“Look, I’ve never been a parent before either, okay?” Zoey stepped forward, finger pointing toward his chest. “I’m doing the best I can. Mama D implied I might need to talk to Amelia first, because you might do something rash.” She narrowed her eyes. “Ironically, like get mad before you have all the facts.”
“I have the facts.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “She tried to steal a phone, got busted, ‘apologized,’ and now she’s working one over on you with all the compliments. To stay out of trouble.”
“That’s not how it happened.”
“She’s manipulating you.”
Zoey blew out her breath. “Will you just listen for a second?”
Anger was easier to manage than rejection. He braced his hands on the countertop. “I did listen, remember? Heard plenty, trust me.”
“Well, maybe if you listened a little longer, you’d have heardwhyshe wanted the phone in the first place.”
“To be cool? To see if she could get away with it?” Linc gestured with a wild wave toward Amelia’s room. “I’m sure I can figure that out. Not that it matters.”
“You missed one.” Zoey glared.
“What? To pawn for cash?”
“To be able to talk to her mom.”
Oh.
Oh.
The faucet dripped. They stared at each other, chests heaving. The back of Linc’s eyes burned. His temples throbbed.
Then Zoey wilted, her entire body slumping toward the counter. “Are you mad at me?”
“No.” The word barely escaped his throat. He opened his arms. Even he could tell this was the time for a hug.
Maybe needed one himself.
She flew into him, tucking herself against his side. “You’re probably right.”
“No. You’re right.”
“Maybe we both are.”
He leaned down, spoke against her hair. “This parenting stuff is hard.”
She pulled away, just enough to look up at him. “Will be a lot easier if we stay on the same team.”
“How? She trusts you more.” He didn’t try to hide the defeat in his voice.
Zoey’s tone softened. “Only because she has less to lose with me.”
Huh. Maybe so.
Her eyes flickered. “Give her time, Linc. And some patience. She’ll come around.”
He pulled her back against him, ignoring squirrels and needs and what-ifs. Just grateful for the fact Zoey was there, and cared enough to do this gigantic task with him. “When did you become an expert in this stuff?”
“I’m not.” She snuggled a little closer, nearly undoing him. He tightened his grip, her voice muffled against his chest. “I just…I know you.”
That she did.
And somehow, despite that fact, she was still there.
