Page 54 of Single Dad Christmas

“I’m not sure about that, either.” He took one last glance at Taylor then turned his back. “Excuse me. I’m going to grab something to eat.”

He walked with his long-legged stride across the bright orange dirt, kicking up plumes of dust as he went, away from the stables and towards the large, sprawling timber house. The wrap-around deck was shaded by the tin roof, and a porch swing hung a little to the left of the door. He kicked off his boots as he strode inside, the cool of the house an instant and welcome relief.

“Wait up.” Max followed behind. Noah didn’t slow down, but in the kitchen, Max caught him. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. What do you mean?”

“With you and Louisa?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Why isn’t she?”

“She didn’t want to come.”

“So, you’re still together?”

Noah closed his eyes on a wave of remorse. “No.”

Max rubbed a hand over his beard. “Because of Tay?”

“Because she needs me,” he said with a small shift of his head. “I’m okay with that.”

“Are you? And what about Louisa?”

“She understands.”

“What about Taylor?”

“Taylor doesn’t want Louisa in our lives.”

“Taylor’s a teenager.”

“But still a person, with her own wants and fears.”

“And you’re going to let those fears rule your life?”

“What would you do, in my position?”

“Fight for what I wanted,” Max said, without hesitation.

“Fight how? Fight whom? My kid? I can’t. I’m all she has, Max.”

“Bullshit. She has us. She has me, mum, Chris, and Lucas. And she has Amy, even though Amy can’t really be what she needs right now. She still loves her.”

A muscle throbbed in Noah’s jaw.

“I’m not saying you and Louisa have to move in together right away or get married or whatever. But you are allowed to date someone, even if your daughter doesn’t love the idea.”

“She’s not in a good place,” Noah disputed. “That has to be my focus. I have the rest of my life to…meet someone. This isn’t the time to be selfish.”

Max made a grunting sound that might have been agreement or might have been violent disagreement.

“What does that mean?” Noah asked.

“You’re the least selfish person I know, Noah.”

Noah braced his palms on the counter and stared at his brother.

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