Page 17 of Those Two Words

“And she knows you, Daddy. Is she your friend?” Lottie asks eagerly.

“No, umm, she’s a…”

It’s a slap in the face that he can’t even put a label on us, but I’ve always told myself to be better, not bitter.

“A coworker,” I finish for him, echoing his earlier words. “I’m the new restaurant manager.” Patrick’s shoulders drop. In relief or regret, I’m not sure.

“Ooooooooh,” Lottie replies with a lot more enthusiasm than my job title deserves, before a look of confusion washes across her face. “What’s a cow-worker? Do you work with cows?”

We both laugh at that, but when our gazes meet, the smiles slip from our faces. The laughter falling to flat silence. Jesus, this day needs to be over if we can’t even laugh in front of each other without it being awkward.

“Okay, spud, that’s enough for today. I’m going to meet you and your mom soon for dinner, say goodbye.”

Her shoulders drop and she curls her bottom lip but does as she’s told and gives me a little wave as she returns to her mom.

Before Patrick can join them, I call out, “Pat, umm, sorry, Patrick. I don’t want to overstep, but I have a few contacts with a till company that works in the Northeast. Have you ever looked into upgrading?”

He raises an eyebrow, prompting me to continue. “It should help the staff work more effectively, and I think I can get us a good deal.”

“I don’t really have time to install and train the staff on something new right now.”

“That’s why I’m here,” I quickly say, plastering on a smile. “I can handle it all, I’d just like you onboard before I go inquiring.”

I half expect him to shoot me down, and I know it would be out of pure stubbornness. And if there’s one thing I still know about him, it’s that he’s not a guy to act out of spite, no matter what he thinks of me.

“Okay, get some quotes over to Gray and me, and we’ll think about it. There’s a pot of money aside for things like this.” He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before he’s turning and walking away.

It’s something, but overall, this day is a big bag of dicks.

I don’t let myself watch Patrick and his family for much longer. And I certainly don’t cry myself to sleep that night thinking about what could have been.

nine

PATRICK

“Uncle Boo, manners,” my daughter reprimands my brother. Although she’s now learned how to pronounce words with th in them, the cute nickname she gave Booth when she first started talking has stuck.

Booth joined us for dinner tonight after his date had canceled last minute. It might be his night off, but he still ended up cooking after Lottie convinced him to make her favorite pasta dish, which is what the three of us are currently eating around my dining table, the smell of cheese and garlic filling the air.

“Pssht, table manners are boring, you little toad.” He shoves two breadsticks in his mouth and makes noises of what I presume is a walrus. She breaks into a fit of giggles and tries to chomp off one of his doughy tusks when he gets too close.

Lottie has a different relationship with each of my siblings but loves them all equally. They’ve all played a huge part in helping me raise her, especially as I wrapped my head around fatherhood. Even now I’m learning something new each day.

I watch them and laugh behind a bite of pasta when Lottie successfully steals a breadstick and bonks him on the head with it.

“C’mon, children. Lottie, you know better than that. Show Uncle Booth how to behave.”

“I don’t need to be taught how to behave. I’m her cool uncle.” He nods his head toward Lottie. “My only job description is to be funny and handsome; nailing both of those, aren’t I?”

“Uh-huh. The moms at school say they like your buns.” A little frown forms between her brows. “Because you a chef?”

Booth and I try to stifle our laughter. Her innocence is hilarious, even when she’s referring to her classmates’ moms ogling her uncle’s ass.

“Those moms are relentless.” He laughs. “Surprised one of them hasn’t tried to snatch you up yet.” He quirks his eyebrows at me suggestively. The moms in Lottie’s school have tried a number of times to ask me out, and while I’m flattered, I’ve never been interested.

“Yeah, no thanks.” I look at Lottie, who is inhaling her dinner as usual. “Great job with your food tonight, spud. A few more bites, then you can have two scoops of ice cream.”

“Oh, so the women we grew up with are off limits all of a sudden?” he asks and waggles his eyebrows again. He’s trying to catch me out, and I will not take the bait.

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