Page 45 of Forgiving Her First Love

“That’s not an offer,” he assured her, feeling a sting on his cheeks that he hoped she couldn’t see in the shadowy light. “I was only trying to say…” Hell, maybe he was more drunk than he realized because he didn’t know what he was trying to say. “I think it’s a shame that more kids don’t have a mom like you.” Yeah. That.

“You did. Glenda’s pretty great. After my own mom, she’s probably the person who influences me the most in how I parent Biyen.”

“I guess.” He was in a very introspective mood tonight. He didn’t know how to wear it. It felt like he’d put his clothes on backward.

“Do you ever think about being a father?” She took off her earrings and set them behind her on the counter.

“My answer to that has always been a hard no, but if Reid and Emma weren’t taking Storm…”

“You would?” She seemed shocked.

“I can’t say I wouldn’t,” he allowed. “And what you said earlier about how quickly kids grow up keeps coming back to me.” He drained his water. “I know I’ll be involved in Storm’s life forever, come hell or high water. I’m also realizing that being a brother-uncle figure is a different role than a parent. I never saw myself as a dad, but then I look at how much Reid has stepped up. Did you ever imagine he could act so—”

“No. I mean, it’s cute. Don’t get me wrong. I love it. And Emma deserves a good guy who wants to give her a family because that’s something she has always wanted, but I thought Reid was basically Spock. Super logical and finds us humans kind of tiresome.”

“Right? I genuinely believed Dad broke our ability to be a decent father, but if Reid can do it, I can.” He heard his own arrogance and shrugged it off.

“Why are you so competitive with him?” she asked with a chuckle of disbelief. “Still, at this age? Over something like that? Fatherhood isn’t a contest.”

“Everything is a contest with Reid.” Had she not met the man? “And my need to compete is exactly what you just said about him. He acts so superior to the rest of us.” It made him tired to think of it. “He always has. Man needs to be kept in check.”

“Okay,” Sophie snorted. “But maybe look in a mirror?”

“Hey.” He scowled at her. “I’m not as bad as he is.”

“You are exactly, equally, not any more or any less as bad.”

“God, you’re mean sometimes.” He hid his grin with the lip of his glass.

“The truth hurts, my friend.”

God that word hurt. Friend. So out of reach.

Her gaze was sparkling with amusement, though, making him almost believe it was possible. Her smile… That smile she tilted up to him—to him—was so precious he wanted to frame her face with his hands and just gaze on it.

He wanted the right to touch her. To feel her lips under his and—

Don’t.

He yanked his gaze away to Art’s empty chair and the half glass of water beside it.

If Sophie was willing to call him her friend, he would take it. And he would not screw it up this time.

“All right.” He turned to rinse his glass. “You have a big day tomorrow. You should hit the sack.”

There was a pulse of silence where she didn’t move. Then she said briskly, “Sure. Good night. Close your window on your way to bed.”

“It’s too hot—Oh gross.” He groaned as he realized.

“Yeah. They’re right below you. Sleep tight.”

*

Technically, it was Sophie’s day off. Logan was on call so she could host Biyen’s birthday party.

Logan was already at the Fraser house, taking his shift with Storm, when a call from the pub got Sophie out of bed. They needed a toilet fill valve after their busy night. Could she open the hardware store?

Gramps happily seized the excuse to get out of the house even though it was spitting rain. He trucked his Gator up to the store, made the transaction with the pub, then circled past the Fraser house for the lawn toys. He brought them back to where Sophie was making slow but steady progress on setting up for the party.

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