Page 10 of Tempest

“No, you aren’t, Tori. You’re the best thing that ever could have happened to us.” I press a kiss to her crown. “You believe me, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” she says, her voice a little shaky still. “But what was the cost?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did it cost you your happiness? Or Mom hers? What if you both missed out on the love of your life?”

“You’re breaking my heart, kiddo,” I say into the dark messy bun atop her head. She smells like she always does, some combination of fruit and sugar. “Don’t you know you are the love of my life?”

“You know what I mean, Dad.”

“Listen really carefully, Tori. I could not have been happy if I wasn’t coming home to you while you were growing up. Your mother has always felt the same. Okay?”

The last thing I want is for her to wear any blame or guilt. Our life has been great, regardless of how it all started. It’s why we always sheltered her from the hard truth that Caroline and I haven’t had the most traditional marriage.

It wasn’t an open relationship or anything extreme. But it was more of a partnership than any sort of love match. That doesn’t mean we didn’t find happiness in it. There was camaraderie, caring, and a shared sense of something bigger than us. We had fun as a family.

“I just want you to have someone,” she tells me, peering at me so she can read my expression better. “The thought of you here all alone bothers me. You should have a partner. You should have love, Dad. A real relationship.”

“Do you tell your mother these same things?”

“No, she already knows. She’s already looking.”

Tori maps my face, looking for signs that I’m concerned about this news. But I’m not. Caroline deserves to live the rest of her life with someone she loves and who loves her back equally. She’s still my friend, even though we’ve tried not to be too reliant on each other anymore. We don’t speak daily but several times a week. Which is probably still too much, but habits are hard to break, and we do share a daughter.

She hasn’t mentioned dating to me, though. I can’t figure out a reason why she’d omit that from our conversations. Maybe she shares some of the same concerns Tori has about me. This is my first attempt at bachelor living, and they don’t seem confident in my ability to thrive in it.

I’ve done okay, though. Caroline always handled the household since I was the one bringing in the income. I have a housekeeper who helps me keep up on this place, but I do know how to clean my own toilet. Jasinda comes in twice a month to scold me and laugh at my novice abilities. At least I try, she always tells me. And sure, I suck at cooking, but I’m getting the hang of it. I’ve nearly mastered baked ziti and can unbag a salad with the best of them.

Some of the team wives looked after me when Caroline left. I had a freezer full of prepared meals that lasted me a month and gave me time to settle into a new way of life. Tori suggested I hire a chef but my days of being that dependent on someone else for my most basic needs are over.

I want to take care of myself more. Maybe even take care of someone else, if the right woman comes along.

My mind immediately conjures images of Odette Quinn. Except they are images of her at eighteen, not who she is today. I don’t know that version of her at all. Would I feel the same way about her now as I did then? Even if I did, would she give me a chance?

Doubt it.

I fucked up. I know I did, and I can only blame my age and circumstances for so much of it. The biggest problem was me and how poorly I handled the situation. Odette deserved more.

Maybe I’m the man now that I should have been then. Maybe I’m enough.

Maybe she’d never give me a second chance to prove that, though. Who could blame her?

That’s even if she’s single, which doesn’t seem likely. Not at our age and not with who she was. Odette probably has always had a trail of men standing in line for her attention. Not only because she’s gorgeous, but because she’s different and caring. Or was. Is she still?

Regardless of whether she is or not, a relationship with anyone isn’t my priority just yet. The season starts next week. My team and my performance this season are my top priorities. It’s my last season, after all.

Fuck.

That will never sound right to me. Later, I’ll have a lot of changes to face, but I’ll also have the time to devote to a partner. There’s time. At least, I hope so.

4

Odette

“Well, what did you think of your first week?”

It’s the first question out of Vanessa’s mouth when I slide into the booth opposite her at a trendy bar a few blocks from the school. It’s my type of place and looks like it could be a setting in Peaky Blinders. The drink menu has an impressive array of handcrafted cocktails. After a quick perusal, I settle on one called the Spumoni Negroni.

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