The Single Dad (Red's Tavern 4)

I wasn’t sure why Luke stuck around the whole time. At first, I thought it was because he felt sorry for me, but as we browsed the aisles of the home goods shop, grabbing pillows and blankets and birthday decorations, I knew it couldn’t just be guilt.

Luke didn’t seem like the kind of person who did anything he didn’t want to do. And for some reason, he wanted to hang out with me all morning.

We got back with a carload of supplies, and over the next few hours, turned the living room and kitchen into a fun, cozy space. Luke had instructed me to get a cake from the tiny local German bakery instead of the grocery store, and it had been a great idea. The place looked perfect and ready as sunlight poured in later that morning, with plenty of time to spare.

“I think Dayna’s going to love it,” I said, watching the light play off of the sparkly purple streamers all over the walls.

Luke put his hand on the small of my back, rubbing a small circle there. “You did a great job.”

I jumped as I heard the sound of a car door shutting out front.

“Shit,” I said, walking over to the front entryway and seeing that Rachel and the kids were already walking up the front driveway.

“Hm?”

“You need to get out of here,” I said, turning back to him and rushing over to the back door.

“You’re gonna send me out the back way? I’m still parked out front on the street, you know.”

My insides were twisted into a knot of guilt and fear. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “But my kids are coming, and I can’t explain having someone new over.”

“They don’t exactly have to know you sucked my dick,” he said, heading to the back door. “You can’t have a friend over when your kids are coming?”

“I can’t explain it, Luke,” I said, my voice more curt than I’d hoped. “It’s just too soon. Believe me, I’m going to make it up to you. I owe you for a thousand lifetimes. And thank you for helping me. You just have to leave now. Okay?”

He nodded once, but his brow was furrowed as he walked out onto the back deck. I could tell that he didn’t understand. On one level, it made sense. For someone who’d never had kids, Luke couldn’t possibly know. But my twins were twelve now, and Dayna was turning nine today. If they saw a new man leaving the house, they wouldn’t play dumb. I couldn’t hide a damned thing from them these days. They’d ask me dozens of questions, all day, and it would stay in the back of their minds.

I’d always been open with my kids about how people could be interested in anyone, of any gender, and I’d told Cooper and Chloe that in high school, sometimes I’d liked boys, too. The worst thing of all would be if my kids somehow got excited about Luke. I couldn’t have that. He was just a hookup, and I had to keep it that way.

And I wasn’t anywhere near ready for them to think of this household as unstable, in any way. It needed to feel totally familiar. Totally safe. And unfortunately, that meant having to let Luke leave through the back door.

Luke turned and left, not looking back as he took off down the deck stairs and crossed through the big lawn.

I felt awful. But I heard the key turning in the lock and knew that Rachel and the kids were coming in.

“Where’s Dad?” Dayna’s voice rang out in the entryway.

“I don’t know,” I called out as I shut the back door. “I have an eight-year-old daughter somewhere, but I can’t seem to find her.”

I went over and brought Dayna into a big hug, squeezing her tight.

“You don’t have an eight-year-old daughter anymore, Dad,” she said.

“I could have sworn I did. Her name’s Dayna. Can you find her?”

She giggled, looking up at me and sticking out her tongue. “I’m nine! And you’ll never have a dumb eight-year-old again!”

“Oh God,” I said, hugging her again and giving Rachel a wide-eyed look. Sometimes my kids said things that made me feel like time had passed at warp speed. “Happy birthday, Dayn.” I picked her up and put her back down again.

Cooper and Chloe had already charged through into the living room, dropping their backpacks onto the floor and inspecting the snacks and cake on the kitchen island. As I’d been saying hello to the kids, I’d heard Luke’s truck rumble to life and take off down the street.

“Thanks, Rachel,” I said as Dayna ran over to the kitchen. “Little early today.”

She nodded. “Wanted to have extra time to get to yoga class. Who was that?”

“What?”

She looked back at the street as Luke’s truck pulled off. “Are the Thorntons having people park out front here again? There’s plenty of room in front of their house, I don’t know why—”