Braden shrugged. “Wasn’t a big deal. Wanna sit outside a bit before I go?”

It didn’t come as a surprise to Wes that he did.

“You’re frowning,” Braden said.

“No I’m not.”

“Yes you are.”

“Do you enjoy arguing with people?” Wes asked. When he realized he now smiled, he tried to cover it.

Braden just nodded toward the door. “Have a drink with me, Wes.”

So he did. They were quiet as they each nursed a beer on the covered front porch.

Finally, when Wes’s was almost finished, he spoke. “Thanks for staying to play with her. I’m sure you had something else you could have been doing tonight.” Or someone.

“Nah. I think you’re rubbing off on me. I’m becoming a homebody. It’s pretty scary. I think Jock is getting depressed about it.”

Wes wondered how long it had been since Braden had gone out but didn’t ask. He had no business wanting to know.

“Is your real name Wesley?” Braden asked out of the blue.

“Yeah.”

“I like it. Can I call you Wesley?” he winked.

“Not if you expect me to answer.”  And then, because he realized what Braden was doing, he said, “What do you want to talk to me about? You’re trying to tease me into a good mood. I...” His stomach dropped out when he realized what it must be. “She’s not your responsibility. If you can’t watch her anymore, we’ll figure something out.”

“What? Are you kidding? She keeps me in line. My mouth is a million times better since she started busting my balls. I want to talk to you about Christmas. I know you’ve been worried, and I know Thanksgiving didn’t go well. I thought maybe...fuck, this sounds like more than I mean it to, but it’s nothing, okay? I just wanted to tell you, you guys are welcome to go home with me. I spend a few days with my family every year. We have a small football team, so there will be plenty of kids for Jess to play with. I thought...hell, I don’t know. I thought maybe a change of scenery might help.”

Wes concentrated on the feel of the cold bottle of beer in his hand. He let Braden’s words work through his head, making its way through you’re fucking crazy to maybe it would be good for Jess...

“I think Jessie would have fun. They have a lot of property, and my mom is like Santa on crack. It might be a good distraction. That’s all this is,” Braden said.

Wes turned his way, saw the sincerity there, and it made some of the doubt start to drift away. “I’m not sure. Don’t know if that’s a good idea for her.” And he didn’t. Maybe taking her away from Lydia and the kids would make things worse.

“Okay.” Braden stood, hesitancy on his face. “Just wanted to put that out there. I better get going.” Jock scrambled to his feet, too.

Braden got all the way to the porch door before Wes said, “Thanks. I appreciate that, man.”

Braden stopped, turned, and smiled. “You can make it up to me sometime.” He winked, and then he was gone.

Chapter Twelve

A few days later, Braden sat in his living room with Jock, flipping through the TV channels. There were plenty of sports on, so he went back and forth between games, trying to get into any of them.

He got up, grabbed some chips, ate a handful, but then put the bag up. Afterward, he put his jacket on to take Jock out, but the damn dog just went pee and then ran back for the house. It wasn’t that cold out.

Braden tossed a load of laundry in the washing machine and decided right then and there that he needed to get out of the house. If he washed clothes when he still had a week’s worth left, he definitely had a problem.

He went to his room and flopped onto his bed before dialing up Wes. If Braden needed to get out, Wes definitely did. He doubted that man had done much of anything since the night they’d met and gone home together months ago.

Wes answered with a, “Hello.”

“I was sitting here thinking.”

“Dangerous of you.”

He almost mentioned the fact that Wes joked around with him without being prompted but didn’t want to ruin it. “Ha ha, smart guy.” Braden chuckled. “But I was thinking you’ve never experienced the good time that is going out with Braden Roth. I mean, the night we met there was too much drama between you, Noah and Cooper for you to get the full experience. I’m a good time. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you.” He petted Jock’s head when the dog laid it on his stomach.

“Oh wow. A night out with Braden Roth? I’ve heard they’re considering making those a national event. It’s heartbreaking that I have to miss it,” Wes teased.