When Braden nodded, the blood pushed through Wes’s body more swiftly, and somehow he relaxed slightly. Braden got what he couldn’t say.

“Let’s go, Squirt,” Braden said to Jessie, and they all climbed out of the truck. She immediately started to play with Jock. Wes wasn’t surprised when Braden walked over to his side of the truck. “We’re good, Wesley. No biggie. Just try and have fun, yeah?”

Before Wes had a chance to reply, a woman’s voice yelled, “Braden Roth, you get your butt up here right now and give your mama a hug!”

With a wink and a smile, Braden looked at Wes and said, “It’s show time.”

Braden nodded toward the house. The gleam in his eyes told Wes he was up to something. Jessie was with Jock about halfway between the house and where they stood. “Race us to the house, Jess!” he called, and she immediately started running. Braden did, too, though he wasn’t sure he could call what either of them were doing actual running because of the snow and their clothes. Still, one foot in front of the other, Wes found himself chasing after them. They both slowed down, letting Jessie win, but the second she hit the steps, they both went faster, obviously neither wanting the other to win.

“Yay!” Jessie shouted when they both slid to a stop in front of the porch at the same time.

“Tie,” Braden said.

“Yeah, but you started before me,” Wes argued, watching the white plumps of heat in the air when he spoke.

“Oh, God. Don’t tell me you’re as competitive as he is.” The woman took a step toward them.

“Who are you?” Jessie asked.

“Jess, don’t—” Wes began, but Braden’s mom cut him off. “It’s okay.”

She kneeled down, reminding him of Braden. “I’m Emmy, Braden’s mom. Let me guess...you’re Jessie? Braden said you were only four, but you’re such a big girl. Are you sure you aren’t six?”

“Hi,” Jess whispered, and then wrapped her arms around Wes’s leg and buried her face into it.

“You don’t need to be shy with my mom, Squirt. She’s pretty much just a big kid herself,” Braden laughed.

“Like you?” both Emmy and Wes said at the same time.

“Oh, I like you.” Emmy pushed to her feet. “And you must be Wes. Braden talks about you all the time.” She winked at Wes. Oh yeah. He and his mom were a lot alike.

“Don’t tell him shit like that, Ma. He has a big head. We don’t want to make it bigger.”

“You said a bad word!” Jessie told him, and Braden grabbed her.

“None of that.” He swooped her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Wes couldn’t stop himself from watching him. Watching Jessie and Braden laugh. And damn, if he didn’t like what he saw. When he felt a soft hand on his arm, he turned to look at Emmy, who watched them, too. “It’s good to meet you, Wes,” she said, still watching Braden. “We’re happy to have you here.”

He nodded. “I’m happy to be here, too.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Wes was feeling overwhelmed. It only took one look for Braden to realize that. Not that he could blame him. He knew his family could be a lot. There were not only a lot of them, but they were also all just like him. It was enough to stress anyone out, but that’s the last thing he wanted from Wes out of this trip. For once, he wanted him to just be able to let go. To relax and enjoy himself completely.

Braden watched as he sat on the couch with his dad and sister Yvonne, who were both obviously on different sides of whatever issue they were talking about, leaving Wes in the middle. His sister’s hands were flying because she couldn’t talk without using them, and his dad was shaking his head, giving that Roth-you-don’t-know-what-the-hell-you’re-talking-about look. Wes’s eyes kept darting back and forth between the two of them.

Each time Wes opened his mouth to speak, either Braden’s dad or sister would start yapping again and cut him off.

“Go save that boy, Braden.” His mom sat on the arm of his chair.

“It’s cute to watch, though. He’s totally out of his element here, but I think he’s having a good time, too.”

“His family isn’t close?” she asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “They are, but there’s never been a lot of them. His dad left when he was young, and then he lost his mom a few years later. His sister raised them, and now she’s gone, too.” The words hollowed him out a little. Yes, he’d always known they were true, but his gut ached for Wes. He wanted him to have everything.