Page 2 of I've Got You

In all seriousness, it had been well before Libby’s birth since the last time I’d got any. I had a serious case of blue balls and a constantly overworked hand.

When I’d discovered Libby’s mom was pregnant, we hadn’t been together. My beautiful baby girl was actually the product of a hot one-night stand. Tanya had tracked me down when she’d been five months pregnant, and I’d shifted my life to Kirkby, where she’d lived at the time, to support her at the end of her pregnancy before taking sole custody of Libby.

“You know,” Carter continued, “I could try to set you up.”

I contemplated it for all of three seconds. A quick fuck was all that was on the cards for me, so being fixed up with someone who Carter knew didn’t sit well. It screamed awkward. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

He raised his brow and made to speak, no doubt to argue his case. I stopped him with a slight flick of my raised hand. “Listen, Carter, I know you mean well, but honestly, I’m good.”

From his dipped brows and the twist of his lips, I didn’t think he bought it. But tough. Having my best friend happy with Carter was awesome, but it didn’t mean I needed that or was chasing it.

Tanner, no doubt hearing the finality of my tone, intervened. “Hey, baby, you wanna help me a minute?”

With a smile, Carter angled toward Tanner. “Lead the way, handsome.”

I threw Tanner a relieved smile. “I’m just gonna slip outside for a few. Will you listen out for Libby?”

Tanner nodded as he handed me an extra beer. “Yep, no worries.” I took it, grateful, and headed outside.

As soon as I pulled the door closed behind me, the conversation and background music dulled. After a few steps away, heading further into the darkness toward the back of the yard, I was greeted by Rex. “Hey, boy.” I rubbed one of his ears, holding the necks of my two beers with my other hand. Rex groaned and almost pushed me on my ass when he leaned against me. I chuckled. Rex was a Rhodesian Ridgeback and was pretty much pony size. He was also a big softie, though fiercely protective, especially of Libby. I bent and placed a kiss on his huge head. Tanner hadn’t had him all that long, but there was no doubt Rex had found his home with his new family.

“Come on.” I took more steps into the darkness, heading toward the faint outline of the patio.

It was pretty sad, I supposed, if I allowed myself to think about it too hard. At thirty-five, I was a single dad, used to spending my downtime with Libby or more usually myself, yet there I was, a rare night with actual adults beyond Carter and Tanner, a night to be social, and I was outside with the dog seeking solitude.

I snorted, the noise loud in the still night, as I sat, placing the unopened beer to my side before taking a pull of my already open bottle.

Rex harrumphed when he sat beside me, his head dropping heavily in my lap. I absently stroked his fur, wanting to focus on nothing but the dark starry night and the peace it provided.

Anything else beyond the here and now seemed too unattainable. I didn’t even know if that was even the right word, but what I was sure about was my sleeping daughter, Rex’s head in my lap, and the beer flowing down my throat as I took another drink. I didn’t even dare to wish on any damn star.

Chapter Two

SCOTT

I couldn’t waitto get the hell out of there. From the get-go, I was uncomfortable… on edge… sure everyone in the room knew what a dick I was. Not only that, but there were too many people, and not enough space, enough air. I knew enough, could read into my surroundings enough—and the people filling the space—to know that there were many men like me, but not. They laughed, joked, smiled, patted the happy hosts on the shoulders and congratulated them on their newly renovated home. More than that, they were out in the open, whereas I just wanted to scurry back into the dark.

I eyed the kitchen door and edged toward it. Just four more steps and I’d reach freedom. There was nothing happy about living locked away, pretending to be something, someone I wasn’t, but I’d used my brave card when I’d uttered those two words aloud for the first time. Not only to myself but to Carter, the guy I’d tried to screw over, who was now trying his hardest to be my friend.

I’m gay.

It had been a hell of a surprise to the both of us when the words had tumbled out of my mouth. I’d nearly passed out as nausea had swept through me, while Carter had looked like a startled rabbit. His face would have been comical if I hadn’t been trying not to shit myself at the time.

I was thirty-three years old and still had no clue who I was.

Just two steps and I’d be able to breathe again.

One.

I clutched the handle and yanked the door open. Fresh air greeted me. I stepped into the darkness and pulled the door quietly closed behind me, then looked around the fenced backyard, only seeing the side panels and nothing beyond the darkness. My gaze settled on a couple of chairs. While it wasn’t complete escape, it gave me time to catch my breath and get my head straight.

Easing into the wooden chair, I leaned back, stretching out my neck and glancing up at the star-filled sky. With no lights on in the yard and just the faint glow filtering out from the busy kitchen, I was able to focus on the tiny specks overhead. I released a heavy exhale, pulling the calmness of the outside into me. I shouldn’t have come. Damn, I should have been at least two thousand miles away by now, away from this tiny town that threatened to split apart my whole world.

Claws on the wooden deck, a not-so-soft grunt and sigh, and I glanced to my right to see Carter and Tanner’s monster dog, Rex, ambling over to me. The first couple of times I’d met Rex at the veterinary clinic, it was no surprise to Carter or me that the Ridgeback had taken an instant dislike to me. Hell, I didn’t even like myself most of the time. But as he walked toward me, I no longer tensed in fear. This was the third visit I’d made to Carter’s, and it seemed Rex had had a change of heart.

He huffed as he sat next to me, his large head immediately landing on my thighs. My first real smile of the night spread across my lips, and I reached out both hands and rubbed behind Rex’s ears. “Hey there, mutt.” I rubbed a bit harder, and he moaned happily. I snorted. “You like that, huh?” Rex tilted his head and leaned his right ear into my palm. “You know, bud, I think you’ve got the right idea.” He blew heavily out of his snout, and I laughed, the sound filling the quiet space. “Life’s a hell of a lot easier if you’ve got no balls at all to lead you around and confuse the heck out of you.”

A snort-laugh from out of the darkness had me tensing. I squinted, looking toward the end of the yard. After a moment, my eyes adjusted and I saw a man looming, his figure moving closer until he stepped into the faint light.

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