The Valentine Box (The Box Books Book 3) by Toni Blake

Author:Toni Blake [Blake, Toni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Published: 2025-01-28T00:00:00+00:00

January 17

Luke

The last place I would have expected to find myself a few weeks ago was sitting around a makeshift fire pit in Sweetwater, Kentucky, tossing back a couple of cold ones with my old buddies, TJ Browerton and Billy Finch. In the back lot of Billy’s garage on the edge of town, no less, surrounded by stacks of old tires and a collection of vehicles in need of repair. What it lacks in ambience, though, it makes up for in other ways. It’s good to be with my old friends.

“This almost reminds me,” I say, “of summer nights on the ranch outside Springdale when I first moved out west.”

“Except this is a far cry from summer,” TJ points out, zipping up his parka.

Yep, without the fire and the alcohol, we’d be freezing. “Guess I meant the vibe. Friends, no pressures, all that.”

Across the crackling flames from me, Billy gives his head an inquisitive tilt beneath a worn ball cap bearing the name of his business. “So what the hell led you to Utah anyway, bruh?”

I can only laugh. It’s the question of the month. “Guess I just fell in love with the great outdoors,” I reply. “Maybe I always was, but it never hit me so hard until I ended up on the ranch. I just…didn’t want to come back inside.”

Looking back on it, it feels like a long time ago. “And I get why my parents were outraged. Probably seemed like I was going nowhere fast. But I was tired of them pushing me toward law school. And in the end, things worked out for the best.”

That’s when I notice TJ, my one-time best friend who I lost touch with around that time, eyeing me peculiarly.

“What?” I ask.

“Okay, get ready for it,” he tells me. “I’m a little drunk, so I’m gonna speak from the heart.”

“Uh oh,” I say.

Billy laughs, but Teej only smiles.

Then he goes quiet and I have to prod him. “What? Out with it.”

“Look…I know you have a good life out there, and you’ve built a successful business. But the truth is, I’ve missed having you around, man.”

No one laughs at that. In fact, the declaration casts a somber pall over the gathering. TJ and I were college roommates for three years and I kinda left him high and dry in that regard. Finally, I say, “Same. But sometimes life leads in unexpected directions.”

“I, for one, admire the hell outta you,” Billy tells me. “Starting a whole new life somewhere far away takes guts.”

I just shrug. “Believe it or not, it seemed like the easiest thing in the world. It felt like escape. And freedom. From my father.”

“Listen,” TJ says then, “I know you and your dad were never close, but…how are you handling this? Gotta be tough losing a parent. Especially with no warning.”

As usual when people give me their condolences, though, I just shake it off. “I’m mainly worried about Mom,” I tell them. “Otherwise, I’m fine.”

At this, my old teammates exchange glances, and TJ slants me a pointed look.

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