Chapter 12 Dean
DEAN
Dad Company (But Sometimes Good Advice)
Dean Briggs: Hey, guys, it’s me again. While the mother of my child is pregnant and I’m helping her, how do I prevent attachment? I don’t do that kind of thing.
Comments:
Robert Colt: ??? You don’t do attachment? You’re gonna be a dad. That comes with some element of attachment.
Dean Briggs: Yeah, I know. I’ll deal with that later. One day at a time, right?
Ryan Kim: You might wanna look inward on this one. Attachment isn’t inherently a bad thing.
Graham Hamilton: Hey, maybe he’s been hurt before. Just help from a distance and watch out for her hinting at child support and wanting money from you.
Ryan Kim: Child support is very common, Graham.
Graham Hamilton: Some women are only in it for the money.
Robert Colt: And he broke rule one again. Can someone delete that?
“You’re not slick, you know that, right?” Wren said it to me the second I walked into our next job. She’d given me work on the apartment above the coffee shop. I was looking forward to starting on it.
“I promise I won’t start drama with dinner.”
“That was your normal thing.” She waved her hand. “I mean, what you did outside.”
I shrugged, choosing to play dumb. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You fixed that loose plank.”
“What loose plank? I don’t think there’s one there now.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She rolled her eyes, but then smiled. “But that was the right thing to do. I’m sure she’ll thank you, if she doesn’t kill you first.”
“I like to ask for forgiveness. Not permission. And I knew that look. She’s overwhelmed. I might as well take something off her plate.”
I didn’t mention the fact that I was the reason she was overwhelmed. I didn’t know when I could.
Grace and I had a lot to talk about, which was why dinner was a good idea. I needed to make it clear that she could ask anything she needed of me. I wished she’d called me and not Wren first. I needed to fix what I’d messed up.
“That was actually sweet. Who knew you had it in you?”
My shoulders tensed. I still didn’t want to be seen as what I wasn’t. Maybe I should’ve worked out the deal when Grace and I were alone.
“Now, our job,” I reminded Wren. “We’re working in the apartment above Theo’s coffee shop, right?”
She blinked at the topic change, but nodded. “Yep. I have all the permits and just need to rewire it.”
“What’s the plan here? Is Theo gonna live here?”
“No, he has his own place. This is for someone else to move into.”
“Is Theo okay with that?”
“He doesn’t own it,” Wren said. “He rents it from the grant, and they approved me to fix up all the apartments I want to.”
“All of them?”
“Yep. So you can join. They’re even paying the full rates.”
I turned to her. “A grant agreed to the rates we usually charge the big businesses?”
“Yep. Didn’t even bat an eye.”
“I . . . what grant is this?”
“You’re asking the same questions I am.” She only shrugged. “But it does pay, and I wanna use it while it’s here. Besides, I have to be competitive to keep you here.”
“I thought you didn’t want me here to cause problems.” It was supposed to come out light, like a joke. But bitterness had crept in.
“I only meant don’t break hearts,” she said. “But I figured you would do what you wanted. And then you surprised me.”
I hadn’t surprised her. She just didn’t know what I’d done.
The fact of the matter was, Wren was right to try and warn me. I didn’t listen, and look at where I got. I did hope that when the news came out, it didn’t reflect badly on her. That would only make me feel worse.
“Yeah, I surprised you.”
“Anyway, I’m sorry if I came off rude. I just really like it here.”
And she didn’t want me messing it up.
“I know,” I said. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Even if you’re not—”
“The apartment,” I said. “Can you show me around? I don’t wanna keep you too late.”
“Right, the apartment. You’re always very on topic when you’re avoiding things.” She smirked at me and led me inside.
I was glad when I knew what I needed to do and was able to get to work.
I had a lot on my mind. I needed to figure out how long I could stay before I ruined what I had with Clyde.
Mom had talked to him, and he told me to take the time I needed, but I hated having to use that.
I’d never left him high and dry before like this.
There were too many things to figure out, including how to not mess things up with Grace again. It had been a long time since I was anyone other than the playboy. I didn’t know if I knew how to connect at all.
Much less connect and not get attached.
The air was cold and the square was dark when Wren called it for the day and kicked me out of the apartment.
When I got outside, I realized that the square was lit again.
The first time I’d been here, I was struck by how much someone cared about this place.
Most small towns were run-down, but this one felt like it was up-and-coming.
I had a feeling it would be short-lived. But it was still nice to see for now. Back when I was young, everything had this glow. That had faded over the years.
When I got to my truck, I paused. The plan had been to go back to my hotel, but being alone would make all the thoughts of my future come back, and I was exhausted from ruminating on everything I’d fucked up over the last few days.
Bell’s Brews was fun the first time I went, and I couldn’t say no to a beer. When I walked in, it was slower than it was the last time. There was just Mark and Hugh, who were playing cards at a table alone.
“Oh, look who it is. I heard you were back in town,” Mark said.
“Just for a short while,” I replied. “Wren has more things for me to rewire.”
“It’s good to see you.”
I nodded before turning to Hugh. “Hey, Hugh.”
He huffed. “You remembered my name? You must like me or something.”
“I remembered to take care of my truck. I fixed the dent a while ago.”
“Good. Don’t go hitting any more stop signs.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
He didn’t grace me with a response, and I walked up to the bar.
“Want what you got last time?”
I blinked in shock. “There’s no way you remember that.”
“Kid, this ain’t one of those big bars in the city. I remember everything. Too much, even.” He shuddered.
I almost asked, but it wasn’t my business.
“Yes, please.”
He disappeared and brought back my beer. “How’ve you been?”
“Busy,” I said. “Uh, you?”
Mark laughed. “You’re not the best at small talk, huh? If you prefer your beer in private, I can leave you alone.”
“I’m trying not to be rude.”
“We have city people come in here all the time. They all are a little different.”
I opened my mouth to say I wasn’t from the city, that I used to be just like everyone else here, but I was cut off.
“He could come sit with me,” Hugh said.
“You want someone to sit with you?” I asked.
“You better not offer to play poker with him,” Mark said. “I can’t watch you swindle someone else.”
“Now hang on a second.” I shook my head. “Who said he’d win?”
“You could put money on it, if you want.” Hugh gave me a rare smile.
“Ten bucks.”
“That’s baby money, but sure.”
“It’s your loss,” Mark said with a shrug. “Come see me if you need to wallow in another beer.”
“You know Texas Hold’em?” he asked.
“I do.”
“Spend a lot of time in bars, don’t ya?”
“That’s also true. Oldest goes first.”
“You’ll regret that.” Hugh was either lucky or knew what he was doing. I knew better than to underestimate a man like him. Clyde always gave me a run for my money too.
Hugh wound up winning the first round. And the second one.
But I was close to winning both times.
“I see I finally have a challenge,” Hugh said. “None of the idiots here play like you do.”
“I was worried no one here would measure up.”
Hugh made a sound that was close to a laugh as he dealt the next round. Eventually, he came out on top again.
“Dammit,” I muttered.
“I shoulda made you bet more.”
“We can have a rematch next time.”
“Come in when there isn’t one of those sissy concerts, and you’re on.”
I laughed and handed him his money.
“So, why are you back?” he asked, eyeing me. “Something here catch your attention?”
“Just good work. I never turn it down.” I thanked every god I knew that my voice sounded normal.
“Really? That’s it? You kept looking at someone last time.”
My shoulders tensed. “I get over those things quickly.”
Hugh hummed, still watching me as I stood to get another drink. “We’ll see about that.”
“Well, that could have gone worse,” Mark said. He handed me a second beer. “He almost tolerated you.”
“At least he’s good at poker.”
“He smokes anyone else who’s dumb enough to play him. Maybe one day you’ll break his streak.”
“He got lucky this time.”
“So, that means there’ll be a next time?” Mark asked. “I can stock more of your beer if so.”
I wanted to say yes. Even if this bar was a bright spot in a town I didn’t like, I’d always be tied to here.
But the idea of promising anything to a small town sounded wrong.
“We’ll see,” I said. “Who knows where life will take us?”
“That’s a cop-out answer.” Mark shook his head. “But I’ll hold out hope.”