For the love of God. Now they’re showing my daughter?
“First of all, that photo was taken weeks ago. She was at the bar when I was there, and a guy was being aggressive. I don’t think any girl, even a Gatlin, should be uncomfortable, so I stepped in. In order to make it not look awkward, we finished the fifteen seconds of the slow song,” I explain. “Secondly, why the hell was that even a topic?”
“Gossip is gossip, Dad. A Stone and a Gatlin together is big news. You can’t expect people not to talk about this. I mean, you guys were, like, dancing andtogethertogether.”
“Well, we’re not together.”
Nottechnically.
I mean, we are probably the closest two humans can actuallybetogether, but that’s not for my kid to know. We’re not dating—in that sense of the word. We’re just…casually friends who happen to have a deeper connection that I’m sure as fuck not thinking about.
“I wouldn’t care if you were,” Sadie says, and this time I do run slightly off the road, causing the truck to hit bumps that vibrate the truck.
I get back between the lines and assemble my thoughts.
What the hell does that mean? She doesn’t even know Lark.
Okay, staying calm is the only way to get through this.
“Sadie…I…” I don’t know what to say.
She turns in her seat to face me. “I’m just saying that I’m old enough to understand things. You should be happy, you know? If you met someone, and I liked her, I wouldn’t mind if you dated. I don’t know if that’s why you don’t try with Lark—or anyone.”
There’s a gas station ahead, so I pull in. This isn’t a conversation I want to have while driving, since I’ve almost gone off the road twice. Clearly, this girl is trying to kill us both.
I put the truck in park and turn to her.
“Where is this coming from?”
She shrugs. “Just when I was away, all these people were talking about their parents. Jessica’s mom just got divorced, and she’s already dating someone new. Tabitha’s dad is getting married to his new girlfriend, and he’s not even divorced yet. I know Mom died, and it’s probably different, but…I just don’t want you to be alone all the time.”
“I loved your mom very much, and in the beginning, it definitely was that I wasn’t ready to date. I had you, a three-year-old who needed me. Then I took over the ranch, and that was a whole new set of reasons I just wasn’t ready to get back out there. Now that’s not the case, really.”
“Then whatisthe reason?”
I don’t fucking know.
I don’t have a reason other than the one woman I would date…I can’t.
Lark would complicate my life in ways that neither of us want to step into. Her family, my family, the fact that she drives me crazy, and then the fear of letting myself love another person, only to lose them.
I look into those blue eyes that are just like her mother’s and give her a version of the truth. “Losing your mom was really hard. Then I almost lost you. I just don’t know if I can handle going through it again.”
Sadie reaches her hand out, resting it on mine. “I understand, Daddy.”
“I hate that you do.”
“But you’re the strongest man I know. Remember that too.”
I smile warmly and lean in to kiss her cheek. “I’m glad you think so. How about we stop for some ice cream and keep your grandad waiting?”
Her grin is full of mischief. “Deal.”
I turn, put the truck in drive, and pray we never have a talk like that again. I’m not sure I can handle thinking about a life with someone else, because the only person I see is Lark, and that’s never going to happen.
“What the fuck is going on now?” I say aloud as we pull up to the house and find Jimmy’s cruiser parked out front.
“That’s a bad word,” Sadie says with a smirk.
