Page 41 of Meant for Me
Owen tilted his head, studied him. “A peacock?”
Noah guffawed.
“Very funny.” Cade opened a new lure from a package. “Just because I dress nice and know brand names doesn’t mean I’m flashy.”
Noah grinned. “I think that’s exactly what it means.”
“Hey, remember that time my daughter I didn’t know about showed up on my literal doorstep?” Linc raised his free hand in the air. “Can we insult each other later?”
“I think we might be insulting the animal kingdom at this point.” Noah cast his line into the water.
Cade ignored him, looking back at Linc. “I think you two just have to grow into this. It’s only been a few days—I doubt anyone adjusts to something this big that fast.”
“How long is she staying?” Owen asked.
“That’s part of the problem. We don’t know.” Linc felt a tug on his line, tugged back. Whatever it was slipped away. He began reeling in his empty line. “But I don’t think they’ll let her go back to Kirsten at this point after so many abandonments. Not without court interference.”
“Maybe they’d make her do a program first or something.” Noah twisted to look at Linc. “That’d be a good thing, right?”
Linc paused. “From what it sounds like, I don’t know that Kirsten would commit to something like that. And the last thing Amelia needs is all this back and forth.” He filled the guys in on what Ms. Bridges said about Kirsten’s past absences. “There’s been substance abuse too, but it’s not just that. I mean, it’s not like there are programs to convince mothers not to leave their kids for their new crushes.”
Owen stared soberly into the water. “That’s awful.”
“Yeah.” Linc knew how to pick ’em. Good thing he hadn’t tried again much over the years—who knows what he would have caught? He pulled his line free of the water, frowned at the empty hook.
Was it even worth re-rigging bait?
“And Zoey is staying with you too?” Cade shot Linc a look over his shoulder as he fiddled with his lure.
“Wait. I didn’t hear that part.” Owen’s brow furrowed. “Is that true?”
Linc groaned. “Relax, PK. Nothing shady about it.”
“Hey, I had the same thought, and I’m not a pastor’s kid.” Noah reeled in his line. “I didn’t realize that’s where Zoey went when she moved out of the Blue Pirogue.”
Wouldn’t have had to move out if Noah and Elisa had kept their conversation private, from what Zoey had eventually admitted to him. She’d kill Linc if he let that slip, though, and he didn’t need that. Zoey angry at him seemed to tilt the entire universe, and his was lopsided enough right now as it was.
He motioned for Owen to hand him a drink from the cooler. “It’s not a big deal, guys.” But maybe it was, if Mama D and his friends were all saying the same thing. His stomach clenched.
Cade recast his line. “I guess technically you guys have a chaperone, now that Amelia is living there too.”
“We don’t need a chaperone. It’sZoey.” The same protest he’d given for years slipped free automatically, and the words tasted, well…not as true. Not a lie, really. But not true either.
The guys shot each other a look.
Owen passed him a sparkling water instead of a beer. Linc scowled at it, then popped the top.
“Besides, having another woman around probably makes Amelia feel more comfortable.” That had to be true. Another thought dawned. “It’s not like I can be home all the time getting this tour business going. And Amelia can’t be alone.” He lifted his can in a toast. “See? All’s well that ends well.”
The guys stared, unconvinced. Fair enough, since he wasn’t really either.
Noah broke the silence first. “But you’re playing house, dude.” He rested his rod against the pier and crossed his arms over his flannel shirt. “That never goes well.”
Linc took a long drag from the can, the bubbles burning his throat. “Isn’t Elisa living with you?”
Noah frowned. “It’s aninn. We’re not the only ones there, and she’s on a different floor.”
“And Zoey is down the hall, along with Amelia.” Linc shrugged. “What’s the difference?”
