He chuckles. “It’s amazing. I love being a dad and husband. It’s two of my greatest accomplishments. The gym is growing, and we even have people driving from the next town over to join. Swear everyone in town has a membership at this point, which is a dream come true. Proof that it’s possible to start over and find happiness. It’s gonna happen for you too, Archer.”
I give him a pointed look.
“I’m serious. You’ve got a job. A place to live. If I can start over, you can too. I wholeheartedly believe that.”
“Glad you still haven’t lost your faith in me.”
“You’re damn right.”
“About the only one who hasn’t,” I mumble.
“That’s not true.”
Tyler chats about the weather, and I’m happy for the subject change.
“Ya hungry?” he asks.
“Nah, I already ate. Grabbed a burger before my flight. Can’t remember eating something so good after choking down slop for the past five years.”
“That’s too damn bad. Belinda—she owns the deli and is the one dating Gemma’s dad—made her famous shepherd's pie today.”
“Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning her before. Does she make it often?”
“All the time when the weather starts changing. It’s Southern comfort food at its finest.”
“If you say so.” I laugh because his Southern accent is starting to come out more now that he’s been home. “But I could make room,” I tell him, patting my full stomach.
Tyler catches me up with more details of the gym and how great it is being married to the woman he’s been in love with for eternity—Gemma. Their baby girl, Scarlett, was born two months ago, and Tyler’s already excited to have more kids. I smile, noticing how truly happy he is. Seeing him like this gives me an inkling of hope that maybe one day I’ll have the same.
“I was thinking tomorrow mornin’ I could pick you up for a tour of the gym. Is six too early?”
My eyes go wide. “That’s prison time.”
He chuckles. “Or military hours.”
Tyler served in the Army for a term after he graduated high school. I think it’s why he’s so disciplined. Or that could be because he basically raised his sister when he was a kid himself. Something I can relate to as well.
“I’m just kiddin’. Six is perfectly fine. Not like I have anything going on. I think my schedule is pretty clear from now until eternity.”
“Great. That’s what a boss likes to hear. Oh, did I mention that you’ll be staying at my sister’s place?”
My eyes go wide because as long as I’ve known Tyler, he’s been overly protective of her. It’s why I’ve always given him shit about it when we’d write back and forth. “At Everleigh’s?”
“Yes. And don’t get any ideas. She’s still off-limits. It’s for your sake, not hers.”
It makes me snort. “Should I be scared or worried that I’ll be living with your sister?”
“When it comes to Everleigh, both. She can be a terror. I really did search for other options, but since it’s such a small town, rentals are few and far between. When something became available, they were taken by the time I called. It’s like Hunger Games for property in Lawton Ridge. Maybe rentals should be my next business venture?”
“It guess it could be profitable, not sure. And I don’t care where I live. At this point, I’d sleep on the street if I had to.”
Tyler shakes his head. “I’d never let that happen. I’d give you my couch first. Might struggle to sleep through a baby crying, but earplugs are a godsend,” he muses as if he’s tried them a time or two.
“Thanks. Appreciate that, man. Honestly, anything’s better than a jail cell.”
“You’re right about that. I remember the first night I was home and how it felt to sleep in my bed. It took a while for me to finally relax, but eventually, I slept like I hadn’t since before I was behind bars.” He lifts his brow at me. “I was serious about Everleigh, though. No touching. No flirting. And, under no circumstances whatsoever, absolutely no hooking up. It’ll only complicate your living situation, trust me.”
“You sound like you’re chaperoning a high school prom with that stern dad voice.”
He chuckles. “It’s important that you get your life back together. Everleigh’s a distraction and doesn’t respect personal boundaries. Believe me when I say she can be a bit much.”
“A bit?”
“A lot,” he corrects. “I lived with her when I was getting back on my feet, and she’s very, very particular about things. Overly flirty with anyone who has a penis… Oh wait, never mind, that’s not true. She’s flirty with everyone regardless if it’s appropriate or not. I think she has the entire male population wrapped around her finger. It’s one of her many flaws.”
Now, I’m laughing. “She sounds friendly. Some would call that a personality trait.”
“It’s not. Everyone basically falls in love with her because of it. It’s made my life as her older brother hard as hell.”
“So she finds trouble, or does trouble find her?”
“She’s her own worst enemy. And needs to stay single for a little while herself. It’s actually best for you both.”
I hold up my hands. “Okay. Understood, boss!”
After he takes the exit off the highway, we turn onto a narrow two-lane road with a skinny shoulder. Trees surround us for twenty more minutes and eventually opens up to reveal a small town that looks like it dropped straight out of a movie. Buildings with small shops line the street. There’s a deli, supermarket, and a bank. As we pass some people on the sidewalk, they wave at Tyler.
“So, I take it this is an ‘everybody knows everybody’ type of place?” I glance over at him.
“Oh yeah. Don’t worry. They’re gonna try to get to know you too. As soon as it gets around that there’s a new guy in town, they’re gonna be on you like white on rice. The old women at the grocery store are going to hound you with questions like you’re on the stand.”
“So, watch what I say around them.” It’s not a question but more of a statement.
“Yeah, they tend to have a way of gettin’ information outta you like ya wouldn’t believe, but only tell them what you’re comfortable with. My close friends have been told about you and are aware of your past, but don’t worry, none of them will judge you. Noah did time too and started fresh once he returned. Everleigh has called it the ex-con club.” He chuckles.
“Yeah, I remember Noah and hearing about him being locked up too. And thanks for the heads-up. Though I’m sure if people really wanted to find out, all they’d have to do is a Google search.” I shrug but remain hopeful. It’d be nice to keep my past where it belongs and not be forced to talk about it.
Once we get to Lawton Ridge, Tyler slows in front of a small shop that has an ungodly amount of harvest decorations out front. There are bales of hay and several pumpkins in all different sizes. A giant sign out front encourages people to stop and take photos with the hashtag EVER AFTER.