Page 77 of Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend
“Uh, thanks?”
“You want to use my phone to call him?”
I was surprised by the offer. Lena and I usually gave each other hell. We’d always been competitive, but the sibling rivalry only got worse after Mom left. Lena became the perfect child, working double time for Dad’s love, while I felt inadequate and overwhelmed, which inevitably resulted in me fucking up no matter how much I wanted to please him.
“That’d be great.” I took her phone, but then stopped short. “Do you have his number?”
She winced. “Uh, no.”
I slumped. “Then I’ll just have to wait until I get my phone back.”
“Good luck with that,” she murmured as she turned back to her books.
I lifted another spoonful of stew to my lips glumly. For a prison warden, Dad made remarkably good food. I savored the broth and considered my options.
I wasn’t up to fighting Dad right now. I already felt exhausted by the conversation we’d just had. I’d have to give us some time—me to recover, Dad to accept a reality he didn’t like. I just hoped Trace would be patient with us both.
* * *
TRACE
“Trace, this isn’t a good time.”
It took me a minute to find my voice. I hadn’t expected Matthew to answer. I’d already called half a dozen times since Tuesday night, when I’d last seen Cooper at the hospital. I was told Matthew was out of the office when I called the university, but he wasn’t answering his personal cell either—until now.
Cooper’s cell continued to go straight to voicemail. Other than a drowsy message he’d left for me right after I left him at the hospital, rambling about how I was the best Daddy ever and to please never leave him—a message that had made me want to rush back to his side and made it impossible to go home with my crew when the time came—I hadn’t heard from him.
I’d stayed in town, within reach, unable to leave Cooper even if I couldn’t see him.
After sending Henry and the guys on without me, I’d booked a room in the B&B and tried not to wear a path in the carpet while I restlessly waited for an opportunity to learn something more about Cooper. Matthew hadn’t made it easy.
“Trace?” Matthew prompted, sounding impatient.
I cleared my throat nervously. “Yeah, hi. How is Cooper?”
“He’s sleeping.”
I waited a beat, but Matthew didn’t add anything more. I knew he was still angry with me, but I neededsomethingto ease my mind.
“But howishe?” I pressed.
“As well as can be expected. A concussion is serious, and he needs rest.”
“But he’s doing okay? He’s not in too much pain?” There was a pause with no answer. “Matthew. Please. I can only justify staying in town so long, and I need to know.”
“You stayed in town?” He sounded surprised.
“I couldn’t just leave.”
Matthew sounded guarded. “I’m taking good care of him.”
“I know,” I said quickly. “If I thought otherwise, I’d be breaking down the door.”
“So you respect me enough to trust I can take care of my son, even if you don’t care enough to keep your dick in your pants.”
Ouch.I winced, feeling the sting of his barbed words. Maybe if I could have resisted Cooper that night he’d waited at the B&B, none of this would have happened. But I couldn’t bring myself to regret it, not when Cooper had become so important to me. I loved him, and I would never regret that.
“I know how this must look to you,” I said. “I’m sorry you found out this way, but I really can’t be sorry it happened. I care about Cooper too much for that.”
