The next evening, Freddie escorted Reagan Ann from the bathroom to her tiny office bedroom and onto the futon Aaron had set up for her. She climbed across it on her hands and knees, her nightgown tangling around her ankles. Finally, she plopped down in the middle of the bed and pulled her covers close.

Princess, who’d been curled up sleeping at the foot of the bed, hopped down in a hurry when Reagan Ann pulled the blankets out from under her. She circled the bed, waited until Reagan Ann was settled, then hopped back up and stomped across the thin mattress to curl up against Reagan Ann’s chest.

“Daddy?” Reagan Ann asked. She peeked out from beneath the blanket, only her eyes and the top of her head visible.

“Yes?”

“When are we going to leave Uncle Aaron’s house?”

Freddie smiled sadly. “I don’t know, sweetheart. Soon. I’m trying very hard to make sure we’ve got a new place to call home.”

“I think we should get a house close to Uncle Aaron,” she said. “Princess likes him. Sometimes she sleeps on his bed and I go in and I find her there and she looks happy. I’m sure she’d like to visit him.”

“He can come visit us at our new house.”

“But he never found time before.” Reagan Ann rolled over, partially burying her face in the pillows. “I don’t want him to be away from us forever again... but I want to go home, too.”

“We’ll figure something out.” Freddie stroked her hair, and she closed her eyes. “It’s going to be okay. I know sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but I promise, we’re going to find a new home soon, and Princess will have her cat tree, and Uncle Aaron will come to visit whenever you like.”

Her eyes stayed closed, and Freddie settled in Aaron’s office chair and listened to the sound of her breathing. She breathed slowly and steadily, asleep. How wonderful it’d be to be able to fall asleep so easily. He’d been able to pass out the night before thanks to Luke, but he couldn’t count on Luke to be his band-aid forever. Freddie needed to take action. No one could fix his problems but himself.

He got up when he was sure Reagan Ann wasn’t going to wake. He flicked off the light, pulled the door to, until it was only open a crack so Princess could come and go, then went to find Aaron in the living room.

Aaron was wearing plaid pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt. He had one arm draped over the back of the couch. He looked up when Freddie entered and lifted an eyebrow. “What’s going on? You look like you have something you want to say.”

“That’s because I do.” Freddie sat beside Aaron on the couch. He pulled nervously at the sleeve of his shirt just for something to do with his hands. “Are you busy, or can you talk?”

“I’m not busy.” Aaron folded his legs beneath him and gave Freddie his full attention. “Let’s talk. What’s on your mind?”

“After everything that’s happened, I’m worried my head isn’t on straight.” Freddie kept his eyes locked on his knees. He wasn’t brave enough to meet Aaron’s gaze. “Losing the house and all our belongings has hit me hard. The setback with my business is compounding the matter. And now, I’m afraid that I might not be making sound judgments in other facets of my life. I’m nervous that I might be moving too fast with Luke.”

Aaron snorted. “You think you’re moving too fast?”

“Well... yes.” Freddie dared to look up. “We don’t really know each other, but I already feel... I feel attached.”

Aaron gave him a hard look, then shook his head. “You’re worrying too much. So what? You’ve known each other for a few weeks, right? Been out on a few dates?”

“Yes.”

“And you like him?” Aaron studied his face.

“I do.”

“And I’m going to assume he likes you, too.” Aaron shrugged. “So why not let it happen?”

“Because I’m a father,” Freddie said. “I’m a small business owner. I’m not even in control of my own life right now. How can I hope to be happy with someone else when I can’t even be happy with myself?”

Aaron rested his elbows on his thighs. He leaned toward Freddie as if to look him over more closely. Then, with a sigh, he sank back against the arm of the couch. “You know, I agree with you to some extent. I say some, because I don’t agree with you entirely. While it’s true that you can’t love somebody else until you love yourself, I don’t think it’s wrong to say that sometimes, you really do need someone else to help pull you out of your rut.”

Freddie didn’t reply. There had to be more to what Aaron was saying. He waited for him to follow through.

“There’s a lot going on, and your mind is scattered. That’s natural. It happens. Considering your circumstances, I’m surprised you aren’t worse off.” Aaron offered him a smile. “But sometimes, I think you get too stuck in that head of yours — too wrapped up in worry. I think it’s healthy to let go. Let yourself enjoy the smaller things in life. Even if your life isn’t put together the way you want it to be, you shouldn’t constantly deprive yourself of enjoyment. You deserve to be happy, no matter what’s going on in your life, and no matter how well-off you are.”

Freddie didn’t know how to accept it as true. He was from a small town, sure, but he’d always been driven to succeed. He’d been the one supporting himself and Laura when they’d been together, and he’d been the one who’d taken the initiative to launch his own business after he’d lost his job. He’d raised Reagan Ann as a single father, and he’d made sure he was there for her, even when it felt impossible. To admit defeat now? To think that, for the moment, he was helpless?

It was a hard pill to swallow.

“You deserve to have a little fun,” Aaron said. He pushed his lips to the side in a wry grin. “But if you’re steadfast on denying yourself... if you don’t want to have that fun with Luke, you can give him my number. Natalie didn’t tell me that she had a single gay friend, and she definitely didn’t tell me that he was smoking hot.”

Jealousy pinched Freddie’s shoulder blades together, and he sat up a little straighter. “Forget it.”

“See?” Aaron said with a laugh. He gestured at Freddie dismissively. “You already know that you’re crazy about him. Don’t try to deny yourself. It’ll only make things worse. Take a load off, trust me to help you out when you need it most, and have fun with him. You haven’t had a serious relationship since you and Laura split when Reagan Ann came into the picture. It’s about time you had some fun.”

“And you’re okay with me leaving Reagan Ann with you while I go out and have all the fun you’re encouraging me to have?”

“Of course.” Aaron scoffed. “It’s not exactly like looking after Reagan Ann is a hardship.”

“As long as you’re sure.”

Aaron unwound his legs so he could nudge at Freddie’s thigh. “Stop being all righteous and moral. Your kid’s a blast to spend time with, just like her uncle, so you’re really not imposing. You’re allowed to go have fun. So please, go for it? You’re not moving too fast. As long as it feels right, you should let yourself do it. Life’s going to get real again soon enough, and you know when that happens, you’re going to have a lot of catching up to do.”

Freddie knew it. He was already struggling to keep up as it was. It would only get worse as he went through the process of moving into and furnishing a new house.

“Thank you,” Freddie finally said.

“You’re good. We all need a kick in the pants sometimes.”

“I’ll make sure I kick yours when the time comes.”

Aaron laughed. “I’m going to hold you accountable for that.”

“Go for it.” Freddie grinned. “What’s a brother for?