Exhaling, Connor nodded. To Seth, he added, “I didn’t mean it. I’m really sorry. I don’t know why I said it.”
Because you’re angry and confused and lashing out. Seth gave the kid a little smile. “Apology accepted. I’d really like to be friends. What do you say?” He extended his hand. Connor peered at it suspiciously before shaking it briefly, his small hand damp.
Fortunately, Connor was quiet after that, finishing packing his room and helping to carry the boxes without any more complaints. They piled up the back of Seth’s SUV and drove back to Saratoga Springs, Logan and Connor following in Jenna’s vehicle.
Turning into his hundred-foot driveway, Seth glanced at the retro metal mailbox by the curb, his stomach tightening at the flyers sticking out. He hadn’t checked the mail for two weeks. He should just bite the bullet and face what was likely inside, but…
I’ll look tomorrow.
After parking at the top of the drive, he followed the unshoveled brick path and climbed the two steps to the front door. The outdoor light had switched on automatically, and it illuminated the fluffy snow that was still drifting down. Logan and Connor approached, both gazing around.
Logan whistled softly. “Real beautiful home you have. Lots of land.”
“Thanks.” He pointed left and right. “You can see the lights of the neighbors through the trees. They’re close, but not too close, which is perfect for me.” He ushered them inside, all of them stamping their feet on the mat and taking off their snowy boots in the little foyer.
Seth pointed up the stairs, which extended back on the right-hand side of the house. “Two bedrooms and bathrooms up there.” To the left, he led them through the little sitting room area, which currently only held an armchair. “Uh, you can tell I haven’t finished furnishing the place yet.” He laughed awkwardly and continued on into the kitchen on the left and empty dining space to the right.
Logan examined the kitchen. “Did you demo some walls and open this up when you moved in?”
“Yes.” He winced, looking at the wide island and counters that were still covered in plywood, and the complete lack of cabinets. At least the medium hardwood flooring that ran through the whole main floor was done, although the walls where the blue-tinted subway tile back-splash would go were still bare.
“As you can see, it still needs some work. The pantry’s finished in the corner, so I’ve been storing food and whatnot in there.” He glanced to the bare room on the right. “Still need the dining table and chairs. When we moved up from Georgia we were going to buy most things new.”
Connor, who had poked his nose into the long pantry, asked, “Who’s ‘we’?”
Logan looked like he was about to chastise him, but Seth spoke before he could, keeping his tone light. “Well, ‘we’ was me and Brandon. We met in Atlanta at my first job out of college. Both worked in HR back then. We were together a long time, and when I was transferred here about a year and a half ago, I bought this house and Brandon came with me.” His throat got tight, and he cleared it. “But it didn’t work out. We broke up last October.”
“That sucks,” Connor said, going back to the pantry. He seemed to be eyeing the little collection of Halloween treats Seth had bought at half price on November first and hadn’t finished yet. He’d hidden up in his room on Halloween instead of shelling out, although he wasn’t sure any kids would have come by anyway.
Seth asked, “Are you hungry? Help yourself to whatever you like.”
Logan swore under his breath. “Forgot about dinner.”
“I’ll order a pizza.” Seth pulled out his phone. “What do you guys like?”
“No, I’ll order it. You already went out of your way to help us move our crap.” Logan took out his own phone.
Seth shook his head. “I insist. You can get the next pizza.” Of course he had no plans to let Logan pay for anything. For goodness’ sake, the man was jobless and evicted. He joked, “Trust me, there will be plenty of opportunities. I don’t cook as much as I should.” When it was just him, it didn’t seem worth the bother.
“Pepperoni and extra cheese,” Connor said. “Um, please. Thanks.” He held up a snack pack of Doritos. “Cool if I have these?”
“Absolutely,” Seth said. “Logan, what’s your pizza order?”
He shrugged. “Anything.” He examined the kitchen. “You said you have the cabinets and the counters already?”
“Yep. It’s all in the garage.” Seth tapped in an order for one pepperoni pizza and one sausage and mushroom, both with extra cheese. “Think it’s doable?”
“Definitely.” Logan glanced at the dining space. “You’re definitely going to need a table and chairs if the boss lady’s coming for dinner. It’s all painted, at least.”