Chapter 34
All my life I thought I knew who I was. Then, Sophia happened.
Flynn
I slam the hammer down but miss the nail. I hit the wood instead and the beam breaks into pieces.
“Fuck!” I shout and throw the hammer on the ground.
“Er… boss?”
I whirl around to glare at my foreman. “What?”
Gary holds up his hands and backs away. “Maybe you should take a break. Have some lunch?”
Damn it! I shouldn’t be yelling at my crew. “Sorry. I’ll be in the trailer if you need me.”
“We won’t need you,” he mutters as I pass him.
I shove the door to the trailer open and it hits the wall before bouncing back.
“Uh oh. Someone’s in a bad mood.”
Great. This is what I need. A confrontation with my best friend. I prefer to limit my confrontations to one a day but guess I’m not getting a choice. “What are you doing here?”
Weston spins around on my desk chair until he comes into view. “I’m here to kick your ass.”
“Can we do this outside?” I motion to the door.
He stands. “I don’t care where we do this. But it’s happening.”
“I know. I’m surprised you didn’t try to kick my ass last week at the police station.”
He growls. “You think I’m kicking your ass because you’re dating my sister?”
“Why else are you here? You gave me an ultimatum. You or her.”
“You’re an idiot.”
I know. I never should have let Sophia walk away from me this morning. I should have ran her down. Chased her car. Made her listen to me. But I didn’t. I’m a coward.
“You’re clueless, aren’t you?” I don’t answer since I don’t know where Weston’s going with this. “I’m not here to kick your ass for dating my sister. I’m here to kick your ass for breaking my sister’s heart.”
“You’re the one who told me to choose.”
He growls. “You were supposed to choose her.”
“What?” I rear back. “Was this all some fucking test?”
“Yep. And you proved you’re not good enough for Sophia.”
“Fuck. You. I was being loyal to my best friend.”
He snorts. “Do you think I didn’t know you were running around with Sophia before the night you got arrested for stealing the mascot?”
I frown. I did actually.
“Of course, I knew. The entire town of Smuggler’s Rest saw you at the arcade. I must have gotten a hundred messages.”
“You were supposed to be busy on the other side of the island.”
“Dude, this is Smuggler’s Hideaway. There are no secrets on the island no matter how many sheep I have to chase off the road for tourists.”
I rub a hand down my face. Somehow this situation has gotten entirely out of my control.
“I know you’ve wanted Sophia since she kissed you all those years ago.”
“What?” He knew?
“Why do you think I teamed up with her friends so she had to live with you?”
“Lot of good it did. I love Sophia, but now I’ve lost her.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “You love Little Lamb?”
I growl. “Do not call Sophia Little Lamb. She hates it.”
He grins. “You really do love my sister.”
My heart seizes in my chest. “I love Sophia, but I lost her.”
“Dude.” He slaps me on the back. “Go get her back.”
I could plead my case. Maybe she’ll give me a second chance. “She’s never going to forgive me after today.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “What did you do? Did you hurt her? Do I need to kick your ass?”
“She ran away from me and I didn’t chase her.”
He blows out a breath. “This isn’t going to be easy to fix. Sophia wants someone who will fight for her.”
I nod. “I know. She thinks she’s not worthy of someone fighting for her.”
How she could possibly think she isn’t worthy is beyond me. Sophia is worth everything.
“Why didn’t you fight for her?”
“I froze when she said she loves me. It’s been a long time since someone said they love me. Since my mom died.”
He squeezes my shoulder. “If you love her, you can make this right. Don’t run away the way your father did.”
“I am not my father,” I grumble. I would never cheat on Sophia. If she forgives me, I’ll never leave her side. She’ll be stuck with me until we’re old and gray.
With a start, I realize it’s true. I am not my father. I didn’t realize how worried I was about becoming my father until this very moment. But I’m not him. I’m the man Jack formed me into. Dad had nothing to do with the man I am today.
Weston nods. “Good. Prove it.”
“You seriously approve of me dating your sister?”
“I can’t think of a better man for my sister to be with.”
“You asshole. You put me through hell.”
He shrugs. “It’s my duty as a big brother.”
“But what about your dad? He won’t want me with his daughter.”
“Why not?”
I scratch my neck. “Do I need to remind you of how you didn’t approve of me dating Sophia less than five minutes ago?”
“Go ask Dad if you don’t believe me.” He herds me toward the door. “Come on. I’ll drive. We can strategize a plan on the way.”
Ask Jack? Yes, I need to speak to Sophia’s father. It’s his approval I need. Not my best friend’s.
It isn’t long before we’re parking in front of Milton Hardware.
“He’s in the back,” Weston says before veering off toward the cash register.
My steps slow as I walk down the hallway toward the office. What am I going to say to Jack? Will he approve of me dating his daughter? Will he say I’m not good enough?
I hesitate for a moment before entering the office.
“It’s about time you got here,” Jack says.
“You were expecting me?”
“Lily’s been at Bootlegger with Sophia and her girls for nearly an hour. I figured you’d be here by now.”
He knew I was coming here? I didn’t know until ten minutes ago.
“I’m sorry. I have no idea what’s happening right now.”
He motions to the chair across from his desk. “Have a seat.” He pours two glasses of whiskey and hands one to me. “You’re going to need this.”
“Are you planning to get me drunk and duct tape me to the flagpole naked?”
“Nah.” He smirks. “I figure my daughter will humiliate you enough before she forgives you.”
I sip on the whiskey for courage. “Your daughter?”
He chuckles. “Are you planning on pretending you haven’t been dating Sophia? I thought I taught you not to lie.”
“You did, sir.”
“Yet you tried to hide your relationship with my daughter.”
Screw sipping on the whiskey for courage. I gulp it down. I allow the burn to fortify me. “I wasn’t hiding our relationship.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell Sophia to keep your involvement quiet?”
I hold out my glass for a refill. I’m going to need it for this conversation. He fills it, and I sip on the whiskey as I prepare my response. Jack doesn’t give me a chance.
“Didn’t I teach you omission is the same as a lie?”
I clear my throat. “You did, sir.”
“And yet you omitted to tell me or Lily or Weston you were involved with Sophia?”
“I… um… was worried about your response.”
“Worried about our response?”
“Weston didn’t take the news well.”
“Weston’s a hothead who refuses to believe Sophia is a grown woman who can make her own choices.”
“What do you believe?”
“I believe Lily and I raised a strong daughter who knows her own mind. Who isn’t going to let a man roll over her. Who isn’t going to tolerate a man who doesn’t fight for her.”
I wince. I should have known better than to let Weston get in my head. Sophia must be pissed I didn’t fight for her this morning.
“But what if she makes the wrong choice? What will you do then?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. She hasn’t made the wrong choice yet. Or has she?”
My heart pounds in my chest. “I’m not the wrong choice?”
“What the hell, Flynn? Of course, you’re not. Do you think I’d have let you live in my house with my wife and daughter if I hadn’t believed in you?”
“But I was a troubled teen.”
“You were a teen who’d lost his mother and his father and had no support.” He leans forward. “In case this isn’t perfectly clear, I’m proud of the man you’ve become. I love you like a son. I can’t think of a better man to be with my daughter.”
His words wash over me and all the guilt I’ve been carrying flows away. His words are the ones I needed to hear. His approval is what I needed. Everything I needed.
I blink to stop the tears welling in my eyes from falling. “Thank you, sir.”
“Good.” Weston barges into the room. “You’re done with your talk.” He rubs his hands together. “Time to figure out a plan for you to get Sophia back.”
I stand. “She’s at Bootlegger. I’ll go speak to her now.”
Weston bursts into laughter. “You’re an idiot if you think speaking to her is enough. You need to go big or go home.”
I groan. Weston reminds me of his sister. “Do you have an idea?”
He grins. “I happen to have several.”
I should probably run while I have the chance. His ideas are going to be outrageous. But I don’t run. I’m not my father. I don’t run away from my problems.
“Let’s hear them.”