“We wanted to talk to you.”
Dan took a breath, let it out. He supposed he was about to get double-teamed on the “we’re worried about you” talk. At some point he was going to have to accept that neither of them would probably ever understand this.
He plopped on his couch and flashed an old-Dan smile. “Is this where you tell me there’s a psychiatrist waiting for me downstairs to talk me out of my cowboy delusions?” He looked at both of them. “A good rancher has to be a little crazy, guys.”
“We don’t think you’re crazy,” Mom said, clutching her purse, the pained look softening into something more like hurt.
That was enough for Dan to realize he was handling this all wrong. Pretending it didn’t matter, acting like it was a joke. No, that’s not what had gotten him this far.
“Look.” He pressed his palms together then stood. “Retiring is not a decision I came to lightly. And the llama-ranch thing, I’m sure it seems a little strange on the surface, but there are reasons, and they’re both good ones in general and good financial ones as well.”
He looked from his mother’s still-concerned face to his father’s surprised one. “This is not a whim, it’s not a joke. It’s not even running away from an unpleasant situation. It’s something I can see doing for a very long time, and I don’t see much point trying to ingratiate myself back into hockey just to prove a point or to help Dad or Scott’s career. The thing is, when you find something that…that fits you like a glove, that feels right and like home, you don’t let that thing go because it seems a little weird or isn’t what you’d planned on.”
Mom slid onto the very end of the couch, suddenly looking exhausted. “I think he just effectively undermined all our arguments, Gary,” she murmured.
Gingerly, Dad took a seat on the opposite side. “I believe you’re right.”
Dan stood before them, shocked that was all it took. Just a little honesty. Of course, that hadn’t worked with Mel…but he wasn’t thinking about her right now.
Of course, his own words haunted him. When you find something that feels right…you don’t just let that thing go…
Except he hadn’t let it go. She’d walked away. Period. No wishy-washy crap allowed.
“Let me take you guys out to dinner,” Dan said eventually. He’d much rather have a dinner with his parents than sit in this apartment, trying to figure out what parts of it would actually belong in his new life. “You can give me some press conference pointers.”
Mom and Dad looked at each other, both grimacing a little bit, but they seemed to come to some silent agreement.
“All right,” Mom said, getting back to her feet, purse still clutched to her stomach.
They had never been a demonstrative family. Not in all the time he could remember, so pulling Mom into a hug was awkward, but he did it. Because Mom certainly looked like she needed it.
She was stiff for a second before her arms came around him. “My, you have changed,” she said quietly.
“It’s for the better, I promise.”
“Well, you were quite fine before, but if you’re happy, then it is better.” She kissed his cheek and released him, and it didn’t matter that he didn’t fit in this place anymore. He had that moment, and like the one with Grandpa on the phone, it would mean something for a very long time.
Chapter 26
Mel clutched her knees, mainly in an attempt to keep her palms from sweating. And her heart from leaping out of her chest, and her brain from zooming off into the horizon of so many bad outcomes.
“You look like you’re going to throw up,” Caleb offered, turning onto Dan’s property.
Oh, shit, maybe she was. “You’re not helping.”
“If he doesn’t immediately fall at your feet, he’s the asshole I always knew he was.”
“I messed this up. I really did. He was…” Sweet and perfect, and she’d been mean and awful. Why was she doing this?
Love. Right. She didn’t want to live without the cocky bastard. She wanted him in her life. She wanted to help him with his problems and she wanted to wake up each morning, in his bed, in his life—no. Their life. She wanted to face every trouble together, holding hands and knowing they would find a way to make it to the other side.
Caleb shrugged. “So what?” He pulled his truck next to hers. She’d half expected it to be gone. That Dan would have gotten rid of it since she’d been too busy to come get it.
And by busy, she meant chickenshit.
Dan’s Harley was nowhere to be seen. But Buck Haslow’s truck was in the drive on the other side of hers, and something about that made Mel’s stomach pitch. “He’s not here.”
“You gonna wait or come back later?”
Mel swallowed. Buck would only be here if… “I don’t know.”
Caleb gave her shoulder a little push. “Go. Wait. In fact, I don’t want to see your face at Shaw until you’ve got this sorted. Your heartbreak is getting on my nerves.”