Page 106 of The Dating Pact

“Yeah? Why do you look like you haven’t slept in weeks?”

I wiped my fingers over my eyes. “Because I haven’t.”

“What? You two break up already?” Dylan asked into his pint.

I heaved a sigh. “Never even got a chance to get started.”

“Seb’s still not coming around?”

I lifted a heavy shoulder. “He’s still got a lot to work through. Delayed grief.” I thought about the days he’d spent in silence with me over the last few weeks, especially after his counseling sessions. “Amelia, she’s…” I laughed, despite the nights I’d spent angry at my son, at myself, at the past, at Brooke, at having something amazing barely out of reach. “All she knows is her brother’s been sad, and I’ve been—” I bent my fingers in air quotes “—throwing a lot of tantrums.”

Nate slapped the table in amusement. “Throwing tantrums?”

“I’ve been…impatient lately.”

Dylan smirked. “I’d be impatient too if my kid was cockblocking me.”

I shot him a glare. “You know it’s not that.”

“So what is it, then?”

“It’s everything.” I gestured vaguely with my beer. “I’m trying my best to keep it together and always do the right thing, but between Seb’s attitude and missing Brooke, it feels like I’m gonna lose it at any second.”

“So tell Brooke,” Liam suggested. “She’s?—”

“I’ve told her I wanted to see her, but she said she doesn’t want to see me until she really has me. She said it would be too hard, and… I don’t know.” I rubbed my beard. “Sometimes I think she’s right, and sometimes I think I should club her over the head and bring her home to my cave.”

Nate made a noise of agreement. “Not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”

“It is if it’s only going to piss Sebastian off and make Brooke uncomfortable.” I set my beer down then looked all my friends in the eye. “I never thought I’d get a second shot at having a woman in my life again, and I don’t want to mess it up. I can’t lose her.” I sliced my hand through the air. “If there’s any chance that my kids aren’t ready for me to bring her home, then I’m not gonna do it, because Brooke is going to be in my life forever. I need everybody on the same page.”

Dylan raised his glass as Liam slapped my back, muttering a quiet, “Good for you.”

Nate smiled. “I love when you go all Papa Bear.”

“’Cause you love that Dad energy.”

He flicked his hand in front of his face as if something smelled bad. “You’re gonna curse me talking like that.”

Liam folded his arms over his chest. “When are you settling down? Haven’t heard anything from you lately.”

“Not much to tell.” Nate opened his arms. “Ruling my kingdom.”

“More like the court jester,” Dylan shot, and Nate shoved his shoulder.

I searched my brain for the last time he’d mentioned anything about a girl. “Weren’t you hanging out with a Russian chick?”

“Czech, and she had to go back home.”

Dylan snapped his fingers. “You hooked up with that girl on your birthday.”

He brushed that off. “One-night stand. Barely remember her.”

With a glance to the dark-haired bartender, I told Nate, “I feel like you’re looking in all the wrong places.”

“I’m not looking at all,” he said and flipped his cell phone out of his pocket, looking at Liam. “Where’s your brother working now?”

“Which one?”

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