“It’s your arm.” Braden shrugged and stood. He could use a game or two. “You coming?” he asked Noah.

“No, I’m going to take care of something. I’ll catch you guys soon.” He gave Cooper a quick kiss before walking out.

“Come on. Let’s go play,” he told Coop, grateful for the distraction.

***

Wes hadn’t been lying when he told Braden that Jessie had a bad day. Most of the time she was fine, but she had days where she just missed her mom, where her young brain tried to make sense of why her heart hurt so much.

Today had been one of them.

But for the past couple hours, even before Braden called, she started to be her typical, happy self again. They made hot chocolate and he let her put as many marshmallows in it as she wanted, and they talked about maybe getting a puppy. She loved Jock, and Wes figured it would be good for her to have a dog to call her own.

So, though he’d been telling the truth, his words to Braden had been partially an excuse as well. Braden was right. He hadn’t done anything since before they lost Chelle.

There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun once in a while.

“Hey, Jess?” Wes kneeled in front of her as she sat at the table, coloring. “How would you feel about hanging out with your cousins and aunt Lydia tonight? It’s okay if you don’t want to, but—”

She dropped her crayon. “Sure! I like the bunk bed. We turn it into a fort. Can I get a bunk bed?”

Well that had been easy. “I don’t know about the bunk bed, but I’m sure Lydia will let you make the fort with theirs.”

She jumped up before he could say anything else and started shoving her feet into shoes and looking for her jacket. Apparently aunt Lydia’s house was much more fun than theirs. Was he really that boring? Sure he didn’t go out a lot or always have something funny to say, but he wasn’t that bad to be around. “I’m going to go pack your clothes, kiddo.”

While he got everything in a backpack for her, he called Lydia, who he knew wouldn’t mind watching her. She of course said yes, so after Jessie was all packed, Wes jumped into his car and drove her over.

He hardly got a hug out of her before she ran into the room for one of her cousins to make a fort for her.

“So what are you doing tonight?” Lydia rose a brow at him. Her husband clapped Wes on the shoulder and laughed, as if to say, good luck, man.

Wes shrugged. “Just felt like getting out of the house. I’m going to go play some pool or something.”

Lydia mixed some pudding in a bowl. “She likes Braden a lot.”

The hairs on the back of his neck stood. Why did his sister always feel the need to stick her nose in his life? “She does.”

“Do you?”

“Lyd... Don’t. Plus, how irresponsible of me would it be to get into a relationship with a man so soon after losing Chelle? When things fall to shit, she’s the one who would suffer.”

She turned to face him. “When? You can’t even say if. Why does it automatically have to be when?”

That was his cue that he needed to leave. Wes walked over and kissed his sister on the forehead. “Thank you for everything. I’m going to go.”

She sighed. “People love you, Wes. Don’t try and make it so hard. Stop pushing people away.”

He knew with that she didn’t mean Braden. “You’re my sister. You know I love you.”

“Knowing and feeling it are two different things, though.”

“Do you even care, Wes? Honestly, do you give a shit that I’m leaving? I can’t be in a relationship where the other person won’t let me in. Not anymore.”

He ignored those memories of Alexander. “Thanks for keeping Jess tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She shook her head and he gave her a hug before walking out. He ran home real quick to change before heading out again. When he put his hand on the doorknob to open the door, someone knocked.

Wes found himself smiling. Fucking Braden. The man never gave up. He pulled the door open.

“You look a little disappointed to see me,” Noah told him.

“Just surprised.”

“I came to drag your ass out of the house. Maybe you didn’t realize it, but they have dollar beers.”

Wes laughed, and it felt good. Braden was right. He needed a night with his friends. “Where do you think I’m going?”

Wes grabbed his jacket and stepped outside.

“Ride with me.” Noah headed toward Coop’s truck and Wes followed.