Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 135847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“And you heard me say I don’t intend to get married and have a family, and that tweaked you.”
Tom drew breath into his nose.
It tweaked him.
Tom then said, “I was concerned before I heard you say that in your interview.”
“What I wasn’t going to tell Elsa’s millions of viewers is that it isn’t entirely about that.”
“It’s about what your dad did to Sam, to you, and you don’t want to repeat your father’s sins.”
Hale kept his gaze steady on Tom because he didn’t want to get into this.
Ever.
But definitely not with an audience.
“Everyone here cares about you,” Tom pointed out after reading his mind.
“That doesn’t mean you aren’t ganging up on me,” Hale retorted.
“I’m gonna go help with the nachos,” Judge declared, folding out of the couch.
“Me too,” Rix said, following.
“I’m not moving because Tom needs someone to back him up on this,” Jamie said when they heard the men’s treads on the stairs. “He’s speaking truth, it’s from the heart, it’s from fatherly concern, but it’s still truth. And Hale, you need to listen.”
“I’ve never wanted kids,” Hale semi-lied.
And it was semi because he never really thought about it, but when he did, he thought of life with his mother, life with his father, and thought better of it.
“You don’t have to have kids. But you do have to have a life,” Tom stated.
“I’m happy.” Another semi lie.
Or maybe that was a full one.
“And now you’re attempting to bullshit me, and I’m not going to buy it, Hale. Come on, I know you,” Tom chided. “This is not what you want for your life.”
“I’m not sure we’ve ever had that conversation, Tom,” Hale said coolly.
That was when Tom lowered the boom.
“You’re him. He’s made you him. A different version of him. But you’re still him.”
Jamie shifted in his seat, because he knew how heavy that blow was, but he didn’t say anything to alleviate it.
“My father was a brilliant man,” Hale said low. “It might not have been his intention, but he’s given me the means to make a real difference.”
“You can make a difference and not country hop, getting three hours of sleep here, four there, none there, and not find someone to share your life with,” Tom shot back.
Hale was done.
To communicate this, he said, “You’re heard. I’ll think about it.”
“Hale—”
“We’re done talking about it,” he stated firmly. Then, when Tom didn’t appear ready to let it go, he threatened, “We can either be done, and I can stay, or we can be done by me going home.”
“This is all from love,” Tom said quietly.
“I know. I’d be a lot more pissed if it wasn’t. And I’d have walked out of this house ten minutes ago. I get here and Chloe gets up in my shit about who I’m dating, then you get up in my shit that I don’t have a life. I’m not ten, Tom. I’m a man. I make the decisions about my life and how I spend my time. I appreciate your love and concern, I’ve listened to what you had to say, and now I’m asking you to back the fuck off.”
Tom gave in by inclining his head.
“Okay,” Mika said, and Hale started, then twisted to see her leaning in the doorway to the living room. “I know I can count on you men to leave this here and bring nothing but family vibes up to my dining room. Grub’s up.”
And with that, she disappeared.
All of the men got up, and Jamie came to Hale, clasped his biceps and said, “You’re a good man, Hale. I’m glad you took the time to listen.”
He then walked up the stairs.
Tom got closer. “We good?”
“Sure,” Hale pushed out.
“I love you like I made you. And I can’t know. I’ve learned some surprising things about your father since we lost him. But my guess is, he saw the light at the end. It’s tragic he didn’t allow himself to share that with all those who loved him. And maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s what I said, and he did mean to make you into his image by giving you all he had. But I don’t think I am wrong. I think he’d be distraught that you’ve thrown all that is you at this and didn’t learn what he finally did. I think he’d be even more upset to know you don’t intend to share your life with someone. I think he’d be more than upset about that. I think it would fuck him up, Hale.”
With that, Tom caught him on both sides of the neck, gave him a squeeze and a shake, let him go and left Hale alone in the room.
But he did it after he’d lowered another boom.
Leaving Hale wrecked.
He didn’t know her very well.
So he vacillated about whether or not to call her and lay his shit on her, or just call her because he’d promised he would to say goodnight.