Page 76 of Saving the Single Dad

His head turned, his eyes glossy. “No, it’s just me you’d risk losing.”

“Liam…”

His hand went to the door, his back to me as he began to leave.

“I’ll respect your wishes, Haley, but I won’t like them. And I’ll never be okay with you not being mine. So, if along the way you decide that you want to be with someone else, all bets are off. I’m coming for you, that’s the only warning you get. We’re not dating other people. Not fucking them. Not anything, do you understand?”

My voice came out rattled as I said, “Yes.”

His head lowered, then he left.

Tears soaked my lashes as fat drops fell down my nose, and over my lips. Salt touched my tongue as I inhaled a deep breath. I stayed on his desk for a bit, pulling myself together, and then I left.

* * *

By the timeI picked up the girls from the bus stop, they had no idea that I was all broken porcelain pieces on the inside. I kept a smile on my face, which wasn’t as hard as I first assumed. The girls made me laugh, which was always a strange balm to my frayed emotions.

I made dinner like usual, but I ate mine early while watching a few of the girls’ favorite shows, so by the time Liam came home, they were ready to eat with him and I left for the evening. The first time I left without giving Liam any second glances, or having him walk me to my car, was like fighting a wave.

I wanted to look back.

I wanted him to walk me to my car, and I could tell by the way he hung back, he wanted to as well. But once that door clicked shut behind me, I knew this would be our new normal.

I asked for a divide, and Liam had no choice but to give it to me.

* * *

That first night,I ended up at the diner and slumped down into the same booth that I had been in when the girls first came up to me. I ordered pie and hoped it would soothe the weird chasm in my chest that had opened.

I wasn’t really paying attention to any of the other patrons until Tammy, the original waitress who’d waited on me, stood next to my table.

“Looks like Macon is starting to dull your shine.”

I glanced up from my game of solitaire that I was playing on my phone and gave her a pathetic smile.

“Yep, guess I’m not made for Macon,” I joked, adjusting into the booth. My chest hurt. Why did it already hurt this bad?

Tammy gave me a pitying look before clicking her tongue.

“None of us are, honey. This mountain was made for bears, deer, and wild cats. We’re all just a bunch of idiots up here trying to coexist with them.”

Hadn’t really thought of it that way before.

“Here’s your pie, and can I just give you a little piece of advice?” she asked, sliding the steaming rhubarb in front of me.

My mouth watered immediately, not really processing her words, but I nodded anyway.

“In order to last in the mountains of Macon, you have to find something that makes you feel as solid as the trees that grow here—something or someone. I’m still working on that, but the people who last here, they’ve found the right people. It’s like finding your very own mountain peak inside of someone. Isn’t that a crazy thing to even think? Have you been up to the top of Mount Macon yet?”

My fork sank into the flaky crust as I tried to swallow the thick lump in my throat.

“No, not yet.”

Tammy’s eyes rounded as she gripped her hip. “You gotta go, there’s a whole trailhead and everything. I think it’s right off the main road, with a sign—”

“Tammy!” someone yelled from the back counter.

My waitress winced as Millie, the owner made her way out.

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