“Ooh—scandalous.” Autumn exchanged a delighted look with Summer. “I think Jacob’s mom and Tate had a thing in high school that went out faster than a solar-powered flashlight after sunset.”
“Oh, Jacob mentioned it.”
They waited. I threw my weight into my resolve. No talking about sex with Tate.
“Aaaannnd?” Summer waved her hand for me to keep going. When I didn’t say anything, she crossed her arms. “Mrs. Mulberry caught me at the grocery store. I know he stayed over.”
She was grinning, but tears pricked my eyes. Their thrill morphed into horror.
Summer jumped up. “Oh no, honey. What did he do?” She and Autumn swarmed me.
Tears flowed, and I couldn’t stop them. “Nothing. He was more perfect than I imagined. But he overslept and kept Chance waiting, and it’s all going to be up to his son, and that’s what I get for being a strict teacher. Chance is never going to let his dad date me—ifhis dad even wants to date me.”
Summer’s hug almost cut off my air supply. She was small but strong. “Okay, the Chance part, I get. He’s a kid, and he’s had some changes in his life. But listen, Tate doesn’t just sleep over at someone’s house. Believe me, I’ve offered to stay at his place so he can meet another woman for more than— Anyway, he never took me up on it. He’s into you—and I wouldn’t have bid on him for you if I’d thought you two weren’t hot for each other and wouldn’t work together.”
Their hold eased, and I brushed the moisture from my eyes. “Really?”
Autumn patted my shoulder, concern heavy in her gaze. “I went along with it because I hoped my brother could undo what that cocksucker Peter did to you. You’re a catch and a decent guy would know it. Tate knows it.”
“His kid hates me.” I sniffled.
“He doesn’t.” Summer’s smile was kind, but there was no certainty in her eyes. “He’s a confused kid. There have been a lot of changes in his life, but both Tate and I will tell you that you were a good one for Chance.”
A firm teacher with high expectations wasn’t something a now-eleven-year-old always appreciated.
“What did Tate say?” Autumn asked.
“He said he’d call me.”
And that was that. I wasn’t waiting around. I’d dated guys with no kids, and they’d moved on for a lot less.
* * *
Tate
Chance had beenquiet when I first picked him up. Instead of profusely apologizing, I’d told him I was sorry. I had slept in, and I hadn’t meant to, and it wasn’t his fault. He’d shrugged, and we had run home to grab our tackle boxes, poles, and camp chairs.
I dug in the cooler for another sparkling water. “Want a juice, bud?”
“Sure.” The end of his pole dipped, and he gasped. I was poised to help him, but he reeled in a few feet of line and nothing. “Aw hell.”
Fishing rule—mild swearing was allowed. The bigger the fish that got away, the stronger the swear word that could be used.
“The next one will be the real thing.” I sat back down and checked my line. I hadn’t cast more than three times during the time we’d been out here. The lake was quiet today, a hidden gem on Bailey land. Some days, the fish were biting, and others, they were quiet. I was only interested in the one who felt like she was getting away.
“We’re getting a boat this summer, right?”
Last year, we’d brainstormed all the fun things we could do this summer. I was still settling into helping Dad with the ranch.
“That’s the plan. A little fishing boat for the two of us.” I’d cruised through the sales ads, but I hadn’t found one I liked. I could afford to buy a brand-new one, but Dad had raised a more practical man.
Usually, when we fished, I’d go through the online ads again, but I couldn’t concentrate. I hadn’t let Scarlett down, other than being a shitty planner and not setting an alarm. I would call her again. But I couldn’t escape the feeling that I had disappointed her.
I wouldn’t know until I talked to Chance. I cleared my throat. “Hey, buddy. What if that fishing boat could hold three people?”
His face lit up. “We can bring Grandpa.”
If I hadn’t been in a downer of a mood before, that did it. My dad wasn’t getting better. He was growing weaker and leaving home less often. I’d moved back in the nick of time. “We’ll have to see how he feels. But, uh, what if…I started seeing someone?”
