Page 106 of Always Love You More

Leaning into Sam, I mutter, “You good here for a minute?”

She nods, glancing between Billy and her brother.

Knowing they’re watching out for her, I follow Luke into the garage then wait as he pulls something from a drawer. His voice sounds almost nervous as he holds it out in front of me. “Wanted you to have this.”

I look down, confused when I see denim. Taking it from him, I unfold the fabric and realize it’s a jacket. The denim is worn and covered in patches. I jerk my head up, my eyes questioning.

“It was mine when I was your age,” he explains.

I move my gaze over all the patches, realizing they’re a collection of the stories he’s told me about his life.

I push the jacket back toward him. “You can’t give me this.” I shake my head. “This is the kind of thing you give your son.”

“I know,” he says softly.

“Then why—”

“You know how I see you, Jameson.” He rubs at his neck. “I know things haven’t been easy for you, and I wish—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off, my voice strained. “You don’t need to say whatever you’re gonna say. You’ve done more than enough.”

He nods, the motion rigid, then shoves the jacket back toward me. “Take it.”

My eyes are on the floor when I mutter, “Thank you.” I clear my throat. “For everything, really.”

“I’m always here,” he tells me. “No matter what. You need something, you can always come to me. You understand?”

“Yeah.” I glance up. “I understand.”

“Good,” he grunts. “Now, try it on,” he says with a smile.

I shift, attempting to pull my arm through the sleeve.

He laughs. “Figured this would happen.”

I can barely pull the other sleeve on.

“I haven’t shrunk with time,” he says. “I was still this much shorter than you when I was your age.”

I don’t know how Billy managed to be a couple of inches taller than me because I’ve got about five inches on Luke.

“Plus,” he adds, “even with the Army, I was always scrawnier than you.” He grins. “You might not be able to wear it, but I still want you to have it.”

I awkwardly pull it off and refold it.

“Come on,” he says. “I’ll walk back out with you.”

We step outside, and I immediately seek out Sam. She’s smoking a cigarette, talking with Billy and her brother. The sound of her laugh drifts toward me, pulling me in her direction.

I come up behind her, and she leans back into me, tilting her head up. “Hey,” she breathes.

I brush my lips against the shell of her ear. “You look beautiful,” I whisper. “Happy.”

She flicks the ash off her cigarette. “I am happy.”

I hum against her ear.

“You make me happy,” she murmurs.