Page 67 of Out Of A Fix

“You weren’t sure of her,” he replied, studying me.

“No, I wasn’t.”

“And because of that, you brought Tatum to me and sent me upstairs, and then the boys. Because you were afraid she might hurt us, given the state she was in.”

“I don’t think she would have, but you’re right. I wasn’t sure.”

“So in that moment,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, “you chose to direct whatever she was feeling at you and not any of us.”

“Of course. That’s what I’m paid to do.”

He shook his head. “You’re full of shit.”

This was a surprise. “Sorry?”

“I saw it in your face. Your voice was so steady, but your eyes gave you away.”

“I don’t know what you⁠—”

“You didn’t want Shelly anywhere near Tatum or me.”

“Again, that’s the⁠—”

“No,” he insisted, and I saw him swallow and felt his hands clutch my hips. “You didn’t need to protect us. She couldn’t have hurt us, but you were thinkin’, she’s acting strange around my people. It’s why you sent the boys upstairs too. You’re attached, Nash Miller, and you’re not supposed to be.”

“No,” I granted, “that’s right. I’m not supposed to be.”

“You fell for my kids.”

“Yeah,” I confessed. “It’s easy to do.”

“Yes, it is. And though I yelled at you this morning, and then you assaulted me with not one, but two towels, I⁠—”

“Really? Assaulted?”

“Even with our shitty start, you still hugged me when I needed it and kept me from falling apart.”

“I dunno about that. You’ve done pretty well.”

He scoffed, and his hands slid up from my hips to my sides. “I have been a shit father and almost lost my kids, but I’ve come home to a completely different…everything.”

“It’s not me. It’s the kids. I promise you.”

“It’s the kids wanting the change, yes,” he husked. “But everything feels better, lighter, and how you handled Shelly… I need to know what happened there.”

“Of course. Come with me.”

He let me go, and I led him to the dining area, where I took a seat on the bench at the table so I could put on my socks.

“You don’t like the chairs,” he said, smiling.

“The chairs are… I think the seats are too short or something.”

“I agree. Always have. We’ll get new ones.”

I was going to correct him and say, you’ll get new ones, but it didn’t feel like the time. “Okay, so…” What was I supposed to say?

“Just tell me.”