Easton dropped his pen on the desk and rubbed his hand across his face. “I love being a father, okay? Love it. I wish I’d been there for everything. I don’t like not knowing all the little parts of my son.”
“But?”
“But, I—” He stopped. Liam didn’t want any of their personal or private life mentioned. How far did that go? He knew he could trust his boys, but did it really extend to something like this?
“But what?”
“I’m in love with Scarlett,” he said. He wasn’t going to tell anyone about Liam’s idea or plans. They weren’t going to work. There was no way Scarlett would let him share her with Liam. He’d seen the two of them together; it wouldn’t happen.
“Whoa, and this is a bad thing because?”
“She’s married to Liam.”
“You don’t want to win her back?”
“How can I win her back?” Easton asked. “When I ended it, I was brutal. I was mean. I was everything Karson was and is. That’s how bad I was.”
Romeo held his hands up. “And you can’t make amends?”
“I don’t know how.”
“You want this girl to like you? To love you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you need to start learning how to say you’re sorry. I’d love to meet this woman again. I don’t feel I got a good enough vibe from her at the restaurant. But you also need to realize she was in the wrong as well.”
“No, she wasn’t.”
“Easton, no matter what, she kept your son away from you. That has to hurt, and don’t you think it was wrong of her to do that?”
“I know why.”
“Doesn’t make it sting any less or make it right. This woman, you like her, love her, but you need to understand, she’s no saint either. So, when do I get to meet her again?”
“I want to enjoy this for myself. I’m not in the sharing mood.”
“Totally get it, but we’re your best friends. You know that, right? We’ll be here for you no matter what.”
“I get it.” He gripped the back of his neck, feeling the tension building within him. “I’ve got to get my shit together.”
“I can’t wait to meet the little guy.”
“He’s not so little. He’s eleven.”
“Wow, it still seems only yesterday we were eleven years old.”
“That was a lifetime ago.”
“Not so long ago. I’ll be seeing you.”
Romeo left his office, and Easton sat back in his chair.
He felt … drained.
All he wanted to do was to go and see Liam, to talk more, and he also wanted to talk to Scar.
Picking up his cell phone, he dialed her number. Liam had given him her number on the first weekend he spent with them. He didn’t know if Scar was even aware he had her number.
“Hello,” she said.
“Scar, it’s me.”
“Easton? What’s up?”
“I was wondering how you felt about meeting me?” he asked.
He cringed at the desperation in his voice.
“For lunch?”
He glanced at the clock. “Sure. I can do lunch. Erm, we can meet back at the vegan place if it makes you more comfortable.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Don’t bring Liam.”
“Easton?”
“I’m not going to try anything or make you uncomfortable. I’d like to have a conversation away from your home, and between the two of us.”
“I’ll come alone. Bye.”
She hung up the phone, and he put it back in the cradle.
Taking a deep breath, he stood up, only to pause as he saw Taylor in the doorway. She held her daughter in her arms.
“Hey,” she said. “I feel like we’ve not gotten a chance to talk since you came back home.”
“I’ve been really busy.”
“I can see. Do you mind if I come in?”
He didn’t have a reason for her to not come in, so he pointed at the chair in front of his desk.
She sat down, and the baby sounded so cute. Little Carla.
His gut twisted.
“Did you hear the conversation?”
“With your kid’s mother? Yes, I heard.”
Easton felt perspiration dot his brow. “I’m heading out to lunch soon.”
“I won’t keep you. I promise. I know we’ve had a lot of history, you and I. With Carla. I know you said you once missed her.”
“I never wanted her to die.”
“I know.”
“Erm, I don’t think you should hold yourself back anymore,” Taylor said.
“Hold myself back?”
“Carla’s in the past, and you need to start living in the present. You’ve got to find a woman to settle down with and get your happy ending.”
He sat back in his chair frowning. “You do surprise me. I figured with your whole revenge plot you’d hope I’d die and save you a whole lot of problems.”
“I made many mistakes in my life, Easton.” She smiled down at her daughter. “She isn’t one of them. There was a time before Axton and falling in love I’d have gladly seen you miserable. I’m changing, and I want you to be happy, just as much as my husband.”