Page 38 of For Fake's Sake and other stories

“Yeah, you were for me too.” That doesn’t help either him or me to move on, but I miss him. I’m tired of trying to work out how one night with him had been the most glorious I’ve everhad. Tired that I possibly turned away from the best thing in my life.

“Then why, little one?” He lays his hand on my arm, and that touch sparks through me. This is what I’ve missed. This is important. Screw being silent, keeping my reasons to myself.

“I went to school with your son. I’ve been to his birthday parties. Parties you would’ve been at. Now do you understand why it would hurt others if we kept seeing each other?”

He leans back, his hand dropping from mine, and sighs. “If I told you it’ll all be okay, would you believe me?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think your children would ever accept me.”

“Don’t you think that was something we should’ve talked over? You made a decision without discussing it with me, but that affected me. You left me after probably the best night of my life without telling me why. You shot me down at every turn. That wasn’t fair, Spencer. You hurt me.”

“It was my choice to make. I didn’t want to come between you and Nate or for him to hate either of us. I have a right to choose who I spend time with. It wasn’t an easy decision for me, Carl. I’m not happy. In fact, I’m miserable, but I have the right to walk away if I think something is wrong for me.”

“If I tell him about us, will you come back to me?” He grasps my hand again and freezes. “Shit, I think we’re about to find out.”

“What?” I spin around. Mollie leads a group of men to the large table near us. One of them smiles and breaks away from the group.

“Hey, Dad.” Nate hasn’t changed at all.

“Hello, Nate. I didn’t expect to see you here this evening.”

“I thought I’d try it.” He doesn’t pay me any attention. Waiters are always invisible. His gaze drops to Carl’s hand, which is still holding mine, and he quirks an eyebrow.

“Nate, this is Spencer. A good friend of mine.” Carl squeezes my hand.

Now would be a good time for the ground to open.

“Hey.” Nate gives a curt nod but then widens his eyes. “Spencer! Wow, how are you? You look good.” His gaze shoots back to our joined hands. “And you know my dad.” He frowns. I can see the wheels turning in his head. “Are you two an item?” His horrified expression tells me that everything I feared has come true. “Jesus!”

Carl cringes. “We should be, but Spencer stopped it when he realised who I was and that he knew you. I came here to try to convince him that I’m serious about him. I also told him you wouldn’t have an issue with us being together. Your attitude now is shameful. I raised you better than this.”

“Is this why you’ve been so bloody miserable?” Nate scrubs his hand over the back of his neck. “Shit, Dad, he’s my age.”

“Nathan, behave,” Carl snaps.

Sighing, I pull my hand free and look down at Carl. “I told you so.” Before either man can say anything, I hurry away. I dash into the kitchen and promptly burst into tears. I knew it. I fucking knew it would end like this. If he’d only taken no for an answer. Now he not only embarrassed his son but me as well. Carl will have to accept that we don’t have a future together.

After a few minutes of indulging in my grief of officially losing Carl, I wash my face, and I’m ready to go back out. Taking a deep breath, I push open the door, but the coast is clear. Carl and Nate have left the restaurant. Sadness andrelief simultaneously run through me. Yep, it’s over. We’re done before we had a chance to build something between us.

The night is busy, and I can put what happened behind me. As I clock out, Mollie puts her arm around me and rests her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Spence. I didn’t realise what was going on. I thought he came here to flirt with you. He’s gorgeous and so your type. I couldn’t understand why you weren’t all over him.”

“Yeah, well, it’s all over with now. He’s not going to choose me over his son, is he?” I shrug.

“I doubt he’ll give up that easily. I’ve seen the way he watches you. He’s totally hooked on you. He’ll be back, and maybe it’s time to listen to your heart, not your head.”

“Doing that will only make it worse for both of us. I’m not going to be the one to cause a rift in his family.”

We say goodnight, and I leave through the back entrance and unchain my bike. I’m back at my flat in ten minutes, no way near enough time to clear my jumbled mind. Nor is the shower. My head won’t stop replaying the whole scenario—Nate’s face when he worked it out, Carl’s obvious disappointment and anger. But not at me. He was happy to introduce me to Nate. He isn’t ashamed of what we’ve done or that he wants more. How bad are they both feeling now? Have they gone somewhere to talk it through, or did they have an argument in the street and stormed away from each other? One thing I can be sure of is that I won’t hear from Carl Simpson again.

I climb into bed and pick up my phone to check my alarm is off. Tomorrow I’m working a late shift at the centre, so I don’t need to be up early. A message notification flashes up. I don’t want to open it, but if I leave it, I won’t be able to sleep. He isn’t going to let this drop. Fucking hell, Carl, the stress you’re causing me.

Carl: I’m so sorry, little one. Nate behaved badly. He knows that now. I’ll come and see you again. Goodnight, Daddy xx

Me: Please don’t. He only proved me right.

The three dots dance.

Carl: I refuse to give up on something good. I need you in my life more than ever now. x

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