Page 73 of Thoroughly Innocent Intent

Iglanceatmywatch, wondering if it’s too early to cut out. Between holiday parties and fundraisers I’ve hardly seen Sam the last few weeks, and even though she’s busy with yet another event tonight, I’d rather wait for her at home than stay at a party where everyone but me has someone special with them.

“Planning your exit?”

I turn to the voice I don’t recognize. It might be unfamiliar, but the face isn’t, although I can’t place it.

“Chris.” He extends his hand. “We met a while back, you talked me through some female trouble I was having. With the romance novelist.”

Now I remember. It was nearly a year ago, this guy found out his woman was moonlighting as a romance author, and he was afraid that might impact their careers. Something in education if my memory is correct.

“How’d that turn out?” I shake his hand. He holds up his left hand, wiggling the fingers to show off a wedding band. “Good for you.” I clink my water bottle against his beer. “I thought you worked in education, not football?”

“I invest in lots of things. The wife and I are both football fans, so I bought a suite. That gets us an invite to team events like this.”

“Enjoying yourself?” I sip my water before setting it back on the bar.

“I am. I get the feeling you aren’t though.”

“That obvious?”

“Let’s just say you look about the same way I did the first time we met. I’m not sure I can help with that, but you did say maybe one day I’d return the favor, so I’m willing if you are.”

It’s a risk to talk about my personal life with anyone but my closest friends, but seeing as how Chris and I have been down this road before I take a chance.

“I’m going to assume you know about my girlfriend, but what you might not know is I have a daughter. One I haven’t always been there for. I take care of her,” I rush to clarify, “but I’m probably more of a friend than a dad.”

Chris nods his head. “Are you worried about your daughter accepting her?”

“No. It’s more that my girlfriend, Sam, has a big heart, and I can see her wanting to have kids one day.”

“You don’t want any more?” Chris arches a brow.

“Want has nothing to do with it. I’m not sure I should. I wasn’t exactly father of the year the first time around.” I twist my bottle on the bar top, focusing on it so I don’t have to look at Chris. Just because I’m not the type to hide from my mistakes doesn’t mean I like admitting them.

“When we first met, did I tell you about what I do?” He takes a seat next to me.

“No.”

“I help start new businesses. I take them from idea to reality.”

“Okay?” I’m not following, but I’ll play along.

“I wasn’t good at it right away. I wasn’t terrible, but I had to fail a few times before I started to get things right.”

“Are you comparing starting companies to being a dad?” His meaning dawns on me.

“Only in the sense that if I let my first missteps keep me from trying again, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

“Where is that?” I take another sip of my water.

“I’m one of the most successful angel investors in the city. My background helped my brother get his dream company off the ground, the same company where I met my wife.” He raises his left hand again. “None of that would have happened if I let my earlier screw ups get in the way.”

“You’re saying I could do better the second time around?”

“How could you not? You know what mistakes to avoid this time.” He lifts his drink in a mock toast.

“What if I make new ones?”

“You probably will. I still do. And each time I slip up I learn from it.”

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