"Your little guy is a deep sleeper, has he always slept this late?" Mom asked.

"Yeah, he's like his mom." I said.

I wasn't in the mood for talking at the moment.

"Why don't you run to town and get me a few things from the store for dinner tonight? Chloe is coming over, and I'd like to do something nice." She said.

"Sure, I'll get dressed." I said.

I set my coffee down and went upstairs to my room. Nothing has changed in this room. There are photos of Joey everywhere, which got Jake asking too many questions. He was still sleeping when I left in dads truck, and it's amazing how this town looks exactly the same.

I parked the truck and took moms list into the store.

"Hudson?"

I turned and saw Amber. "Amber, you look amazing." I smiled.

"Thanks, you haven't aged a bit." She said.

"You either, for an old lady with a teenage kid." I teased.

She laughed. "Yeah, he turned seventeen this year."

Joel and Amber had their son Riley about a month after graduation, so I figured the kid was almost grown.

"I heard about your divorce, from Joel. I'm so sorry, but you still have the little guy." She said.

"Yeah, Jake is eight and a pretty good kid. We came to visit the parents for a few weeks, then we'll head back to D.C." I said.

"Wow, a big FBI agent. Do you like it?" She asked.

"Yeah, it pays the bills, but it's time-consuming." I admitted.

"Are you busy tonight? We talked about taking you out to dinner while you're in town. Joel is over the moon with excitement." She asked.

"I'm busy tonight, Chloe is coming over for dinner at my parents, but I'm free tomorrow night." I said.

"Great! Meet us at Franks Lounge at eight o'clock tomorrow, it's a plan." She smiled.

"I look forward to it. Thanks, Amber."

"See you tomorrow, Hudson."

I went on with looking for the items on moms massive grocery list. I finally finished and was on my way to my car, when these teenage kids about ran into my cart.

"Please, do excuse us." One said.

English accents here in this part of Texas?

"Hey, where are you kids from?"

"London sir, although raised partially in France. Again, we do apologize." The boy gave me a strange look.

Wow, strange. It's like I've seen those kids before, especially the boy. They walked away giggling, and I loaded my groceries.

When I got back home, Dad helped with the groceries. Jake was up and full of energy. "Dad! Grandpa is taking me to a rodeo this weekend!"

I looked at Dad. "You are? Where?"

"Just a small one a few towns over. If it's okay with you of course." He said.

"Sure, I don't see why not." Maybe my kid will make more memories than I did with him as a kid.

We were putting groceries away, when it happened.

"I'm home, bitches!"

Shit...

"Seriously Chloe? You talk like that in front of your own kids?" I asked.

Her boys looked at me like I have two heads. Alex is 12, and Michael is 9, so Jake will be occupied I'm sure.

I looked at her husband.

"You get used to it after a while. It's good to see you, Hudson. I'm sorry to hear about the divorce." My brother in law said.

"Thanks, Matt, it's good to see you too." I shook his hand.

"Come here, big brother!" She pulled me into a hug. "It's her loss, she was never good enough for you. Want me to kick her ass?" She whispered.

"No, like you said, it's her loss." I said.

"Well, I come bearing more news. You might want to have a seat." She said.

"Chloe stop, we were going to tell him when the time was right." Mom said, and Dad ducked out of the room.

"Tell me what?"

Mom sighed. "Fine, Chloe you started it, now finish it."

"Old man Lattire was found dead at his house from an apparent stroke, rumors are, that Joey is home with her kids." She said.

I just felt like someone just kicked me in the gut. She gave that asshole kids?