Page 37 of Falling for Her

“I can see that.”

“Well, apparently that made it okay for her to be with someone else, because I didn’t give her the attention she needed.” My mouth opens; I never expected that she would cheat on him. “I guess it was a blessing or whatever. She just married him, the day before you started, actually. They should be making their way through Europe. He has a job that’s nine-to-five and, to her, that’s everything.”

“She cheated on you with the guy and then ended up marrying him?” I’m not sure if I missed a step while we were talking.

“She sure did,” he confirms with a small smirk.

I think about the report the investigator gave me, and about all the women Davis had been fucking and probably still is. “I mean, at least she didn’t do it with multiple people. It was just one guy.”

“I guess so.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “I’ll thank her for that the next time she calls me.”

That makes me laugh. “That’s very mature of you,” I tease him, taking a sip of my coffee. “I’m not sure I’d be that mature. I mean, having to continue talking with your ex after she cheated. The only communication Davis is going to get out of me from now on will be through my lawyer.”

“Well, we have Asa, and the last thing I want is for it to be shitty for him.”

“You’re a good dad,” I assure him. “Not many men would be as mature as you are.”

“I guess I am. I just hope he thinks the same when he grows up.”

“He would be a fool not to think that.” I take another sip of my coffee. “You worked all day and came home and still spent time with him.”

“Speaking of work, I have to be on an assignment today, and I don’t know what time I’ll be home.”

“On an assignment? I thought you just worked at the police station.”

“I do. I’m just working on something else.”

“Like?”

He just looks at me. “I can’t share that with you. It’s top secret.”

I don’t know why I care, but when he says that, I do. I try to cover the fact that I’m hurt he doesn’t trust me. “I get it. I could be a planted mole, for all you know.” I laugh nervously, trying to hide what I’m feeling.

“Finley,” he starts softly.

The back door opens, stopping whatever he was about to say, and Asa comes out. His hair is sticking up very much like his father’s. He’s wearing a T-shirt with some character I don’t know on it and a pair of black boxers. He rubs sleep from one of his eyes and squints at us through the other.

“Hey,” he says, walking to his father and collapsing on his chest. Lincoln wraps his big arm around him and kisses his head.

“Morning, buddy,” he greets him. “Sleep good?”

“Yeah,” he mumbles, and then he pushes himself up and walks over to me.

“I’m sorry, Finley,” he says, looking at my knees instead of my face, “for tricking you and lying to you.”

I smile as he peeks up at me, knowing it takes a lot for someone to admit they were wrong about something. I sit up, putting my mug on the table, and take his hand with my uninjured one. “It’s okay, buddy,” I say as I squeeze his hand. “I did the same thing when I was your age.” It’s a lie, but it seems to make him feel better.

“Really?”

“Yeah. One time when I was fifteen, I asked one of my friends’ brothers⁠—”

“Okay, that’s enough reminiscing.” Lincoln cuts me off. He gets up. “I think this is a lesson learned for both of you.”

My eyebrows pinch together. “Yes. I learned I never want to fish again.”

“I learned not to trust Finley with a fish.” Asa giggles when Lincoln glares at him. “And to not trick people.” He turns to me. “Do you forgive me?”

I stand up and hug him. “Of course, I forgive you. But if you really want to make it up to me, you could maybe show me your tree house.”