One Look: A grumpy, single dad small town romance(17)

MJ smiled but looked away, and my heart squeezed in my chest at the women’s soft and comforting exchange. My lifestyle didn’t lend itself to forming lifelong bonds or close friendships. While I had some girlfriends from high school, most of those had faded away with time and distance. I loved meeting new people and exploring new places, but there was something to be said about being tied to a place. Having a history and people who understood it with only a look.

“So you’re staying at the Highfield House? Kind of big for just one person.” MJ promptly changed the subject.

“Sort of. The barn apartment?” Both women nodded. “Though I did see Wyatt checking out the main house today.” I tried to keep my voice indifferent, but inside I was dying to know if they would share any other information about the broody middle Sullivan brother.

“That’s weird.” Annie took another bite of food and scrunched her face. “I saw him and Penny leaving town on my way in, and I assumed he was headed back to St. Fowler.”

Oddly, my heart sank, just a little.





8





WYATT





“This place sucks.”

I frowned at Penny’s words, not because she was seven and shouldn’t be saying shit like that, but because I couldn’t really argue her point. “Language, Pickle.”

Her eyes widened. “What? I could have said ‘this place freaking sucks,’ but I didn’t!”

I shook my head to stifle my laughter and bundled the covers under her chin. “You’re making me old and gray.”

“Daddy, it does suck.” Her pout deepened. “I miss Uncle Lee and Aunt Tootie. Even Uncle Duke said that next time we went home, he’d take me out on the tractor.”

Home.

A few days in Outtatowner and Penny already considered it more of a home than this place.

I smoothed my hands down her arms. “I know it’s hard, but we’re still new here. We just have to make it our own. We’ve got this. Two against the world, right?” I touched the tip of my nose to hers.

Her freshly minty breath whooshed over me as she grumbled. “Two against the world.”

I lifted my head and smoothed back her hair. Penny had become everything. More important than a big cushy NFL paycheck. More than a Super Bowl ring I’d never get to wear. More than anything I could think of. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

“Can I call Mom tomorrow?”

“’Course, baby. First thing, if you want to.” My thoughts flicked to my ex, Bethany. We’d burned hot and bright, but flamed out fast. I wish I could say that we tried to make things work, but the truth was, when she ended up pregnant after our third date and needed a paternity test from me and two other teammates, things fizzled fast. While we’d never discussed anything long term, I had wrongly assumed exclusivity was a part of the deal. I’d learned a lot since then.

I did what I could to support Bethany throughout the pregnancy, but she didn’t seem to want much. We’d talked about options, including adoption, but in the end I just couldn’t agree to it. Bethany said she’d never really considered children and didn’t want the responsibility, which I could respect. She’d signed over her parental rights, and I became a single dad to the greatest kid on the planet.

And I’d make that choice again in a heartbeat.

Penny talked to her mom often, and I paid for regular visits and flights whenever either asked. Once I wrapped my head around the fact that we were having a kid, I vowed to never talk shit about Penny’s mother, and I was proud I’d kept up my end of the bargain.

There was nothing more important than Penny.

“Do we have to stay here?” Her soft whisper was so sad in the dim lighting of her bedroom.

My voice felt rusty. How do you break the heart of a seven-year-old? “I don’t know, Pickle, but I’ll figure something out.”

I kissed my daughter good night, flicked on her night-light, and walked toward the door before stopping. She was already looking at me expectantly.

My smile widened and my chest pinched. “One more. One more.” I never left without just one more hug, and she knew it.

I bent and Penny’s arms wrapped around my neck. “Thank you, Daddy.”

I wasn’t sure what she was thanking me for just yet. Leaving St. Fowler and staying in my hometown would cost me nearly everything in terms of focus and how that could impact my career, but being her dad was everything.

As her bedroom door clicked behind me, I pulled my phone from my pocket and started making calls.





“Is the queen satisfied?” I swooped into a dramatic bow as I pushed open another bedroom door.

“It’s perfect!” Penny’s squeal could break glass. She was full of shit; the house itself was grimy and needed serious cleaning, but she was in love.

“Ours forever?” Penny twirled, and her little feet created a semicircle of dust on the floorboards.

“Definitely not. It’s temporary. Let’s see how the summer goes.” I didn’t want to make any promises to her if I couldn’t keep them, but after her sullen, heartsick words a few days ago, I immediately started making arrangements to spend the summer in Outtatowner. Being only forty miles from the university, I’d managed to convince myself, and the board I reported to, that I could be the perfect dad and a successful head coach.