“Why would I believe a single damn word you just said?”
“Because you know me, Hazel.” I can’t bear the thought that she doesn’t. “You know I’m a good guy who wants the best for you and our children. I might occasionally screw up, but my heart’s in the right place. Please, Hazel—you know this about me.”
“I thought I did.” She sounds like I’m tearing her heart into bits. “For years, since my dad broke my trust, I struggled to believe people. To trust anyone, ever, about anything. Do you understand that?”
“Yes.” I hate that I hurt her. That I opened a wound that wasn’t quite healed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Get out.” She yanks back her hand and swipes at her eyes. “Set the key over there, then get out of my house and my life.”
“Please.” I know there’s not one single word I can say that could make this better. “I love you. Please, Hazel—for our daughters.”
Shaking her head, she steps back. “As the daughter of a man behind bars, let me explain something, Luke.” Clenching her jaw, she looks deep in my eyes. “There are few things more painful than waking up one day to discover the man you call ‘daddy’ is nothing but a criminal with no conscience. I won’t have that happen to our daughters.”
“You know that’s not who I am.” Even as I say it, I know it’s no use. She used to believe her dad was a good guy, too. “We’re in this together, Haze. We love each other. We planned to build a life together. Raise our daughters together.”
“Plans change,” she snaps. “I can platonically co-parent with someone I don’t particularly like.” She clenches her hands, and I notice they’re trembling. “My mother did it. I can too.”
“Please, Hazel.” I want to believe she doesn’t mean that. “Give me a chance to make this right.”
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she exhales. “You’ve already used up your chances.” She points to the door. “Please go.”
I don’t know what brings me to Big One’s later that day. Mason’s brewery is the last place I should go when his cousin hates my guts.
But being at home feels unbearable. I can’t walk on the beach or go for a hike, since it’s raining like hell. And I can’t stand the thought of walking into my girls’ empty nursery knowing how badly I screwed up.
I need to see people right now. To feel like I’m part of humanity instead of some screwup who belongs behind bars.
“Luke. Hey, Luke!” A familiar voice rings out through the bar. “Over here.”
Crap.
It’s Kaleb and Jake, bellied up to the bar with Mason behind it. Do they want me to join them so they can take turns punching me? Maybe I deserve that. Maybe that’s even why I came here today.
Like a dead man walking, I march toward the men I’ve seen as my brothers since the day I showed up in town.
“Whoa.” Mason freezes mid-wipe when he gets a look at my face. “What happened, man? You look like hell.”
“Thanks.” I take a seat two stools down from Kaleb, just out of swinging range.
“Damn.” Jake stares at my face. “Did someone die?”
“Nice, dickhead.” Kaleb punches him in the arm. “Way to be sensitive.”
“Ow!” Jake rubs his shoulder. “What? Figured I’d buy him a beer if his dog died or something.”
Mason snorts. “Luke doesn’t have a dog.”
“Well shit,” Jake grumbles. “That’s why he looks awful. A man should have a dog.”
I can’t argue with that. And I also can’t sit here pretending everything’s okay. “I fucked things up with Hazel.” There, that should do it. I catch Mason’s eye. “Could I get a cheeseburger, please?”
“Aw, man.” Mason moves to the register and punches some buttons. “Sorry to hear that. You need something stronger than beef.”
“Just the burger.” I know better than to pour alcohol on misery. “No beer for me.”
“Who said anything about beer?” Mason slides me a curvy brown bottle with a blue label. “Brand-new concoction. It’s non-alcoholic, so you can have all you want. It’s damn delicious, if I do say so myself.”
“What is it?” I spin it around and read the label. “Sarsaparilla?”
