Chute Yeah (The Valentine Boys 3)

When I’d started out, I was contacting a lot of veteran owned coffee distributors that formed solely online profits and asked them if they’d like a store where they could sell their goods. Seven different companies had agreed, and now I was the only store in the world that carried them.

I was doing well.

“What about all the sites that need visited?” he asked.

I looked at him pointedly.

“I’m trusting you to go visit them yourself,” I paused. “But also, you’re not allowed to pick up a screw gun, or a hammer, or anything. Do you understand?”

My father’s lips twitched. “You don’t know me.”

“I know that I’ve asked all three foremen at all three construction sites right now to make sure that they watch out for you,” I said. “And they’re under explicit instructions not to allow you anywhere near the construction zones without supervision.”

My father’s head went back on his neck and he laughed.

“Oh, shit.” He wheezed when he was done. “You do know me.”

I did.

“I’ll be back in a week,” I said. “We’re headed to Houston this week, then Louisiana next. But we’ll stop by so I can sign paychecks on Thursday to go out on Friday. Also, I’ll be visiting all three of the sites before we head out, too. And checking up on you and picking up your groceries.”

“What about your animals?” he asked.

“I’m trusting that you can feed them?”

He turned up his nose at me. ‘Of course, I can.”

“Then there’s no other problems, now are there?” I asked teasingly.

“There is one other thing,” Desi stated. “We’re inviting you to dinner each night. It’s not a far drive, and we always have more than enough.”

My dad looked considering for a long moment before he said, “I might very well take you up on that. Candy’s spoiled me. I’ve loved having a home-cooked meal since I’ve been staying with Candy.”

I heard the words that he didn’t say.

Since my mother had passed away.

I felt guilty for a long moment as I thought about all the time that I’d stayed away.

But that didn’t mean that I couldn’t visit with my father.

“I think you should sell your house,” I found myself saying. “You have no reason to live there anymore. I have a small cabin that’s perfect for you and having you close will be good for both me and you.”

My dad’s brows shot up.

“That… is nice of you,” he admitted. “But, I like my own place. I also like that I can do what I want when I want.”

My lips twitched. “You could do that here.”

He shrugged. “I like peeing off my back porch without worrying that I’m going to offend someone with my saggy balls.”

With that I burst out laughing.

“That’s awful,” I told him. “But I still love you.”

He sobered then, eyes going to me.

“This brings a lot of emotions up for me,” he said soberly. “But, just sayin’, I’m okay with you making a life without me. Don’t feel bad for that.”

With that he pressed a kiss to my forehead, held out his hand for Desi to shake, and gestured to the mess on the table. “Let’s get this sorted, baby girl. Then you’re free to go.”

I couldn’t do anything but shake my head.

***

The next couple of days moved fairly fast.

We went from selling coffee and pastries to pissing off the masses of Kilgore, Texas in twenty-four hours. One day we were the most loved pastry/coffee shop in town, and the very next there were a bunch of unhappy customers.

“It’ll be okay,” Desi said after yet another mad post to our shared Facebook page. “They’ll calm down. And it’s not like they can’t still get the cakes or pastries. They just have to call ahead. And that’s okay.”

It was okay.

Honestly, I wasn’t too upset with the reviews.

Overall, a lot of people had rallied around us, saying that they were just as happy now as they were when we were doing our earlier thing.

“I know,” I said. “I’m just sad, I guess. I thought that they wouldn’t crucify us.”

“And they didn’t.” Desi shrugged. “Mostly. The ones that did are just assholes. I mean, it’s not like we were meant to be on this planet just to serve them. I think our place got out of hand rather quickly. And eventually, we might decide that’s what we want to do. But for now, we’re both going different directions with our lives.”

She pressed a hand to her belly, and my eyes zeroed in on the action.

“Do you have something to tell me, business partner of mine?” I teased.

Desi flushed.

“I was waiting to tell you when we were a little more sure, but shit. It’s still so surreal. I mean, who the hell knew that being pregnant was so life-changing?” She paused. “I can’t stop touching my stomach, even though I know there’s not really anything there to support. What the hell?”