Single Dad’s Mistake

by Destiny, Sam

  “Someone reported a punk with a spray can. Seems I found him,” I said.

  He eyed me up and down, then grinned. “It’s deodorant,” he explained and lifted his arm. I smiled and shook my head.

  “I’m taking you home, Lanky. Get in the car.”

  He waggled his brows. “Are you gonna cuff me?”

  I groaned and turned away, my stomach churning. I knew he was following me because I heard him grab his backpack. I didn’t want to face his father, but I did have to tell him to keep a closer eye on his son and to make sure he knew not to spray anywhere.

  Just because it was Knox didn’t mean I could change procedure.

  “Haven’t seen you around in a while,” Callum commented as we got in, and I shrugged.

  “Your father told me to not come around as much.” As I finished that sentence, it struck me that I could be sneaky and get information. “I figured it was because he and an ex aren’t done yet and he needed to sort that out first.”

  Callum crossed his arms in front of his chest, clearly pissed. “My father hasn’t dated anyone in years. I think he might be gay. Maybe that’s why he’s never shown any interest in a woman.”

  My heart skipped a few beats as I parked in front of their house, not moving to get out. I was certain he’d been very much into what we’d done Saturday, but did I know for sure that meant he was into girls? Maybe he swung both ways. Or maybe… Well, I didn’t know, but if he wasn’t sure what he was feeling, it would explain why he’d tried to break up with me before we’d ever been an item.

  “Huh,” I whispered. It didn’t change anything because he’d been an ass. I’d sworn to never let a man walk all over me again, so…

  A warm hand on my knee jolted me from my thoughts. “Don’t worry, Sarah. He won’t hit on you,” Callum assured me. I blinked, confused—and a little disappointed.

  “I’m on duty, so it’s Officer Burke to you.” I winked. “Anyway, let’s go. I need to talk to your father.” He reached for the door. “And, Lanky?” He turned to me. “Don’t hang out at that skatepark. There are some…not so nice characters there. Stay away. You’re a good kid.” I playfully punched his shoulder, then got out of the car, walking him to the door.

  Callum fished for his keys, but I placed my hand on his. “I need to ring the doorbell anyway.”

  He nodded, holding my gaze. I rang the doorbell. A few minutes later, with still no answer, I rang again before the hallway light was turned on and the door opened.

  All air left my body. Knox stood there, rumpled with sleep and wearing nothing but boxers. He had scratches and bite marks on his shoulder that I knew were from me.

  I cleared my throat. “Mr. Dyer, I picked up your son at the skatepark after it was reported he was seen with a spray can. It was deodorant, meaning no spray paint whatsoever, but please, make sure he knows things like faking a crime can get him in trouble with the police anyway.” God, being so stiff around Knox felt horrible. I wasn’t even like that when we first met.

  “Sarah…,” Knox whispered, as if only now realizing what he was seeing.

  “She’s on duty. It’s Officer Burke to you,” Callum announced. He turned and brushed a strand of hair out of my face, catching me off-guard. “Night, weird lady.”

  Before I could say anything, he’d pushed into the house, shouldering Knox out of the way. I wondered what was going on, but he stepped aside that moment, making room for me, utterly distracting me with too much skin.

  “We need to talk, Sar. Come in.”

  I pointed at the badge on my chest. “I’m on duty. I just wanted to bring your son back because I figured you were worried.” Which I’d clearly been wrong about because he’d been asleep.

  There was scruff on his cheeks that I wanted to touch, wanted to run my fingertips over, but I stayed where I was, hands in my pockets.

  No matter how tempting Knox Dyer was, I wouldn’t fall down that rabbit hole again.

  * * *

  KNOX

  I was exhausted, mentally and physically, and had been tossing and turning until I heard the doorbell.

  Work hadn’t gotten any easier, my body still not used to the strain, and Callum and I hardly ever spoke any longer. He was out more often than not, and if I asked him where he was, he just gave snappy answers.

  At least he goes to school, so that’s something.

  Besides that, I’d missed Sarah. I missed talking to her, and since I had gotten a taste of holding her, I also missed her in my arms. I’d tried to call and message her, but nothing ever went through, so I wondered if she had blocked my number.

  Now she was here. Maybe I needed to thank my son.

  Her eyes raked over my naked skin and came to rest on my shoulder where the evidence of our night was the only thing I had left of her.

  “Thank you for returning him safely, but please, Sar. Just—”

  She held up her hand. “Don’t. We have nothing to talk about. We’re good. I gotta go. I’ll see you around, Knox.”

  She turned away, but I grabbed her hand, reveling in the feeling of her skin. “I’m still your fake fiancé, so you kinda have to talk to me.” I knew I was grasping straws, but it was all I had left.

  She didn’t turn back to me, but also didn’t pull her hand from mine, which I took as a good sign—until she finally did slip her fingers free.

  “I think I’ll just tell them that we broke it off because you should’ve known I hate being put on the spot in public, and that’s exactly what you did with that proposal. I’d rather have a fake ex than a fake fiancé who doesn’t bother asking me questions and just assumes he knows the answer. And just so you know, not that I need to justify anything to you, the nursery is there because whenever I’m not at work, I babysit infants when their mothers have to run errands or have a doctor’s appointment. I watch the little ones while they have a few minutes to themselves. That nursery was created two years back when a neighbor hadn’t slept in weeks because her daughter had stomach troubles. I watched her for seven hours while her mom finally got some shuteye. But I guess you’re right and I have problems.” She shook her head, making me hate myself just a bit more.

  “I’m sorry.” It was all I could say.

  She looked over her shoulder and forced out a smile. “No harm done. We’re neighbors so… I’ll see you around.”

  She stepped toward her car and I followed, not caring that I was only wearing boxers. “Please, unblock me on your phone so we can talk like we did before. If you say no harm was done, let’s be friends.” It was the very last thing I wanted, but if it was all she’d give me right now, I’d take it.

  She paused, lowering her head. “I… Truthfully, Mitch blocked you, said your undeserving ass didn’t get another chance to talk to me. I guess it was good she did.”

  I gritted my teeth, feeling oddly proud of the protective best friend, even while I hated her that moment. “Why? Why was it good?”

  Sarah hesitated, then she glanced at me over her shoulder again. “Because I would’ve forgiven you the next day. Now, after having been able to think about it for a few days, I realize I’d still be hurt, still be upset, so it’s better this way. I gotta report in, Knox. I’ll see you around.”

  “Sarah,” I quietly called after her, but this time, she didn’t turn back, didn’t stop as she climbed into her car.

  I rubbed my chest right above my heart, willing the stupid thing to stop cracking. I’d only known the woman a little over a week, yet she’d already embedded herself in me. God, I needed an idea on how to fix this.

  First, I needed to have a talk with my son—who stood right behind the door, waiting for me to come back in. He slammed the door shut the moment I walked through.

  “You told her to stay away from here! Why did you do that? You should’ve seen the way she smiled when she saw me tonight. Whatever it is you think you need to protect me from, it won’t work.”

  Of course she’d smiled because she’d recognized him. I was pretty sure wor
ds like “cute” and “kiddo” had been on her mind when doing so. “Sarah is just friendly, and she likes you, which—”

  “Exactly. She likes me. Besides…” He angrily gestured to the marks on my shoulder, “seems you found someone to distract you, so why are you trying to keep us apart?” Callum’s eyes sparkled with fury. I couldn’t believe how delusional my son was. Had I ever been this far away from reality at that age?

  I had a hard time not reaching up to my shoulder to touch the light bruises. Hell, I hadn’t even realized they’d been as dark as they were until I’d been in the shower the next day, but all it proved was that Sarah had gotten lost in us.

  “Those marks are from Sarah, Callum. She likes you like she would every other teenage boy with a somewhat smart head on his shoulders. That’s all.”

  He fisted his hands at his sides. “You’re a liar. She wouldn’t sleep with you. Besides, the way she talked to you just now sounded as if you weren’t even friends, so…”

  I couldn’t believe I was fighting with my son over a woman. It was ridiculous, but what was worse was I told her we couldn’t explore anything between us. If I didn’t, maybe she’d have trusted me more and we wouldn’t have had our fight.

  “Well, I think I love her, Callum, and I’ll do whatever I can to make her realize it.”

  “You don’t even know her!” he screamed, and I shrugged.

  “Neither do you, but I know no matter what’s coming, I want her by my side. She’s too old for you, Cal. Trust me. All you can be is her friend.” And even that is a stretch, but I figured there was no need to say that.

  He growled. “You’ll see.” He spun and ran up the stairs, his door slamming. I walked back to my room and sat on the bed.

  At that moment, I couldn’t decide if moving here had been the worst or best idea because no matter how hard things were with Callum, I knew Sarah and I had a shot at something great. I already looked forward to the days I’d get to spend with her—once I could convince her to forgive me.

  KNOX

  It took less than twenty-four hours for me to see Sarah again. She stood outside my door, in uniform, a colleague with her.

  “Mr. Dyer? I… Knox.” He looked at me, surprised. “I didn’t realize the two of you didn’t live together.”

  Okay, a guy from the police ball. Not that I remembered him.

  “Dave, let’s focus, okay?” Sarah stated softly. There was an apology in her eyes I couldn’t place.

  “Yes, I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat. “Mr. Dyer, we have your son in the car. Do you know what PI is?” I shook my head. “Public intoxication. He’s drunk, and not just a little. Luckily, he was awake when we found him. Since he’s underage, we asked him where he got the alcohol, but he wouldn’t tell. Technically, we should write him up, but since it’s his first offense, I will refrain from it. However, you need to talk to him and get this under control.”

  I nodded, my heart sinking. Callum had acted out occasionally in Atlanta, but never this badly. “Thank you.”

  “Let’s get him from the car,” Sarah muttered, turning away, but Dave stopped her.

  “There’s more, Mr. Dyer. Something more serious.”

  I narrowed my eyes. More serious than being drunk at sixteen? I looked at Sarah, but her jaw was set and her eyes downcast.

  “Okay…”

  Her colleague cleared his throat, his gaze flickering to her before returning to me. “Your son kissed Officer Burke. That’s serious. When she pushed him away, he tried it again. She refuses to press charges, but no matter his age, it’s sexual assault, Mr. Dyer.”

  I paled. Things were getting out of hand.

  “Dave, let’s get the boy out of the car,” Sarah whispered. Dave nodded, walking with her to the cruiser.

  I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart pounding and my head hurting. Callum was barely coherent when they brought him into the house and sat him on the sofa…where he instantly fell onto his side and was out like a light.

  “Thank you, Officers,” I whispered, ashamed and furious.

  “I’m sorry, Knox, but you cannot allow your son to go around kissing women against their will,” Dave lectured.

  I nodded. “Not women.” I nodded at Sarah. “Just her. He thinks he’s in love with her, and because she’s nice to him, he thinks she loves him, too.”

  Dave blinked, surprised, while I couldn’t read Sarah’s reaction. That hurt. I wanted to know her well enough to know every little shift in her mood. “And he doesn’t care that you two are engaged?” He shook his head. “Teenagers, man. They are horrible.”

  “No, he doesn’t care how head over heels in love I am,” I replied, looking at Sarah, who still didn’t react.

  “Okay, so… Sarah, I’m going to get some coffee and donuts. I’ll pick you up here in thirty, okay? I think you need a moment.” I knew Dave was just trying to do us a favor, but he couldn’t know that the last person she probably wanted to calm her down would be me.

  Not that she seemed upset.

  When he walked away, I was surprised she let him. I grabbed my keys and pulled the door closed behind me, then sat on the porch steps. I couldn’t remember ever having felt as old as I did at that moment.

  “He wasn’t this bad in Atlanta,” I muttered, staring at the street ahead and the houses beyond it. I felt a small hand on my shoulder before Sarah sat next to me.

  “He’s a teenager,” she whispered, but I just shook my head.

  “I think I failed him. Might have from the beginning. Children need a mother, and he never had one. I was always busy, so I figured moving here would give us the break we both needed. I was so wrong. Maybe I should’ve just…” Hell, I didn’t know.

  She hesitated, then entwined our fingers, drawing my hand into her lap. “You are a good dad, Knox, and nothing makes this easier. You can’t think having stayed in Atlanta would’ve been better. You did what you thought was right.”

  I smirked. “I do that a lot, but it usually turns into a horrible mistake.” Like it had with her. I’d cared, just meaning to point out that she needed help, but it had backfired.

  She didn’t smile. In the pale moonlight, I noticed a single tear rolling down her cheek. I reached out and brushed it way, startling her.

  “You’re crying,” I pointed out quietly, and she touched her cheek.

  “I am? No. I just… I’m… That’s why you told me to stay away, isn’t it? You knew, and you just… It’s not because you’re gay, or married, or anything else. It was because of Callum.”

  “Gay?” I coughed. “What? How in the world did you get the idea I was gay?”

  She waved her hand and smiled. “Callum said that yesterday, but… It makes sense now. His feelings were what you wanted to figure out.”

  I brushed my thumb across the back of her hand, needing that small contact like I needed my next breath. “I think it was because you bothered to take an interest in him. You were sweet, but I know it’s your personality. He developed a crush, not caring about the age difference. Maybe I should’ve told you, but I didn’t see how you could’ve changed a thing.” I still didn’t. “However,” I continued quietly, “I’d like to imagine our night would’ve ended differently had you known. Like… You wouldn’t have felt as awkward and we could’ve shared the bathroom. I wouldn’t have gotten lost coming back to your room and I could have held you for a few precious hours.”

  “Maybe. Or maybe it would’ve just pushed this to a later point in our fake relationship and you’d have still called me a creep, implying I had a deep, dark secret I couldn’t let go of…or whatever you thought was happening with that nursery.” She withdrew her hand and stood, but I followed.

  “Or you would’ve shown me and explained. I didn’t want it to be fake, Sarah. Not that night, and not at any given time thereafter.”

  She turned back to me at the end of the driveway as a car came up the road. How in the world had thirty minutes passed so fucking fast?

  “Well, we won’
t find out. Anyway, tell Callum I’m no longer patrolling this neighborhood. Dave made sure I got switched to another unit. He doesn’t want me around Callum. No idea what I’ll tell him about us. I mean…” She rubbed her forehead.

  “I meant what I said to Dave earlier, Sar.” I stepped in, grateful she didn’t step back. Instead, she tilted her chin up to meet my gaze.

  “You don’t know me and don’t really trust me, so…”

  “I don’t need to know you to know—”

  “Don’t. Don’t say it again because I don’t think you know what you’re feeling. Maybe you have the same problem your son does, and because I was nice to you, you feel something. I don’t think it’s what you think it is.”

  I cupped her cheeks, exhaling in relief when she leaned into the touch. Then I kissed her, soft and tender, soaking up the feeling. I wanted her in my arms, wanted her to be there, wanted her to help me figure out what to do with my son.

  I wanted to see her when I had a hard day at work and was tense, believing she’d be good at rubbing out my kinks.

  Hell, I wanted her around because she grounded me and made me feel like I was finally home.

  Suddenly, she pulled away and lowered her head. I kissed the crown of her hair and drew her into my arms because she looked as if she needed it.

  “I can’t, Knox. I just can’t,” she whispered against my chest.

  “I won’t go anywhere,” I assured her.

  She stepped back and walked toward the car, shaking her head. At what? I didn’t know.

  What I did know was no matter what she needed, I’d make sure she knew I was there and ready to help her out just to prove I wanted this, us, and I wouldn’t rush it, no matter how desperate I felt.

  SARAH

  “No, Knox, action movies don’t freak me out or remind me of work, and no, I don’t read crime novels. I have enough of that on my shift.” I chuckled and relaxed back into my car seat. Ever since I’d been repositioned to a different suburb, the nights were slow. While Eden was a rather small town, it still had more than enough crime to justify cops working at night.