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“What’s her name?” There’s curiosity lacing her words.
“Tia.”
“Tia.” The name rolls off her tongue and intrigue flits across her face.
“No pressure. Just let me know. We got time.” I hold my hands up.
“Thank you, I appreciate it. I’d love to go. If nothing else, sounds like a good evening. Better than me hanging out with my auntie all night. I love her, but I can only handle so much gossip.” Her eyes widen and I nod in understanding.
“Free food too. My friends, Isaac and Lynn, are catering. Two words, mouth-watering.” I punctuate the statement with a chef’s kiss.
She closes her eyes and licks her mauve lips. “Mmm…Champagne?”
I crack my knuckles before sliding my hands into my pockets. While we’re being honest… “Sure, but I don’t drink anymore.”
She pops her eyes open and angles her head in question but doesn’t pry, so I supply the answer for her. “Over a decade sober this spring.”
“Good for you. Not an easy feat for anyone.” Pride drips from her comment.
I nod. “It was rough, but for me to be the best dad to Theo, I owed it to myself to get clean and I’ve fought hard. I stick to a strict routine, and it’s been a lifesaver. Literally.”
“And this thing with Scarlett doesn’t trigger anything? My sister used to be a drinker too. She’s sober as well and she told me the hardest part was triggers. Some would come out of nowhere.” Her eyes, concerned, crinkle at the corners.
I smile to ease her fears. “Luckily, that doesn’t happen with Scar. She’s my rock. She stayed by my side the entire time, encouraged me to go get help, and was there when I got out of rehab. My parents were great too, but it was harder without Preston around.”
Rowan pulls on a springy curl, letting it bounce up. “Why wasn’t he around? I apologize if it’s too personal.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I brace myself for her reaction. She trusted me with her truth, so it’s only fair I share mine. “No, it’s okay. It’s been a long time, but he used to be engaged to Scarlett.”
Her liquid brown eyes widen, and I cringe. “Yeah, it sounds bad. I know. We were both drunk—Scar and I. Preston and I were dressed in similar outfits. She mistook me for Preston, and I was so far gone, I don’t remember half of it—let alone that it was her. We slept together.”
Her mouth opens in an O shape. “Oh, wow. And Theo?”
I blow out a breath, stretching out a long leg under the table, taking care to avoid her sandaled feet. “A product of that night. Preston broke it off with her, moved out of our apartment, and fell off planet Earth until five years ago when our dad died and he had to come out here to Montana to work it out with me.”
She taps her lip with a deeply bronzed fingertip. “You guys are good now?”
“Yep. It was rough for a minute, but he came around and forgave us. He gave me his blessing regarding Scarlett just the other day.” I’m still reeling from how far we’ve come.
“Then what’s really standing in your way? Sounds like your brother would’ve been a huge part of holding you back, but now…” I watch her use her long acrylic nail to pick at the label on her cup.
What’s standing in the way? More like who. “Theo. It all comes back to him. He’s in a good place. He’s doing well in school and with his calf-roping. We have a good rhythm with him. I can’t risk it.”
“Can’t? Sounds like you’re using your kid as an excuse.” Her eyebrow arches to the ceiling.
I grab my chest. “Ouch. Straight to the jugular. Not sure I can handle the rejection. From either of them.”
“Reject you?” She huffs out a chuckle. “The way I see it, that woman wants you too.”
Before hope swells in my chest, I shake my head and reply, “You say that after only a few interactions with her, one of them being speed-dating. She was only looking for me to save her from the creepsters.” I elect not to tell her we kissed. Besides, I only imagined Scarlett reciprocated it. At least that’s what I tell myself.
Rowan disagrees with a shake of her curly haired head. “Nope. I know what I’ve seen. You just have to see it yourself. Which leads me to this.”
I furrow my brow as she bends over and pulls something from her bag. Her fingertips slide a large manilla envelope my way. “What’s this?”
“Open it.” She pushes it closer.
Nerves bounce in my stomach as I peel open the flap and tug out a set of pictures. Most are from SoS, the guided tour, and the rock-climbing wall. Sifting through them, I stop on one. It’s Scar and me at one of Theo’s practices.
