Page 117 of Caught from Behind

He messed up. He wants to fix it.

“Dammit,” I grumble. “I don’t want to like you.”

“I don’t even like me on a good day,” he mutters.

I snort.

He releases my arm. “Tell me.”

“I fucked up,” I admit for some reason. “I said some things that are unforgivable and—” I sigh. “I just… fucked up. I’m trying to fix it, but it takes time.” My throat is tight. “Especially when I’m the one in the wrong.”

His expression sobers. “Yeah,” he agrees. “It’ll take time.”

And I know he’s reminding himself of the same.

“Right,” I say, needing to change the subject. “Black coffee?”

He nods. “Yeah, thanks, sweetheart.”

That settles…well, it settles in a father-sized hole deep in my soul. It shouldn’t be a balm. The endearment shouldn’t even register. Like I said, I don’t know Todd, not really, and he’s a grumpy bastard.

But…

It settles deep anyway.

Because my dad would have never bothered to ask.

I shake myself and head into the back, stowing my purse and making the cup of coffee. As I’m passing it over, I greet Cassie, who walks in. It only takes a moment to get her situated in her cape, to come up with a game plan for her hair, and then I’m mixing up some lightener, grabbing my foils, and giving the bride-to-be the best balayage the world has ever seen.

And in between working my magic with Cassie, I give a grumpy old man the best damned haircut the world has ever seen.

With nigh a bald spot in sight.

I can’t fix my dad.

I can’t erase what happened with Kit.

But I can spread a little happiness one strand of hair at a time.

“You sure you don’t want another?” Nova asks as she plunks down next to me on the couch. “Did I mix the proportions wrong?”

I lift my gaze from the copper mug in my hand to my best friend’s. “No, it’s perfect. I just…” I push the cup away. “I think I’ve been a little too familiar with your honey-rosemary mules lately, is all.”

Her green eyes gentle. “Ella,” she whispers.

“It’s fine,” I say, even though it’s anything but. “I’m fine.” I nod toward the menfolk, Lake, Leo, Knox, Bear, and Todd, who’s still grumpy, but has managed to turn off the asshole, especially because Evie’s joined in on the Rummikub action of game night. “Things are getting intense over there.”

“Yes,” Nova agrees.

But she doesn’t say anything else, just sits there, stare pinning me in place, and I know…

I owe her more.

I tilt my head toward the door that leads out to the deck. It’s cold and breezy out there, but the sky is mostly clear, no more snow slated in the forecast for the next few days.

Thank God. I’m so damned tired of snow.

“Let me grab us a blanket,” she whispers, squeezing my hand. “Meet you out there?”

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