Page 93 of The Single Dad Project

“I know you can’t stay,” she murmured against his mouth. “You need to get home to Jussy. But have you eaten? I brought home tons of leftovers. Moe made sure I didn’t leave without enough for at least a week.”

Adam squinted, and his stomach rumbled at the mention of food. Jennifer had just brought Jussy home when he’d asked her to stay while he left to check on Flo. He’d been too worried to concern himself with dinner.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Flo snickered and started to rise from the couch. “I’ll go get a plate together for you.”

“No,” he said, setting a hand on her slim thigh. “I have it. You just got home. Relax.”

“I’m not going to argue,” she joked, sinking back down. “Take whatever you want. I haven’t put the food in the refrigerator yet, so everything should still be warm.”

“Got it.”

He headed for the kitchen. Like she said, the food was still warm. He made a plate and threw it into the microwave to give it more heat. By the time he returned to the living room, Flo had opened her mail. Head bent over an unfolded sheet of paper, she didn’t look up as he lowered to the couch, completely engrossed in what she was reading.

Frowning, he set his plate on the table. Her grip tightened on the letter to the point where it crinkled in the silence.

“Hey,” Adam murmured, cupping her bended knee. “You good? Is everything okay?”

Finally, she lifted her head with a look of such awe that it took him aback. His grip on her tightened. “Flo?”

She blinked. Then her face broke out in a delighted grin; it lit her up like one of the flashes on her cameras.

“I can’t believe this,” she whispered. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this.”

“Baby, what?” He shifted closer, his hand moving to her thigh. “What’s going on?”

“A job. I’ve been offered a job.” She laughed, her head falling back, and she murmured something he didn’t catch. When her gaze met his again, excitement gleamed there. “I can’t believe this,” she repeated for the third time, shaking her head and holding up the paper. “I didn’t think I would...”

“Flo,” he said her name again, firmer. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m sorry. God.” She laughed once more. “I’m not making sense. You remember when we met, and I told you about the terrible trip to Thailand? About my former professor and mentor?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I knew Paul would start some kind of whisper campaign against me. He was so petulant, so angry, that I recorded the video and threatened him. I had zero doubts he would try and sabotage me. But he didn’t. Or rather, he couldn’t. This—” she held the paper up higher “—is from the new dean of the College of Fine Arts, a position formerly held by Paul Coolidge. Apparently, a student came forward and complained about inappropriate behavior, and this revealed that it hadn’t been the first time. Which led to one of my colleagues on the Thailand trip—a colleague who had remained silent—coming forward several weeks ago and relating everything that happened with me.”

“Flo. God.” He exhaled, and it ended on a stunned laugh. “That’s amazing. I wish that person would’ve had your back sooner, but it still took courage to speak out. I’m happy for you.”

She nodded, still appearing a little dazed with the turn of events.

“It did take courage. And I’m thankful. But that’s not all the new dean wanted. She reviewed my portfolio and admired it. She has contacted a friend of hers who is looking for a photographer to accompany her on a trip to Kenya. The woman is an author and she’s writing a book about her family, tracing it back to the Nilote ethnic group, specifically the Turkana tribe. It’ll take about three weeks, but the author is paying well, and the dean thinks I would be perfect for the assignment.” Flo fell back against the arm of the couch. “I can’t... Who would’ve thought the day would end likethis?”

Her delight permeated the room, and ice threaded through his veins, covering his chest in a frozen sheet. Not shock.

Fear.

And resignation.

Flo, oblivious, threw her hands up, the letter with the job offer still clutched in her fist.

“I’d kind of given up on having another opportunity at a dream job like Thailand. At least not anytime soon. But this... I get a redo. AndKenya,” she breathed. “This is more than I dreamed.”

“Congratulations,” Adam said. It sounded flat, dull, even to his own ears. And he hated it. Hated the numbness that coated him from the inside out instead of feeling the excitement and happiness that radiated off her. “I’m happy for you. This is a wonderful opportunity.”

Flo slowly lowered the paper, her gaze sharpening on him even as a small frown creased her brow. “You don’t sound happy.” She tilted her head. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s nothing wrong,” he lied. “This is an amazing career opportunity, and I’m thrilled you have this chance.”

He’d known this would happen. Had predicted it. But at some point during the past few weeks, he’d gotten caught up in this...thing with Flo. Had let himself forget that history could, and probably would, repeat itself. Even with Jennifer sitting in his house as a reminder, he’d allowed himself to get comfortable, to...believe.

---