Page 54 of Faking It With the Grumpy Single Dad

In truth, although there’s still so much more I want to learn about him, I can’t deny that I care about him, too. Meeting his sons and learning about how he lost his wife… how can I see him as anyone other than an amazing man who has a big heart? Even if he doesn’t exactly show that big heart to everyone all the time?

Not to mention how sweet he’s been since he learned the truth about who my father was. I’ve never been able to talk about my dad like that with anyone. Not even Deb. Joe understands, not just because he’s also lost his father, but because there’s a quiet part of him that speaks to a hidden side of me.

I think I was meant to come to Mermaid Shores to find him.

I clear my throat, just to make sure that he hears me loud and clear when I admit, “I care about you, too.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“That’s good to hear, Poppy.”

The warmth in his voice is like a lifeline, and I cling to it, feeling a mixture of relief and gratitude flood through me. I lean closer to him, drawn to the quiet strength he exudes. My gaze drifts to his mouth, and I realize that I want nothing more than to close the distance between us. To feel his warmth, his solidity, against me.

For a brief, electric moment, I think he feels it, too. His eyes flicker to my lips, his hand tightening ever so slightly on myshoulder, and I feel a thrill run through me. My pulse races. The space between us feels charged, alive with something I don’t fully understand, and yet want desperately to explore.

But then his phone rings, shattering the moment. He pulls back, mumbling a soft curse under his breath as he fumbles to pull it from his pocket. He glances at the screen, and I see his face tighten, worry flickering in his eyes.

“It’s Flo—my mom,” he mutters, his voice tense. He answers the call, stepping away, but his gaze stays locked on mine, a silent apology in his eyes. I can feel the absence of his touch like a missing limb. “Hey, Ma. What’s going on?”

There’s a long pause, and I see the color drain from his face as he listens. “Wait—what do you mean, he’s not there? Are you sure?”

I feel my own heart twist with concern at the panic that seeps into his tone, watching as his expression grows more serious with each passing second. I can only hear bits and pieces of the conversation, but it’s enough to understand that something is terribly wrong.

“Alright, I’m coming right now,” he says, his voice tight with urgency. “Just keep looking, okay? Call me if you find him.”

He hangs up, his hands shaking as he shoves his phone back into his pocket. He glances at me, his face pale and filled with an emotion I can only describe as fear. It looks strange on him. He doesn’t strike me as the sort of man who gets afraid all that often.

“It’s Cody,” he says, his voice rough. “My youngest son. He’s… missing.”

A cold shiver runs down my spine. I reach out instinctively, my hand finding his. “Gosh, Joe… I’m so sorry. Missing? What can I do?”

He shakes his head, his jaw clenched as he looks toward the door.

“I’ve got to go,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. But before he leaves, he turns back to me, his gaze fierce and unwavering. “Listen, I know he’s in police custody now, but if Percy shows up again, you call the police immediately. Don’t hesitate. Officer Fitz is an old friend of mine. You can trust her wholeheartedly.”

I nod, my heart aching for him. “Go find Cody,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be okay.”

He hesitates for a moment, his gaze lingering on me, and I see something unspoken in his eyes—a mixture of worry and regret and something else, something that feels like a promise that he doesn’t quite know how to make.

Then, just like that, he’s gone. His footsteps crunch in the gravel driveway as he heads for his truck, leaving me alone in the barren, silent house.

Left with nothing to do but stand in the bones of my new home all by myself and wonder what just might have happened between us, I watch his truck pull out of the driveway. My heart feels heavy with a kind of unfamiliar worry.

Chapter Eighteen: Joe

The moment that Flo calls to tell me Cody’s gone missing from the beach, my mind goes blank. She wouldn’t call me about something like this unless it was important. Unless she already tried everything she could to try and track him down. Unless she was genuinely worried that something serious had happened.

The panic that rushes in is like an icy, devastating wave, causing every logical thought to fly out the window.

It’s not like Cody to wander off. Between him and Eli, he’s definitely the more well-behaved one. Which isn’t to say that I think Eli would ever run away from his grandma’s watchful eye, but he would definitely be the one to push the boundaries.

So, basically, nothing about this makes sense.

I barely say goodbye to Poppy before I’m in my truck, tearing down the road toward Mermaid Shores’ Main Street. My hands are white-knuckled on the wheel, my pulse pounding in my ears. All I can think is that Codyhasto be okay.

Even though I know it’s illogical, the paranoid part of my brain can’t help thinking that this has something to do with the newlack of privacy I’ve experienced due to my closeness with Poppy. But just because my face has appeared in a national tabloid magazine doesn’t mean that someone decided to hunt down one of my children and… what? Kidnap them?

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