Page 64 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

Huck grinned. “Cadee and I are working things out.”

Without saying a word, Dawson started repacking the tools into the portable tool pouch he’d brought, then slung the pouch over his shoulder and slammed the hood of the truck. When he finally did turn to Huck, his face pretty much said it all.

Which pissed Huck off.

“What? You aren’t happy about me and Cadee working things out?”

“It doesn’t matter if I’m happy. It only matters if you are.”

“Well, I am. I’ve always loved Cadee. You know that, Dawg.”

“Yeah, I knew that you loved her. But I don’t get why you still do. Not after she kept your kid a secret for eight years.”

“That was more my fault than Cadee’s. I ran off and ghosted her.”

Dawson stared at him. “She could have figured out how to find you if she’d wanted to badly enough.”

“Mama couldn’t.”

Dawson sent him a look. “My point exactly. Mama didn’t care enough to try to find us. If she had, she would have been able to. And it looks like Cadee didn’t care enough either.”

The arrow struck right in the center of Huck’s heart. The pain he felt made him realize that all the years he’d been gone, he’d harbored the hope that Cadee would come looking for him. That she wouldn’t let him just leave like Mama had. That she’d do everything in her power to find him and alleviate all his insecurities.

Which was stupid. He was the one who chose to leave. The one who ghosted her.

“It’s not the same thing at all, Dawg. Cadee is nothing like Mama. She’s kind and caring and doesn’t put anything before the people she loves.”

Dawson stared at him. “Exactly. Which is why she contested the will. Her family will always come first, Huck. Not a Hennessy Hooligan. Which was why she hid the truth about you being Camden’s father. She was embarrassed about hooking up with a Hennessy.”

Huck didn’t like this conversation. He didn’t like it at all. “That’s not true. She’s not embarrassed by me. She continued to hang out with me even after her daddy told her not to.”

“But she didn’t tell him the truth, did she? Or the townsfolk. Face it, Huck, you were her dirty little secret and you still are. It doesn’t matter that you stayed, shown up to all your son’s games, built him a tree house, and started your own business. She still hasn’t told a soul you’re Camden’s father. That should tell you everything you need to know.”

Dawson had punched Huck a lot in their lives. Usually playfully. But occasionally, their fights had gotten out of hand and Dawson had let loose with a punch that hurt like hell.

But nothing compared to this emotional punch.

Huck clenched his fists. “Shut up. You don’t know shit. Cadee loves me, even knowing all the stupid things I did as a kid.”

Dawson stared him down. “All the stupid things? Like robbing the gas station?”

Talk about a blow. Huck felt like he’d been served up a knockout punch.

“How did you know?”

“I didn’t until just now.” Dawson shoved him. “What the fuck were you thinking, Huck? Jaxon went to jail for your idiocy!”

Huck shoved him back. “You should talk. You were the one who took his truck, got drunk, and then started the fire! No one would’ve been the wiser if the sheriff hadn’t seen you leaving Mickey’s.”

Dawson shoved him again. “Oh, so that would have made stealing okay? The fact that the Hennessys weren’t blamed?”

“I gave back the money!”

“Only because Jaxon was in jail. You wouldn’t have given it back otherwise.”

“You don’t know that.” Huck didn’t even know that. He hoped he would have. But he wasn’t sure. Guilt had him lashing out. “And what about you, pyro? You’re just as much to blame for Jaxon getting thrown in jail as—” He cut off when he noticed the horse and rider standing on the other side of the fence. Beneath the brim of her cowboy hat, he easily read the disbelief and hurt in Cadee’s eyes.

“You robbed Mickey’s Gas Station?”