Page 225 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

Lincoln

I slept like shit last night—worry for Sophie and James had me tossing and turning, reinforcing exactly why I’ve avoided single moms all these years. I gave up on trying to sleep around five and climbed out of bed, made a coffee, and have been sitting on my back porch watching the world wake up. With rose and golden hues painted across the sky, I contemplate what to do about Sophie. I listen to Aaron move about and leave for work while I ruminate over everything I learned yesterday.

She’s everything I’ve tried to avoid and yet she’s perfect—even if she comes with my worst nightmare … a kid.

I have nothing against kids, it’s just that I never wanted the responsibility. I’m shit at keeping them safe, and I don’t think my heart’s strong enough when something inevitably happens.

And something will always happen. It’s unavoidable.

I was crawling out of my skin as we searched for James—a kid I’d never met. How will I cope if something happens to him once I’ve gotten to know him and wrapped him in my love?

Watching Sophie fall apart and drag her pieces back together so she could find her son was one of the most inspiring and terrifying moments I’ve witnessed. She was so fucking strong in a situation that would have had most people—me in particular—crumbling to dust.

I go for my morning run, shower, make a protein smoothie, and head over to Sophie’s, since her car is still at work. When I pull up in front of her house, knowing she lives here with her dad and son, I see it through different eyes.

Shaking my head, I still can’t believe she has a kid, and I think it’ll take a while for me to wrap my head around it.

I’m guessing that’s why she’s had such a long dry spell.

I know I’m early, but I’m hoping we can talk before work, so I climb the steps and knock on the front door. After a moment, movement catches my eye through the glass side panel. The door opens, and Sophie’s dad rolls forward.

On top of his worry for James, he seemed pissed yesterday. “Sophie won’t be working for you anymore. Have a good day.” He wheels back and grips the door, pushing it closed, but I step inside; preventing it and his eyes widen at my brazenness.

I hold up my hands. “I’m going to need Sophie to tell me she no longer works for me.”

“I’m her father and I’m telling you,” he splutters as his eyes drag down my tattoos and I get the impression he isn’t a fan.

“And I said, I need to hear it from her. Last I checked, she’s an adult who can make her own decisions.” I lift my eyes from her dad and scan what I can see of their home—photos line the wall of a young family and I recognize Sophie as a toddler and young girl—but I can’t hear any other sounds in the house. “Please tell her I’m here to take her to work.”

His eyes narrow, and his spine straightens. “She’s not here. She had to take James to the bus for school since she left her car at work.”

“No problem. I’ll wait for her.” I close the door behind me and stroll into the living room, taking a seat. Where there would normally be a recliner, the space is void of any furniture, I assume to allow space for the wheelchair.

“I didn’t invite you into my home,” he sputters, rolling into the room behind me. “You’re not our kind of people. I’m not sure what my daughter was thinking when she applied for a job at a tattoo studio.” He scoffs. “I’d already forbidden her from working at artWORX.” He waves his arm in the air dismissively and my eyebrows rise halfway up my forehead.

Forbid?

Does he realize she’s an adult, and he has no control over what she does?

“Why would you forbid her? She’s an incredibly talented artist and an adult who is more than capable of making her own decisions.”

He huffs. “I can’t trust her to make sensible decisions. Look what happened when she was left to her own devices. She got pregnant at seventeen by that boy at her prom.” He rolls closer with narrowed eyes. “Then she worked at that tattoo shop and the boss tried to molest her.” Anger boils in my veins when I think about Barry. “And here we go again. Another poor decision that she knew I wouldn’t like, so she snuck around behind my back!” he sputters, his face red with anger.

“Dad!” Sophie’s voice snaps out like a whip and she looks from him to me and back again with wide eyes. “Stop already!” When she looks back at me, her eyes are shiny. I know her well enough to see she’s holding back tears. “Linc, what are you doing here?”

I stand, jamming my hands into my pockets, and rock back on my heels. I almost don’t recognize her. Her face is makeup-free, and she’s wearing a yellow sundress that brings out the cinnamon highlights in her long hair. She looks beautiful. “I came to drive you to work, since your car is still there. I figured you’d need a ride.”

She smiles shakily, her eyes flicking from me to her father. “Thank you. I’ll grab my stuff.”

Her dad rolls forward, all bluster. “You will not. I forbid you, Sophie.” There’s that fucking word again. I step forward and he glances at me with angry eyes. “If you leave this house with him, don’t come back!”

Sophie freezes, and the tears she was holding at bay fall over her thick, dark lashes. “You don’t mean that,” she whispers shakily.

He nods sharply, his face red. “I do.”

I step between father and daughter. “Sir, I don’t think you want to do that. I can see you love Sophie and James and you only want what’s best for them, but I don’t think giving her an ultimatum is the answer.”

“Mind your own business. This doesn’t concern you.”

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