Page 40 of Second Chance with Seth

“What do you think?”

She smiles. “Bacon.”

“Exactly.”

“And coffee?”

“In the largest cup you’ve got.”

There’s an iPad behind the counter and she taps on the screen a few times, then grabs a cup from the stack.

“Flat white?” she asks, because that’s my usual, but I shake my head and she frowns, looking confused.

“Black, if that’s okay… and as strong as you can make it. I haven’t slept.”

“Oh? Is there a reason for that?”

“Yeah. I had something on my mind.”

She blushes, because she knows she’s the something in question, but before she can move away, I reach over and grab her arm, which makes her gasp.

“How did you sleep?” I ask.

“Would you be offended if I said I slept okay?”

“No. You needed it. Although surely River woke you, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, but she was only awake for around an hour, and the moment my head hit the pillow, I was gone.”

She makes a cute gesture, tipping her head to one side and closing her eyes, which makes me smile.

“Speaking of River,” I say, pulling my hand away at last. “Where is she? What do you do with her while you’re working?”

“She’s out back. I have a crib set up out there, and everyone keeps an eye on her. She’s perfectly safe.”

I sense a slight bristling in her tone and I hold up my hand. “I was only asking. It wasn’t meant as a criticism. But if you want me to, I could help. I could… I don’t know… take her out, or sit with her upstairs, or something.”

She shakes her head. “You can’t come back here without any kind of warning and act like a father.”

“Actlike a father?” I say, raising my voice. “I’m not acting, Everly. And I could have been a father way before now, if you’d told me…” I stop talking, wishing I’d kept my mouth shut as tears form in her eyes and she blinks hard, her bottom lip trembling.

“How could you? How could you say that?” she whispers.

“I’m…” I don’t get to finish my apology before she turns and runs toward the kitchen, sliding through the swing door. “Everly? Come back… I didn’t mean it,” I call out, countless heads turning in my direction.Fuck it. I let my head drop, wishing our lives didn’t have to be played out in public, as I getto my feet and turn toward the kitchen, right at the moment that the swing doors open once more, and Owen strolls out.

He takes one look at me and frowns, then walks over, getting in my way.

“Excuse me,” I say, but he shakes his head.

“No.”

“I need to see Everly.”

“I don’t think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had… and you’ve had some shitty ideas in your time.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“No. But I know the damage you’ve left in your wake.”

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