“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’ve only been here for about an hour, and Ted seems really friendly.” I cleared my throat, hoping inspiration would hit for how to continue to hold a conversation. I was struggling, majorly. Was I so out of practice that I could no longer hold a decent conversation with a guy, who I admittedly found attractive, but whose presence confused me? I spoke to people all the time. Yeah, I liked to hide away in the kitchen whenever possible at work, but I could hold my own and carry conversations all day with customers. So why was I failing so spectacularly? I had no doubt at any moment he’d find a reason to leave, or hell, maybe he’d just tell me to fuck off.
I threw Scott an awkward smile, hoping it came off more relaxed and natural than it really was. The creases around his eyes dropped a little. I was losing him. “You been busy today?”
He gave a noncommittal shrug. “Not especially.”
“What, no wo—” Slamming my mouth shut, but not quick enough, I changed route. “Yeah, days like that are good. I’m trying to take on a new hire so I can take a few more hours off, and hopefully the weekends off too.” While I hadn’t lost Scott completely, he was definitely more closed off. There was a tightness in his shoulders that hadn’t been there a few moments before. “It makes juggling work and parenthood tricky at times, you know?” Holy crap, how the hell would this guy know anything about kids and balancing work?
To my surprise, he leaned an elbow on the bar and turned a little toward me. While he was still guarded, something else flashed in his eyes. Curiosity? Understanding? Interest? I had no idea, but I hoped to find out.
“Yeah, my sister works full-time and has two young children. My nephews are only five and three.”
I tilted my head in surprise at what he was sharing. And a sister? From the secondhand info I had of Scott, I’d deduced several things, none of them especially pleasant, if I chose to ignore the hot-as-hell kiss we shared and the kind things Carter said. As well as arrogant and a dick, I’d also assumed he would be a spoiled only child. My powers of deduction were worth shit, it seemed. That actually boded well for Scott, and I relaxed a bit more, liking that he’d shared something personal about himself.
“Is she a single mom too?”
“Too?” he asked, his brows dipping.
My lip quirked. Confusion looked good on him. A flash of the extreme confusion that had plastered his face at Tanner’s party invaded my thoughts. That confusion wasn’t quite as hot, admittedly. “Well, yeah, but exchange that with single dad.”
His eyes sprung open even wider. “You’re a single dad?”
I nodded, my gaze roaming his face. I’d figured he’d known, but then remembered, unsurprisingly, that there was no reason for Carter and Scott to talk about me. Carter was the only loose connection I had with the guy. Come to think about it, he had been surprised as shit to discover I was a dad in the first place. “Yeah.”
“Wow.” My chest puffed out when I saw something akin to admiration in his gaze. “That’s something.”
I shrugged. I wasn’t looking for an ego boost for simply taking care of my daughter. She was my world. I didn’t need any approval or praise from anyone. “It just is. I’m her dad. It’s my role, you know?”
“So…” He chewed on his bottom lip a moment. “Libby’s mom?” The question was tentative.
I understood why he would be confused. Between the two of us making out and the rarity of single custodial dads in the world, let alone bisexual ones, it could paint a confusing picture. Carter had called me a rare magical unicorn once. Tanner had sensibly taken that moment to usher him out of my home before I’d jumped all over that bullshit. While I didn’t generally tell anyone my business—though I rarely had to tell it due to the gossip in town, especially after Libby’s mom left—I was happy to share some of myself with Scott.
While his dick status hadn’t completely been swept clear after how he’d treated Carter, Carter had insisted on a second chance and a clean slate. Plus the dude looked like he was in serious need of something: a friend, maybe, normalcy—hell, talking about someone else’s shit rather than his own? All of the above were genuine possibilities.
“She gave up legal custody when Libby was born.”
His mouth gaped. It took him a moment to ask, “So you and her…?”
And there it was. The question that regularly left me rolling my eyes. Scott’s tone, though, teamed with his hesitant eyes, stopped me from sighing or sneering, and instead I overshared the fuck out of my history.
“We just had a one-night thing. Nothing more. That night resulted in Libby. I moved here as this was where Tanya wound up for one reason or another. From the beginning, she made it clear she didn’t want to be a mom. She agreed to have Libby and signed all parental rights to me the day Libby was born.”
“And you haven’t seen her since?”
One good thing about chatting this way was that Scott appeared relaxed. No longer was he peering around or stumbling or pausing over his words. Instead, he seemed to be intently listening to all I had to say. It gave me a moment to pause and consider him.
He was good-looking, there was no doubt about that. He seemed as if he came from money, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on the reason behind that. It wasn’t his clothes or even the way he spoke. Maybe it was more to do with the way he carried himself, his mannerisms. But who the hell knew? I wasn’t from money. I hadn’t been poverty-stricken as a kid or anything, but with the loss of my parents when I was at college, I’d had to fend for myself and work my ass off. There were many days I worried about keeping on top of payments and wondering if I’d done the right thing venturing into a new business with a baby, but I’d decided the moment I knew I was going to be a dad, I’d do everything in my power to ensure I gave my child everything they needed. That didn’t involve just the material shit, or the important stuff like love, but also things like a work ethic.
On too many occasions over the years, I’d witnessed silver-spooned assholes not appreciating all they had, yet still taking advantage of everything they were given or thought they deserved. And I hoped to God Scott wasn’t one of those pricks. He didn’t seem like it. Maybe he had been once, but with all of the changes in his life, I hoped decency and common sense overruled the rest.
I completely lost track of Scott’s question while I debated who he was and where he came from. Though I supposed the latter didn’t matter. It was the now that was important. The now I was becoming increasingly interested in.
“Nope,” I finally answered. “She has no legal rights to Libby. We didn’t mean anything to each other.” I didn’t intend for my words to sound harsh, as I had zero animosity about my situation. I also knew a lot of people didn’t understand how a mother could leave her child, but Tanya had her reasons, and neither she nor I ever needed to explain them to anyone, other than to Libby one day.
He tilted his head as if studying me. “And you’re okay with that?”
I nodded without hesitation. “Of course. I have my girl. There’s nothing else I need.”
Scott straightened up a little at that, and I considered how my words could be perceived. Hell, I didn’t really know the guy, so sharing with him my plans for the future on top of my place in the world seemed like I’d be pushing it a little too much.
“Right,” he eventually said. “That makes sense.” He nodded and picked up his beer and took a drink.
And we were back to awkward again. Maybe I was best off taking the moment as my out and heading back to Lauren. She was a cool chick, uncomplicated. I enjoyed her company, so had no question we’d have fun tonight, yet my ass decided to make a decision for me and planted itself on a barstool next to Scott.
He looked surprised when I sat next to him, his eyes widening a little.
“So what about you? I know the basics of your story.” He stiffened, his forearm becoming taut as he gripped his glass. “Not from gossip. Well, sort of”—I hastened to add—“from Carter.”
Scott snorted, th
e sound surprising me. “Not sure that’s any better.”
“No?” I asked, my brows lifting as I angled to look at him. “I would have thought he was the best guy to hear anything from, since he’s Team Scott and all.”
This time abrupt laughter spilled from his mouth. He shook his head, a smile on his lips. Fascinated, I watched the movement and his mouth closely, liking the smile I’d somehow put there. I happily took credit.
“Team Scott, huh? Is that what the locals are calling it?” His gaze moved to mine. While the smile still sat on his lips, there was a shift in his eyes that looked a lot like desperation, and damn if that wasn’t a kick in the nuts.
“It’s just what I call it.” He raised his brows, apparently knowing I was full of shit. “Okay,” I admitted, “I started it to rub it in Tanner’s face. Carter caught on to it and ran with it, and we both gang up on Tanner whenever we have the opportunity. I’ll take any ammo I can to wind the bastard up.” I smirked after I told him the absolute truth.
“So what’s the opposing team?”
I clamped my mouth shut, then twisted my lips together in thought. “So, maybe I never thought it through. There’s just you.”
Scott’s lips twitched and his shoulders noticeably relaxed. “Does Tanner still want to kick my ass?”
I shrugged. “Not so much these days. I think Carter’s worn him down, or gone down on him so many times he’s managed to pretty much take control of Tanner’s thoughts and feelings when he wants to, or at least his actions.” I snickered, knowing Tanner would attempt to kick my ass for talking about how dick-whipped he was.
Scott turned in his seat to face me more fully, his expression full of curiosity. He raised his right eyebrow, something I was envious about, as I couldn’t do that to save my life. “Are you always like this?” His question was a little quieter than the rest of his conversation; it was also dipped in something akin to wonder.
“What?” I had no idea what he was talking about and wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to know. My mouth got me into trouble a fair bit, so I could never really tell how people would react.
He lifted his hand and waved it in my general direction. “Like this?”
“Gorgeous?” I hedged. “Fuckable?” I laughed hard at the look on his face and allowed my mind to consider how perfectly my dick would fit into his mouth when he opened it like that.
Scott coughed loudly, laughter breaking free as he did so. “No,” he said with a shake of his head, but I was sure he silently agreed with me. “I meant honest, talking like this.” He paused. “You were telling the truth, right?” Hesitation flashed over his features.
“Always.” I nodded. “Well, pretty much. Sometimes I have to rein myself in or be more selective about what I say, but I find it helps cut through a hell of a lot of bullshit if we speak the truth, right?”
“Right.”
I wasn’t even sure how we’d reached this point, but somehow we’d got here.
“So, who are you here with?” He eyed a few people in his periphery. “Libby, that’s your daughter’s name?”
I nodded, a rush of something I was unable to grasp sweeping over me that he remembered Libby’s name. “Yeah.”
“She’d be with who, Tanner and Carter?”
I nodded again. “I’m here with Lauren and some of her friends. Guys from y—” The moment his face blanched, I stopped talking, immediately understanding his reaction and the discomfort no doubt racing through him. That had to be awkward as hell.
He sat frozen a moment, then took a swig of his beer and placed it down, offering me a smile that was more like a grimace. He stood and pulled his wallet from his back pocket, threw some cash on the bar, and I watched as he looked over at Ted, who angled his head a little, seeming to take in what was happening. Rather than coming over, he offered Scott a head lift, his lips pulling at the corners just barely.
I was sure my expression was similar. I hadn’t even considered how Scott would react being in the same place as the people he used to work with. As far as I was aware, only Lauren knew the truth about what had happened. But communities like this, as great as they were, could also be cesspits of gossip.
My gut ached a little as I observed Scott’s abrupt movements. It was obvious he was trying not to freak, and I could tell that after just sharing two conversations with the guy. Unable to hold back, I stood too, putting some cash beside his. I knocked on the wooden bar and saluted Ted my thanks and goodbye. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Scott’s head whipped around, his startled eyes roaming my face. Not sure what he was looking for, all I could do was offer him honesty. “It’s too early to go home, and I can imagine the last thing you want is a shitty, uncomfortable conversation with that lot.” I flicked my head in their direction. Scott’s gaze didn’t leave mine, however. “Let’s get out of here.” I turned, not waiting to see if he followed. On the way out, I caught Lauren’s attention and signaled I was leaving. She raised her brow and threw me a wink. I knew the moment her eyes landed on Scott. A frown crossed her lips, and her gaze jerked back to mine, a question pasted all over her face. I returned her wink and tugged open the door, holding it open for Scott, and was pleasantly surprised when his hand reached out to hold the door barely a second later.
Now what the hell were we going to do?
Chapter Eight
SCOTT
The cool evening air wrapped around us, and immediately I was able to breathe again. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why I was struggling or why my brain felt as if it would explode at any God-given moment. On top of that, my nerves were close to tatters. And I hated it. While I knew I had to stop comparing then to now, how I was to who I was… doing so was so much easier said than done.
I wasn’t emotionally crippled, despite my upbringing and even though I was sure it had been my father’s mission, but that didn’t mean I was completely comfortable with emotional stuff either. I didn’t want to harp on about what could’ve, should’ve, would’ve been. It wasn’t cathartic. In fact, it felt debilitating.
I inhaled again and looked up to the night sky. While I was all too aware of Davis beside me, most probably wondering if I’d lost my mind, I didn’t quite have it in me to care. Okay, I sort of did. I liked the guy. Maybe. Possibly.
It was time to let go of the hurt of my past and focus on the present. Only then would I be able to focus on the future, and that started with looking at myself in the mirror fully and liking what I saw. Not literally at the moment, since I was outside and I truly hadn’t lost my shit—I didn’t think—but I knew the way forward.
And fuck, that was freeing as hell.
But only I could do this—work my shit out. There’d be no leaning on anyone to do so.
“Ah, you okay there?” Davis’s voice snapped me into focus, and I dragged my eyes from the starry night sky to him. Amusement and I was pretty sure concern flitted across his face.
I nodded. “Yeah, I think I will be.”
“Shit.”
“What?” I tilted my head in question.
“Were you having an epiphany moment or something?”
He was so wide-eyed, genuinely appearing serious, that all I could do was laugh. It was belly deep, loud and gruff, and traveled quickly to my chest and spilled over. “And shit, yeah,” I admitted between my laughter.
He scratched the back of his neck. “Did I totally spoil your moment and piss on your mojo or something?” He looked a little shifty, but his lips quirked in amusement.
“I think I’ll survive.” My laughter calmed and I looked at the man beside me. With his dark hair and stubbled chin, he seemed all too real, too present. I took that as a good thing despite the feeling being alien to me. “So,” I pushed myself to be bold, “where to?”
He’d rescued me. Legitimately allowed me to save face by getting me out of the bar when I couldn’t cope. I hadn’t been ready to face Lauren or anyone else from the clinic. Davis was so far from being a typical knight in s
hining armor… well, I didn’t think so, but he’d read my panic, read the situation, and selflessly helped me. I’d lived a fairly sorry existence to date, too used to the philosophy of nobody doing anything for nothing. Having to keep the real me so close to my chest had made it all but impossible to let down my guard.
Just maybe things were on the up and I could change all of that.
“Well.” His gaze remained on my face a few moments before he glanced around, as if deciding his options. “Come on.” Reaching out, he tugged the sleeve of my shirt lightly. “Come with me. I’ve the perfect place.”
I followed without hesitation, and we walked in companionable silence. Side by side, we headed in the direction of the main street. We were far enough apart not to brush shoulders, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the heat radiating off him. I was all too aware of his proximity.
Once on the main street of town, he came to a stop. I glanced at him and then beyond him to the storefront. He’d brought me to his coffee shop. Warmth tentatively traveled across my chest. While I didn’t know if he came here out of hours regularly, or even brought people here when the place was closed, I didn’t spare another moment considering it. Instead, I focused on the gesture. Not only was he bringing me to his domain, I liked to think he was sharing a little something with me.
I expected I was making a big deal over nothing, but it didn’t make him bringing me here any less of a big deal—for me.
With a smile curving his lips, Davis pulled keys out of his pocket and opened up, motioning me in. I followed immediately.
“Hold on. Let me just throw the light on out back before you trip over your ass.” Davis’s voice was light and easy, the tone calming.
I did as he asked and waited in the dark shop. The only light came from the streetlights dotted down the sidewalk. My eyes had just started to focus when the lights out back, in what I assumed was the kitchen, flickered on. Davis then filled the open doorway and beckoned me over.
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