Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(35)

“I loved the boobie cookies,” Dex assured him.

Owen’s eyes narrowed on the man in my doorway. “She was sad when she got back from your house.”

“All right,” I said, wrapping an arm around my son’s shoulders. “Owen, what’s the rule about opening the door to strangers?”

“It wasn’t a stranger. It was Mr. Dex. He’s kinda scowly, but I don’t think he’s a bad guy.”

Truer words had never been spoken.

Dex’s lips twitched. “Sorry about the scowly. But your mom’s right. You shouldn’t answer the door until she gives you permission.” His gaze flicked up to me. “If you had a camera, you could see who was at your door before answering it.”

Owen practically started dancing at my side. “Mom, we should totally get a camera. That would be bussin’. I could make it talk in a robot voice!”

“Bussin’?” Dex asked.

A soft chuckle left my lips. “Basically means it would be cool.”

He shook his head. “I’m old.”

“You’re telling me,” I mumbled.

Owen looked between the two of us. “You’re both kind of old. Did you even have TV when you were growing up?”

Dex staggered back a step, clutching his chest in mock injury. “Direct hit.”

The action made Owen giggle, but I couldn’t help but wonder why Dex was even here.

As if sensing my question, his hazel gaze lifted from Owen to my face. “I want to help.”

Owen’s gaze ping-ponged between us. “Help with what?”

“One of my Yeti projects,” I hurried to say, guilt swarming at all the Nova-related lies piling up.

Dex nodded slowly and dropped his hand for the dog to sniff. “Yup.”

A bubble of excited hope escaped its prison. “Why don’t you come in? The caffeine is in the kitchen.”

Dex chuckled again, the sound reaching out like the caress of featherlight fingertips. “Give me all the caffeine.”

As I moved to the fully brewed pot of coffee, Owen peppered Dex with questions. How old was he when he got glasses? Did he have any brothers or sisters? I nearly balked at the fact that he had four brothers. What was his job?

“Well, I guess I don’t have one anymore. But I used to work for the FBI in their cyber division, helping on the computer side of things,” Dex said as he settled at one of the stools in the kitchen.

“You. Worked. For. THE FREAKING FBI? Did you hack stuff for them?” Owen shrieked.

I winced as I set a mug in front of Dex. “Apologies for the lack of volume control. We’re working on it.”

Dex grinned. “No worries.”

“Wait,” Owen said, disappointment hitting him. “You don’t work there anymore?”

Dex shook his head and then took a sip of coffee, ignoring the cream and sugar I’d placed on the table.

“Why would you stop doing the coolest job ever?” Owen demanded.

“Owen,” I warned.

“What? I wanna know.”

Dex held up a hand. “It’s okay. I made them a promise. I told them I’d work for them for ten years. My ten years were up, and I was ready to do something else.”

“Something not as cool as the FBI, though,” Owen mumbled.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Owen, why don’t you go get dressed?”

“Aw, man. I always miss the good stuff.”

Dex leaned forward conspiratorially. “I’ll catch you up on the good stuff later.”

“Promise?” Owen asked excitedly.

“I promise.” Dex lifted a hand, holding out his pinky finger to my son.

Owen hooked it instantly, and they shook. The image was so simple, but it knocked me sideways. Memories of my and Nova’s shake flashed in my mind—a million little pinky promises.

“I’ll be back,” Owen yelled, running for his bedroom, Yeti fast on his heels.

The moment he was gone, a wave of nerves hit me. For countless reasons. But most of all because there was the possibility of hope. New roads to go down. New leads to follow.

Dex lifted the coffee mug to his lips and drank. His mouth tightened at the corners, lines of strain digging into his stubble.

“Not your kind of coffee?” I asked, trying to fill the now-deafening silence.

One corner of his mouth pulled up in a sheepish smile. It made him look years younger for just a second. “I don’t like coffee. But I love caffeine.”

A chuckle bubbled out of me. “What do you normally drink?”

“Energy drinks, mostly. Lightning Energy is my favorite.”

My jaw went a little slack. “Isn’t that the drink that sent a bunch of people to the hospital with heart palpitations?”

Dex took another pull on his coffee. “Amateurs.”

“Maybe you should try green tea.”

Dex’s whole face screwed up. “I’d rather just go chew some grass outside.”

My lips twitched, but the action quickly slid away. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

Dex’s hazel eyes caught and held mine. “You won’t.”

“You sound sure.” I tugged my lower lip between my teeth and worried it. The last thing I needed on my conscience was getting Dex in trouble with the FBI. He might’ve been a grumpy, occasionally stalkerish neighbor, but there was kindness beneath it. And his showing up here and offering to help proved it.