Page 96 of The Dating Pact

That dragged a laugh out of me. “No. None of us are.”

“I’m not interested in being up until three in the morning, making sure everything is closed up.”

“That’s what you have Tabitha for.”

“I don’t want that for her either. She’s got a lot going on and… I don’t know. Maybe it’s time for me to switch things up.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Opening up someplace quieter, where someone could have a glass of wine and eat a nice dinner.”

This guy. If my own life weren’t a mess, I’d tell him to clean up his act to see what was right in front of him. But I couldn’t, so instead, I said, “Yeah, might be nice. If you got the funds and plans.”

He nodded, eyes glazed over and lost in thought for a moment, and then he snapped out of it with a whack to my arm. “So, what happened this morning?”

I stretched my arms behind my head and leaned back, my gaze on the ceiling. “Brooke was anxious about her doctor’s appointment today, so I told her to sleep over last night since it would make me feel better about it too. I said we’d set an alarm, but I never did.”

“And Seb walked in.”

“And Seb walked in,” I repeated. “I found him at the baseball field. Torn up. I really messed up.”

“Hey. Hey.” He waited until I looked at him. “You’re a good dad.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, and Nate threw his arm around me, patting my back a few times. “He loves you. You raised a great kid. Two great kids.”

I sniffed and cleared my throat. “Thanks.”

“Love you, man.”

“Love you too.”

He sat back. “You want me to stick around or…?”

“No. Go do what you need to do. Seb didn’t make the travel baseball team either, so…”

He winced. “When it rains, it pours, huh?” He stood with a pat to my leg. “Why don’t you come to the bar tomorrow night?”

I shrugged my answer, doubting I’d feel like doing anything in the next few days. He let himself out, and I stretched out on the couch.

Some days I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. Today was one of those days.

“Daddy! I need help!”

“Yeah, be right there.” I stood with a grunt. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I had to keep on going.

TWENTY-SIX

BROOKE

Jude told me he didn’t want me to bring anything, but I stopped at the store anyway and purchased a few items I thought he and the kids would like: rocket pops for Amelia, Tastykake cupcakes for Sebastian, and A-Treat for Jude.

Parking in front of the house, I took a steadying breath then killed the engine and climbed out of my car. With the shopping bag in hand, I made my way to the front door, and it swung open before I even had a chance to ring the doorbell.

“Brooke!” Amelia flung herself at me, hugging my legs.

“Hi, girlfriend.” I tugged on her hair, tipping her head back. She grinned her gap-toothed smile at me. “I brought you some treats.”

She danced in place, screeching, “Treeeeaaaats!” I opened the bag so she could see, and her voice rose another octave. “Rocket pops! Brother! Come see! Come look at the treats!”

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