Page 9 of Finding Home
I pick her up, kissing her cheek a few times, and she giggles, a sound that fills my chest with love. Looking past Lila, I see Chloe making her way towards us. A soft smile graces her lips as she takes in Lila and me together.
“Miss Maxwell,” I say, lifting my chin.
A faint blush tinges her cheeks as she dips her head and tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “Mr. Lawson.”
Something about the way she says it and the way her teeth dig into her bottom lip goes right to my cock, and once again she has me thinking about that night. Ineedto stop thinking about it. I have too much shit going on in my life to complicate it with a woman right now. As much as my night with Chloe was fun and I’d be down to do it again, I don’t need small town gossip and a woman on top of managing getting my daughter settled and figuring out Grandma’s upcoming doctor’s appointments and what those will all entail time wise and for her health.
It’s best for that night to remain firmly in the past.
“How was your first day?” she asks, reminding me of her sunshine personality that pulled me in during our first meeting.
“Fine,” I half grunt at her. It doesn’t deter her.
“Get to know your squad?”
“Yes.”
She keeps going, ever persistent. “Adjusting to small town living?”
I nod.
“Well, Lila did amazing today. She shared with the class about how you’d take her to the library before you moved and would pick out books with her. The one we have here isn’t nearly as big as anything you’d have in the city, but I’m sure you could both find something there.”
“Thanks.”
Her smile only widens at my one-word answer, and I try not to roll my eyes at her ever-sunny enthusiasm.
“Have a good night. We’ll see you tomorrow, Lila.”
“Bye, Miss M,” Lila calls after Chloe as she makes her way back towards the school.
I stand there watching her until she disappears inside, wondering just how this woman can be so bright and bubbly.
“Daddy, can we have ice cream?”
I smile and shake my head. “After dinner.”
I carry her to the truck and buckle her in before making our way home, where I get her a snack before tackling more unpacking.
SIX
CHLOE
Ipush through the week, reminding myself that I can’t start something with the parent of a student. Not only is it bad form, but Everett Lawson feels very much like a man who isn’t going to settle down with someone, at least not right now. As much as the night with him was a fun time, I’m not getting myself wrapped in the small town drama that would come with having a fling with the new fire chief. I don’t have the energy for that. If I want unattached sex, I’ll drive the twenty minutes to West Bridgejaw before starting small town gossip.
My family has been at the centre of enough drama in this town to last me a lifetime; I don’t need any more.
I grab my house keys and phone and lock up before making the fifteen-minute walk to Incahoots. It’s still light out, and plenty of people are milling about, many on their way to Incahoots, the go-to place to hang out in the evenings and the same bar I met Everett. My best friend, Brinley, is crashing at my place tonight, so we’ll walk home together, because despite it being a small town, we still abide by the buddy system.
When I push open the door to the bar, loud music filters out. Chatter fills the air as people fill the tables and seats at the bar. I easily spot Brinley and our friends, Aspen, her boyfriend Jason, and Lennon, at our usual table in the corner. Boyd makes sure to save it for us, knowing we’ll be in. She already has a margarita for me at the table, and I grin my thanks, taking a seat and settling in.
I take a sip of my drink, allowing the bite of the tequila to hit me. “No James tonight?” I ask Lennon, referring to her husband and high school sweetheart.
She shakes her head, her attention focused on her drink. “No. He’s at the office working on some project.”
Normally, I’d push her for more after hearing the touch of sadness and defeat in her voice, but with Jason here, I don’t. Aspen and Jason have been dating for just over two years now, and as much as he may try to engrain himself in our friend group, none of us have taken to him in the way he probably hoped. When they started dating, we all questioned Aspen about why she was dating him, but she always brushed off the questions. It’s almost as though she’s given up on believing she deserves something good and has settled for Jason.
As we place our food order with Boyd, Colton, another friend who works at the fire station, slides into the seat beside Brinley, rattling off his usual order to Boyd. I shake my head at him, and he grins.
