Wes met Braden’s eyes. “It’s your call. You want to go, we’ll go. If you think she’ll be okay without us, we’ll stay, and I’ll make you take care of me.” Braden winked.

“Shh. None of that in front of your mama. You let me know what you want to do, okay?” Emmy walked away.

“I’ll be good if you wanna go.” Braden leaned against the wall.

And he did...but he wanted to stay with Braden, too—to be here for him the way Braden was there for them. Yeah it was a silly, a sprained ankle, but walking around all day wouldn’t help it. Skating would definitely be a no-go for him.

“Let me see how Jessie feels about it.”

Braden nodded and Wes went into the living room, where Jessie was running circles with...he couldn’t remember the little boy’s name.

“Jess, come here for a second. I want to ask you something.”

She made a beeline for him and wrapped her arms around his legs. Wes laughed before untangling her and kneeling down. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for Braden to walk around today because of his ankle. How would you feel if Emmy looked after you today and I stayed here to help Braden?”

She tried to roll her eyes but really just moved her whole head. “Silly, Uncle Wes. I’m a big girl, ’member? I want to go now. Can you ask Emmy if we can go now? I like her.”

Well...that was easy. “Are you sure?”

She gave him another eye roll. Wes kissed her on the forehead. “Let me help you get into your jacket and everything. You guys are leaving in a minute.”

She followed him to the hall closest where their coats were. Braden happened to be standing there, too.

“You guys don’t get to have any fun today.” Jessie tugged on his shirt.

“I’m sure we’ll figure something out. Will you drink a cup of hot chocolate for me?” Braden asked her. Jessie nodded her head. Fifteen minutes later, the clan of Roths plus Jessie filed out the door and climbed into a couple different vehicles. Through the front window he watched while Emmy fastened Jessie into a booster seat, and then they were gone.

“Wanted to be alone with me, huh?” Braden nudged him.

“Someone has to keep you out of trouble.”

“Funny man. What do you want to do?”

“Food?” Wes asked.

“Food,” Braden confirmed. They hadn’t eaten this morning because they planned to get food in Denver.

They ate leftover ham from Christmas and some eggs at the kitchen table.

“Jess hasn’t had any more problems since Christmas eve?” Braden asked him before eating a bite of ham.

Wes shook his head. “No. That was killer, though. It rips my heart out to see her like that.”

“She’s going to have her bad days and her good days. She’s a happy little girl. You’re incredible with her. You give her everything you can.”

Those words penetrated any remaining armor Wes had. They meant the world to him. Not just because he loved Jessie so much, but because he was pretty sure he loved Braden, too. “Thanks, man. I...seriously, thanks. You are, too, though. She loves you.”

Braden set his fork down, his eyes searching for something inside Wes. What, he didn’t know, but he hoped Braden found it. “Guess you’re gonna have to keep me around then.”

“Guess so.”

They finished eating, talking about nothing important. Afterward, they rinsed their dishes and then Wes said, “I need to go get cleaned up.”

“You didn’t already do that?”

“I had a kid to get ready, remember?” Wes laughed.

Braden followed him to his room, which was really Braden’s room, and lay on the bed with his hands behind his head.

“Comfortable?” Wes asked as he stripped out of his clothes in the attached bathroom.

“Enjoying the view. I’d get in with you, but I’m not sure I can have sex in the shower with my ankle all screwed up.”

Like he so often did around Braden, Wes smiled as he turned on the water and jumped in. “Who said I’d want to have sex with you in the shower?”

“Me. I even wanted to have sex with myself when I took one this morning. I’m irresistible like that.”

Wes let out a loud laugh, pulled back the shower curtain, and said, “I’ve never known anyone like you.”

“That a good thing, Wesley?”

No hesitation, Wes replied, “It is.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Braden hated to sound cocky but he knew he was a good-looking man, knew he was likable. He never suffered in the date department, was used to getting compliments but hearing them from Wes made him feel invincible. Like he’d never really believed those things were true about himself but now could, because Wes said them. Maybe a little cheesy, but true.