Page 109 of Hello Single Dad

“Bye, sugar. Love you.”

“Love you.”

* * *

Sometime around eleven, I threw on the first clean dress I saw in the closet, put my curls into a bun, slipped on some sandals and walked out the door, not even bothering with makeup.

Losing my job, seeing Dax so happy, it had messed with me. What was wrong with me that I couldn’t have that kind of happiness? That the universe conspired against me having both a job and love and now I had neither?

I couldn’t even bring myself to call Cohen. It would be pathetic. And what would I say anyway?Well, since you came in second to my job and I no longer have it, I guess we can see each other again?It fell flat even to my own ears.

With a sigh, I grabbed my purse and went out to my car, making the drive to my grandpa’s restaurant.

When I got there, it was immediately clear which car was Walter’s. It had to cost at least twenty grand more than all the other cars in the lot, and it shined in the sun like it had been freshly detailed.

When I got out of the car, I saw his driver’s side door open. “Hi, Birdie,” he said with a smile.

I forced a small smile on my own lips and waved. “This is it.”

He glanced back at the restaurant. “Looks like a good local haunt.”

Well, that wasn’t quite a compliment. But not an insult either. “I know the owner,” I said. “And the food is great.”

“Looking forward to it,” he said, walking alongside me toward the door. “And honestly, I’m thankful for another chance with you.” He crossed his fingers. “Here’s to hoping I don’t blow it.”

It was kind of adorable, all the effort to make amends. Maybe I could set aside his opinions about high school sex ed. After all, he’d probably change his mind once he heard all the facts and figures about how important it was.

The diner was bustling with customers when we arrived, and we found a booth near the back. I smiled at the waitress, Betsy, as she walked by in a hurry and said, “I’ll be with you shortly.”

“They need more help,” Walter mumbled. “Maybe you could make that suggestion to the owner?”

I gave a noncommittal shrug. Grandpa had the best help. He didn’t let just anyone into the family if he didn’t think they’d care about his customers as much as he did. And besides, there were usually two waitresses during the lunch shift. Someone must have called in.

“So,” I said. “What inspired you to want a second chance?”

“Well, first of all, you’re beautiful.”

I found that hard to believe in my undone state.

“And clearly opinionated.” He chuckled. Like my opinions werecute. God, this guy was already rubbing me the wrong way.

“Mhmm.”

“And you come from a great family,” he continued.

“Spoken like a true Melrose Insurance employee.”

“It’s a great place to work,” he said. And apparently that encouragement was all he needed to launch into a spiel about work and how it was going and how much he looked up to my father.

I was thankful when Betsy came and took our orders, just for the brief reprieve it gave me from hearing about my family.

They surrounded themselves with people who worshipped them—employees, friends, business partners. I wondered when the last time was anyone had disappointed my parents. Or if I was the only disappointment in their life.

“Tell me about your job,” he said.

I took a deep drink of the soda in front of me. “I got fired.”

“Oh, wow.” He raised his eyebrows at the table and tilted his head, as if he were mulling over the news. “But you know, that might not be the worst thing. Now you have an opportunity to be who you were meant to be.”

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