I tried to contain my sigh. “Look, Beau, I know I fucked up in the past, but I will never put Blaire through anything like that again. I think we’ve both suffered enough because of me.” His jaw tightened, but he nodded, seemingly wanting to believe me but not wanting to admit it. “Though I can’t promise that I will never be a jackass. Any man who says they have never pissed off a woman is either delusional or lying,” I added.

His lips twitched again, and I was pretty sure that was definitely the beginning of a smile. “I get what you’re saying. Blaire calls me a jackass at least once a week.”

“I can promise you that I will never cheat on her, I’ll never lay an angry hand on her, and I’ll never leave her. Ever. I’m not fucking around here, Beau. I’ve gone long enough without them. Ultimately, it’s up to Blaire, but I’m not backing down. I don’t care how much you glare at me and threaten me.”

He gave me a short nod of what seemed to be respect, and then we both turned our eyes back to Carrie, who was riding some kind of motorcycle game. She saw us and waved cheerfully, and we waved back.

Beau’s head bobbed up and down, nodding to himself, and then I could feel the weight of his stare on the side of my face. “They’re the most important people in my life,” he said in a husky voice.

I met his gaze once more. “Mine too. I love them,” I said simply.

Beau really did smile then, though grudgingly. “All right. If that’s true, then I don’t have a problem with you, Broxton.”

I put my hand out again, and we shared a perfectly normal handshake, sans excessive squeezing. “You still a Wranglers fan?” I asked.

“Yep. Why?”

“Would you and your buddies like tickets to the game in Houston this weekend?”

That earned me a genuine smile from the big ape. “Hell yes. That’s… that’s really nice of you, Ax.” So, I was Ax now, not Broxton. Progress…

“I’ve invited Blaire and Carrie, but I don’t like to think of them traveling down there by themselves or walking out into the parking lot alone after dark. I thought you would enjoy it, but I would also like them to have someone with them. But for God’s sake, don’t tell her I said that, or I’ll get an ass chewing.”

That earned me a full-fledged laugh from Beau, who then mimicked his sister’s voice perfectly. “Dammit to hell, Beau. I’m twenty-six years old and a doctor. I’m pretty sure I can drive to damned Houston by myself.”

“Nailed it!” I said with a laugh. As we stood, I asked seriously, “We okay, man?”