Page 74 of One Last Stand

Yeah, Moose too. Because sure, he worked any—and all—hours, but frankly, he’d prefer Tillie home at night, safe and?—

Andwow,that sounded a little more parochial than he meant. It was just that . . . well, Benton had stuck in his head with“Someday you’ll know what it’s like to lose someone you love and stand by helpless to stop it.”

So he felt a little less than thrilled about Tillie putting her blue waitressing outfit back on and suiting up to serve midnight chicken.

And maybe he’d said that—whoops—as Mandy headed back to the kitchen, in the form of . . . “Do you have to take the night shift? Wouldn’t it be better for Hazel if you were home?”

Tillie’s brows rose and she cocked her head at him. “As opposed to the schedule I’ve had for the past two years, with Hazel being tucked in by a grandmother who loves her?”

Right.

“The other alternative is that I don’t get to drop Hazel off at school, or pick her up, and know that she’s safe at home with Roz.”

“I could drop her off.”

He didn’t know why he’d said that, really. Maybe he’d felt like the conversation he wanted to have—one that talked about their future, as in a permanent future—was slipping out of his fingers.

Admittedly, he’d reached out to grab it poorly. “Or you could come and live with me.”

She just blinked at him. Opened her mouth. Closed it and?—

“I didn’t mean it like—” He put his fork down. “I meant as?—”

“Slow your roll there, cowboy.” She looked up as Mandy came over with coffee and set the cups down. Tillie smiled at her.

Then as Mandy walked away, she looked back at him, her smile vanishing. “I’m not going to live with you, Moose.”

Oh. Just like that.

But, “Like I said, I didn’t mean?—”

“I know what you meant. But it’s . . . we just moved back into our house. Hazel is thrilled to have her room back, and . . .” She shook her head. “Just give it some time.”

He sighed.Time.

He hated time. Because as patient as he was with everything else, he just wanted it all . . . now. Tillie his wife. And Hazel his daughter. And . . .

Tille touched his hand. “Listen. It’s been crazy, right? And . . . I do love you, Moose. But I need to figure out where we’re going, me and Hazel . . .”

And he’d probably given her a crazy look, because she let go of his hand, drew back.

“Weirdly, I thought we both knew where you were going.”

Wow,he’d assumed way, way too much.

Mandy came back to refill coffee that hadn’t been touched.

“Can I get a box?” he said, his stomach now revolting at anything sweet.

Tillie sighed. “Moose, that’s not what I meant.”

“What did you mean?” His voice emerged gruffer than he wanted, but suddenly everything rushed over him—the trial, and the trauma with Tillie’s ex, and even the worry for London and Shep—and his bones just felt heavy.

Frankly, he just wanted to start this entire year over.

“Just that—” Tillie started, hurt in her expression.

Great.