Saylor

He nods.

“Why do you keep asking me not to leave you? Do you really think I’d go anywhere?”

“It’s just….” He closes his eyes and turns away from me.

“What is it?” I prod.

His little shoulders rise and fall in a noncommittal shrug. “My mom left me.”

Well, shit.

“That’s not true,” I argue.

“Yes, it is.” He takes a deep breath and looks up at me. “She didn’t like me.”

A tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it. “Grady––”

“It’s okay, though,” he interrupts, squeezing my hand as though I’m the one that needs to be comforted. “I didn’t like her much, anyway.”

I muffle my pathetic laugh with a cough.

Out of the mouths of babes.

“Is that right?” I ask before wiping away the evidence of my sadness from my face.

He sighs. “Yeah. She wasn’t nice.”

My heart cracks all over again before I lean forward and push some of his hair away from his forehead. Then, I cup his cheek, wishing I could take away the pain of rejection he feels no matter how hard Owen has tried to make up for it.

“I’m so sorry, Grady.”

“You’re nice, though,” he tells me.

“Aw.” My mouth curves up as a blush spreads into my cheeks. “Thank you. You’re a sweetheart. Did you know that?”

He beams up at me.

“And I’m glad you think I’m nice,” I add.

“My dad thinks you’re nice too.”

Is this kid trying to play matchmaker again or something?

Maybe he knows we’re on shaky ground right now. That I’m insecure as hell when it comes to his dad, and Grady’s just trying to throw me a bone. But that isn’t exactly fair, either. How the hell is he supposed to know what his dad thinks and feels? I know Owen loves me. But does he love me enough to stay if I asked him to?

“I think your dad is nice too,” I return carefully.

“My mom didn’t like my dad.”

“She didn’t?”

“Nope. She didn’t like anyone,” he says. “But you like me, don’t you?”

I squeeze his little fingers tighter. “Grady, I don’t just like you. I love you, kiddo. You’re the sweetest, most kind, and thoughtful little boy that I’ve ever met.” I lean a bit closer and drop my voice low. “Just don’t tell any of your classmates that.”

He grins. “I’m gonna tell Turner.”

“Don’t you dare!”