Stripped Down (Tap That)

Until Sloane had rolled back into town.

Now he had thoughts tumbling around his head he didn’t know what to do with, and he’d tried to keep it casual and she had gone along with that.

He realized Sloane was standing next to River at a funnel cake stand. She had Finn on her hip. The festival was in downtown Beaver Band, and the lake was a beautiful backdrop for the sea of white tents and the carnival rides. Sloane was laughing, tossing her hair back, and adjusting Finn. He hadn’t seen her since the park, but he had been texting her. Some flirty, some sexy, some normal friendship type conversation. She had responded, sounded normal. But she hadn’t initiated any in-person meetings.

It had only been three days and he missed her. How insane was that?

He didn’t know what he wanted.

But he did know he wanted Sloane.

And he was scared to fuck it up. He didn’t want to be his father. He didn’t want to be that guy who runs through women, or worse, the guy who gets left behind.

“What am I supposed to do?” he asked Axl. “I think I might want something.”

Axl peeled his sunglasses off and gave him a grin. “Something? Or Sloane?”

“What do you know about Sloane?” Rick asked, wanting to hear Axl’s opinion.

“I know that you look at her like my father looks at my mother’s lasagna.”

Rick laughed. “Is that a euphemism?”

“Fuck no. I’m talking about my parents. I meant dinner.”

That was how he felt about Sloane. He wanted to eat her. But was that just lust or more?

River ran over to him. “I’m going on the Ferris wheel with Sloane after I get a funnel cake.”

He eyed his sister. “Here’s a thought. Ferris wheel first, then funnel cake. I don’t need you puking up fried dough.”

That thought ripped him straight back down to reality. Sloane said she wanted a family, but did she want this kind of family? A guy who came with a kid as a package deal?

“Good call,” River said, holding her hand out. She was rocking on her feet and looking super excited. “I need money.”

He gave her a twenty and turned to Axl. “I’m an ATM. This is why I can’t get married. I’ll go under financially if I add a wife to the mix.”

It was a joke. But he was testing the waters, he knew it. He wanted Axl to give him permission to not be a bachelor. Which was stupid. He was a grown-ass man.

Sloane came over to him. “River wants to ride the Ferris wheel. Let me just wait for Lilly. She’s in the restroom but she can take Finn.”

“Where’s Sullivan?” Axl asked.

“Beer tent.” Her face showed her opinion on him drinking at noon.

“I see her coming,” Rick said. “Here, give me Finn.”

She handed him the baby and gave him a small smile. Maybe it was just his perception, but she seemed more remote now. Closed off a little.

Keeping it casual.

Fuck. He hated that.

He gave Finn a little bounce and told him, “Man, I hope you have your act together way before you’re our age. We’re a mess.”

“Speak for yourself,” Axl said. “I’m living the dream over here. I’ve totally got my crap together.”

That was doubtful but Rick wasn’t about to argue with him because he was watching Sloane get on the Ferris wheel with River. She spotted him and waved, a smile spreading across her face as she got settled in the seat.