me is a guarded look.

"Yeah, so you're good for whenever you're ready to leave."

Ask me to stay. I swear I'm looking at him so intensely that I'm pleading with him with just a look. He crosses his arms over his chest and just stares at me as if he's not breaking my heart in two.

My voice cracks as I ask him, "So do you care if I leave tomorrow? I'd like to spend some time with the boys tonight."

It looks as if he wants to say no. I'm not sure what has happened since I left here three days ago, but something has. He went from touching me at every turn, saying sweet things in my ear, sneaking touches, holding my hand to this. It's like he can barely stand to look at me.

"Sure, okay."

I freeze, hearing the indifference in his voice. "I mean, if you'd rather I go now, I can, but I don't want to let the boys down. I don't want to just walk out on them."

"You can stay, Gianna. I'm not going to kick you out and make you drive into the night."

I smack my lips, holding back what I want to truly say. "Thank you for that. I'm going to go grab the poles out of the barn. Can you ask the boys to meet me on the porch?"

I get to the door and turn to look at him over my shoulder. "If you had called me, I would have come to help with the boys." He doesn't say anything, but I have to say my piece. "I hate to think that they wanted me and you wouldn't call me."

I turn to leave, and he says something that I can't quite make out. "What?"

He says it again, louder this time. "I can't compete with that, Gia."

"What are you talking about? Compete with what?"

He shakes his head. "I saw your videos. You're all sunshine and happiness. Your world is all rainbows and good times and laughter. Since you've been gone, I've been covered in vomit, a broken-down tractor, and diseased bulls."

I stare at him as if he's grown two heads. Is that really what he thinks of me? I'm just a good-time girl and when things get rough, I'm going to leave and walk away? I grip the doorknob and tell him through gritted teeth, "If you were watching my videos, you weren't watching them close enough."

Before he can say anything, the boys come running down the stairs and stop next to me. I force a smile to my face. "I need to go grab things from the barn. You want to come with me?"

They're both nodding their heads, and I tell them, "You need to ask your dad."

I wait for them to do it, knowing I can't look at him. If I do, I'll break down and cry, and I'm not going to do it. This will be the last night I have with Ethan and Evan, and I'm going to make sure it's a night for them to remember.

Their dad says yes, and without a backwards glance, I walk them outside to the barn and listen to them talk and laugh, making sure I soak it all in.

I'm going to miss this place. I'm going to miss Dalton, and I'm going to miss Ethan and Evan.