Theo #2
It was bigger than what I was used to—and quiet. So, so utterly quiet. I didn’t know how people survived this kind of silence. It was deafening. It was haunting.
“So,” Mom said, groaning softly as she sat on the couch—a brand new white couch I’d bought specifically for this place. “What do you think?”
“I think it needs a lot of work.” I flexed my fingers. “It’s going to be an expensive remodel, and a pain in the ass. But I can’t live like this.” I flicked my hand around the room.
She shrugged. “I think it’s charming.”
I snorted. “ Charming is what people say about old houses that need a remodel.”
“Oh my god, there’s a pool!” Trinity cried from somewhere in the house. Her footsteps echoed as she thundered into the casual living room. “Can I move in?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Come on,” she whined. “I’ll even babysit for free.”
“Scout doesn’t need a babysitter,” I said.
“I was talking about you.”
I didn’t have the energy to laugh, to do anything but stare at her while her joke crashed and burned. Her shoulders dipped slightly, and I saw the disappointment flash across her face before she covered it up with another smile.
“We should order pizza,” she said. “Or Chinese, maybe? What does Scout like?—”
“Maybe we should leave them alone tonight,” Mom said gently. “Let them get settled.”
I was thankful she intervened but also wasn’t ready for them to leave. For me to be alone.
But I couldn’t get the words out. I couldn’t ask them to stay.
“We’ll have dinner tomorrow, alright?” I told Trin, and she perked up.
“Scout, too?” The hope in her voice gutted me.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “If she wants to go.”
“We can go to Dockside,” Mom suggested. “Willow and Ronan can meet us there.”
“And Brynne,” Trinity added. “She just got back the other night, but I haven’t seen her much.”
“Why don’t we just have a party?” I laughed sarcastically, but Trinity’s entire face lit up.
“Oh, my god. You should have a party!” She threw her arms out wide as she spun in a circle. “A housewarming party! It’ll be so fun. I mean, look at this place. It’s just begging for some streamers and music and alcohol.”
“I bet Gracie would bring dessert if we asked her,” Mom added, and Trin nodded.
“And Lola could cater the food,” she said, but Mom scrunched her nose. “Right. I really don’t understand how they have such terrible food now. It used to be so good.”
“It’s that new cook,” Mom said, wagging her finger. “Lola would be much better off finding someone new.”
“Maybe I’ll apply,” Trin said thoughtfully.
I nearly laughed, and from the expression on Mom’s face, I knew she was holding it in too. “Sure, honey. Or just stick with your job at the sheriff’s department. Ronan loves having you there.”
“Of course he does.” Trinity folded her arms across her chest. “I’m a damn delight.”
Mom pushed off the couch and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Call if you need anything,” she said, and I nodded absently. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
After a quick goodbye hug, they were gone, and I was alone. I hesitated before making my way to the stairs. What if Scout was hungry but didn’t tell me? What if she snuck out and tried to find a way back to New York?
Climbing the stairs to her room felt like climbing the stairs to the gallows. Dread coiled in my stomach with every step down the long hallway. Nothing was on the walls yet. There were no rugs. There was nothing but me, a house full of furniture, and a tween girl who wanted nothing to do with me.
My, how the mighty have fallen.
I stopped outside her door and gently tapped my knuckles against it. “Hey, uh, Scout? You hungry?”
Nothing. Not even a smidge of acknowledgement.
“I can order—” What the fuck could I order in this town? “I can—” I was floundering, just like I had been every day for the last three months.
The door swung open. Scout’s eyes were swollen and red, but her face was as fierce as always. “I’m not hungry.”
“You’re sure? I can go to the store and get?—”
“What?” she shot back. “What will you get? A disgusting kale salad? More quinoa chips that taste like cardboard? Or maybe you want me to drink algae again?”
I blinked.
“Kale isn’t disgusting,” I muttered under my breath. “I could get—” I nearly choked on the word. “ Pizza .”
She let out a long sigh, and without a word, slammed the door.
“I guess that’s no to the pizza.” I squeezed my hands into fists as I took a deep breath before slowly releasing it.
I grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen before heading to my bedroom on the third floor.
It was big, with a new bed I still needed to make, all new furniture, and a likely hazardous fireplace on one wall.
A door led into the attached bathroom, another to the massive walk-in closet, and on the other side of the room, a set of double doors led out onto a balcony overlooking the ocean.
I walked out, cringing as the hinges on the doors squealed. The air was humid, but cool, and I leaned against the railing, setting my glass on the water-logged wood. I braced myself, half expecting it to give out. With my luck, I’d tumble to the dunes below and break my neck.
When the wood stayed intact, I let out a long breath, tipping my head back to look at the moon. Loneliness set in. It was a feeling I’d become more and more familiar with over the last few months. No one wanted to hang out with a single dad—not even his own damn kid.
I pinched between my eyes before pulling my phone out of my pocket. No messages. No missed calls. No DMs. Not that I was surprised.
The only notification was a pop up from Pulse, asking if I wanted to change my location. I’d forgotten I even had the app installed.
Swiping my thumb along the screen, the app opened.
Its pink and orange logo was stark against the black backdrop.
The confirmation popped up, and I hesitated.
Did I want to do it—change my location? I didn’t have time to hook up, and I definitely didn’t have time to date.
And was there anyone to even choose from in Cedar Ridge?
Anyone I didn’t go to school with or watch grow up?
I groaned, feeling conflicted.
Maybe it would be a good way to just…pass time. To have a small taste of my old life.
I’d take a look at my options, and if no one stuck out, I’d delete the app. No harm. No foul.
I pressed confirm .
A photo of a blonde woman popped up. She was cute, but she was twenty-one. Too young for me. I swiped. A brunette, thirty, with a cat.
No, thank you.
I was not an animal guy. They made messes, left dander and fur everywhere, and were a commitment.
Three months ago, I was not a commitment guy. But that changed overnight.
I swiped again, and again, and again. No one caught my eye. No one made me want to stop and message, to try to make time to meet up.
But then I scrolled again, just one more time, and a pair of brown eyes, fiery red hair, and a full-figured, perfect body stared back at me.
My throat went dry. My palms began sweating. My cock started to harden.
She was in a silky, low-cut red dress that clung to her curves in the most sinful way, showing off the secret tattoo snaking down her arm. A diamond glinted between her full breasts from the necklace she always played with.
I swiped to the next photo. This one was closer to her face, her breasts still in view, and her lip between her teeth.
Fuck.
I reached down, adjusting myself. How did I never realize how hot my little sister’s best friend was before?
My thumb hovered over the message button, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. We’d always walked such a tightrope between flirting and teasing, and if I messaged her right now, I’d cross that line, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that.
I took a breath, flexing my fingers around the phone. I could stare at her pictures all fucking night, but I wouldn’t message.
I couldn’t .
Because I had a twelve-year-old kid demanding all my attention, and a fiery redhead would do nothing but distract me.