God, I tried so hard to dislike her, because liking her would lead to enjoying her. And after weeks stuck in the same house, watching her be the closest thing my son has ever had to a real mother, I’m worried enjoying her has turned into caring about her.

And I have no clue what to do with that. I’ve never properly loved a woman before. Never wanted one like this.

“I’ll give her one more chance at water!” Rhett calls as he stalks away with a bucket.

“Thanks!” I mumble back before letting out a ragged sigh and checking inside my truck. Luke is already asleep in the air-conditioned cab. Clearly, the excitement of the day caught up with him. Willa always keeps him so active that he’s dog-tired at the end of the day.

Willa is too good to us.

“You were killer out there today.” Jasper leans against the side of my trailer, staring at me with a small smirk on his lips. “Didn’t even look that old from where I was sitting.”

I shake my head. “Just wait until you start sucking at hockey. I have so many old-man jokes stocked away for you. And for Beau, when he finally retires.”

“You heard from him?” Jasper asks, looking hopeful.

“Nah. Nothing lately. Wish I knew where that doofus was.”

“Yeah. Not knowing is the worst part.” We share an anxious look. Sending Beau away never gets any easier on any of us. My dad included.

“You’re really dumb, you know?” His eyes flit up as he rapidly changes the topic of conversation.

I scoff. “Is this the opening line of another old-man joke?”

“Not unless getting older means sending away one of the best things that’s ever happened to you with another man who isn’t too dumb to see it.”

I feel the tightness in my chest and the ache at the back of my throat. I don’t know if that ache means I’m angry, sad, or if it’s just the spot where all the words I want to say get caught in a stranglehold.

“Got something to say, Jasper?”

His head tilts, his blue eyes taking on a slightly vicious expression. The one I only get a peek of from behind his goalie mask. The one that made me want to get up at five a.m. and drive his pimply teenaged ass to practices, because a man with a look like that in his eye doesn’t lose.

He was special and I knew it.

I needed another sibling to take care of like I needed a hole in the head, but Jasper was meant to be with us, not his shit parents. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.