I groan. He’s not going to let this go. “There’s no story. I invited him over for my lunch break today, and Harper and Mom walked in when we were…” I sigh. “At an inopportune moment. He ducked into Harper’s room, I jumped into the shower, and the story he came up with was that he was measuring Harper’s room for an extension of Marmalade’s climbing gym.”
“And he stayed and built it?”
“Only because he had to.” Though he didn’t have to. I gave him an out. “I assume I’ll never see him again now that he knows I have a kid. Which is fine. The last thing I need is a serious relationship, and he was starting to act like he might want to take things between us past casual.”
“You don’t like him enough for that?”
“I do,” I say, before I think it through. It’s a gut reaction not to let Bryson think less of Deacon, but it’s also true. If I were going to have a relationship with anyone, it would be with Deacon. Actually, it would be a combination of Deacon and HandsyGuy, but since that’s not possible, I’d try to make things work with Deacon. “He’s a great guy. And the chemistry between us is…” I fist my hands and spread my fingers wide, making an explosion sound. “But my focus needs to be on Harper. I can’t be falling in love and getting my heart broken, because the last time I did that…” I stop myself, remembering who I’m talking to.
“The last time you did that, the guy left and never looked back,” Bryson fills in for me. “And you assume that’s going to happen with every guy you let in.”
Yes, but I can’t tell him that, not when he’s looking so devastated. “No. But I can’t take a chance of it. Not with Harper.When you left… it was rough for a while. If I hadn’t had Mom and Dad helping me…” He doesn’t need to know the dark details.
“But you did have them. And now you have me and Asher and your parents. We’ll all be here to help you if you’re ever struggling. You can’t just put your whole life on hold for Harper.”
Irritation and fear and anger propel me to my feet. “Nope. I’m not there yet. You don’t get to tell me how to raise my daughter.”
He stands with me. “Our daughter,” he says gently. “I’m just trying to help you. I only want what’s best for Harper and for you. You both deserve to be happy.”
He leaves out the front door all on his own, but not without a parting shot. “I’ll be in touch. I’d like to hang out with Harper again soon.”
I slump back onto the couch as the door shuts behind him, head in my hands. Fuuuuck.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Deacon
Ismell the food before I see Cash. He walks in with a big brown bag and sets it on the kitchen counter where I’m installing toe boards around the base cabinets.
“Brought you pasta and garlic bread. You gonna be here all night?”
“For a few more hours at least. How pissed was Seb about me being gone all afternoon?” Luckily, I managed to avoid facing my brother. He ran out to look at a property Ryland found for Mom and Dad.
“His face turned purple. When you didn’t answer his texts, he got scary quiet. I’d check your sheets tonight before you get in bed.”
“Great.”
“How’d it go with Amelia? Was it worth it?”
“We nearly got caught by her mom. But I met her daughter, so that secret’s out of the bag.”
Cash takes a seat on the floor and shoves the bag of food at me. “Eat. You haven’t told Amelia you know she’s DogPerson?”
“If I tell her, she’s going to dump both me and HandsyGuy. I need more time to show her why I’m perfect for her.”
“Or maybe you’re not.”
Cash holds up his hands when I glare at him. “I’m just saying. The right woman shouldn’t have to be convinced, Deke. And she’s made it very clear she doesn’t want a relationship. Find someone else.”
“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I’m not going to be able to just find someone else.”
“Maybe it’s not her. Maybe it’s just that you’re in a place in your life where you’re ready to get serious with someone.” He crosses his arms over his chest like he’s preparing for battle. “Either way, if she tells you she doesn’t want more, you can’t push. Don’t be that guy.”
“I’m not going to be a creepy asshole,” I say. “But the last time we were together, I was getting vibes from her that maybe she’s more into me than she’s letting herself accept.”
He points at me. “See. That right there is creepy stalker talk. We are bigger than our primal urges. Shut it down and move on.”
I dig into my pasta and eat quickly because I don’t have an answer for him. He’s not wrong. I can only draw this out so long before I’m either the guy who can’t accept what a woman is telling him or I’m the guy who’s putting off inevitable heartbreak because I’m a coward.
