Then I Met You: A single dad romance (Love in Everton Book 6)

by Fabiola Francisco

  I glare at Finn and shake my head. I bet Abbie’s been feeding him her ideas to get Sutton and me together.

  “I say you give it a shot.”

  “Finn,” I warn.

  “What? Are you going to stay a celibate man for the rest of your life? You’re young, Gavin. You deserve someone who will stand by your side, and Penny deserves a positive female role model to take her shopping for all those outfits you’ll forbid her to wear.”

  Expelling a deep breath from my mouth, I watch Sutton answer the few questions they ask her. She looks beautiful in a long shimmery dress. It probably has beads or crystals or something. Her short hair is curled in waves, and her hazel eyes are brighter than fireworks on the Fourth of July.

  She laughs at something the interviewer says, and that cute snort she let out at The Mad Batter hits my ears. I smile to myself as I watch her, thinking about what Finn just said. As if on cue, she looks at the camera, and it feels like her eyes find mine through the transmission and broadcasting waves.

  Truth be told, I’ve been thinking about her more than I care to admit, especially when I don’t see her around town like I’ve grown accustomed to.

  I’ve asked myself over and over if I can trust another woman. If I’m ready to live that aspect of life again, and if Penny would understand it. Her whole life, it’s been her and I. She’s never known what it means to have a mom, and up until now, she hasn’t asked many questions. Our situation is her normal, and she’s happy that way, for which I’m grateful.

  Then, a spunky blonde with a career filled with instability starts making rounds, and it’s like a joke from the universe. Penny admires Sutton, but she’s in and out of town. And me? Well, I’m not a blind man despite how scarred my heart is. She’s gorgeous, kind, and loves my kid. What more can a man ask for?

  When the pizza arrives, we eat by the living room as we all continue to watch the awards show, including a performance by Knox and Sutton that wows the crowd. As the song finishes, I look away from the TV and catch Abbie’s smiling face. She winks and nods once as if saying, Go for it, cuz.

  Maybe a brokenhearted man can learn to trust again.

  …

  I crack open Penny’s door when I get home from work and find her sitting on the floor with crossed legs. One of her dolls is on her lap as pulls and tugs the doll’s hair into a twisted ponytail. A soft smile marks my face as I watch her play, humming softly. My whole world sits on that floor, and sometimes it amazes me that I’m her father.

  “Daddy, are you spying on me?” Penny giggles wildly, as I’m caught red-handed staring at her.

  “Busted,” I smirk, walking into her room. “Are you playing with your doll?”

  “I’m trying to learn how to do a braid. My friends always have their hair in braids, and I don’t know how to do one.” Penny frowns, staring at her doll.

  Closing my eyes for a second, I release a deep, sorrowful breath. “How about I learn to braid and teach you?” I offer, hoping Abbie can teach me how to braid Penny’s hair.

  “Really?” Her eyes light up. “Thank you!” She jumps on her feet and hugs me. I carry her and hold her to me.

  “Do you want to help me cook dinner? Grandma and Grandpa are going out tonight, so it’s just you and me.”

  “Can we make cookies?” Penny looks at me with wide, hopeful eyes.

  “It’s Monday, and you’ve got school tomorrow. How about this weekend?”

  “Okay.” She nods, wrapping her small hands around my neck and cuddling into my chest. Inhaling the peace she provides, I walk her to the kitchen and sit her on the counter.

  “How about we make spaghetti and meatballs?” I ask her.

  “Yes! Can I make the meatballs?”

  I nod and bring out the ground beef while the water for the spaghetti comes to a boil. Penny and I mix the beef with seasoning before she takes charge of forming the meatballs into uneven balls. I smile as I watch her tongue peek out of the side of her mouth as she concentrates on keeping the meatballs as even as possible.

  Background music plays on my phone, and we sing together while we cook. After stirring the pasta, I look at her and find Penny rolling a meatball on her thigh.

  “Penny,” I chuckle. “What are you doing?”

  “I needed to roll it somewhere.” She shrugs and places it on the plate, pleased with her work. “Daddy, can you carry me to the sink?” She lifts her hands with puppy-dog eyes that I know I can’t turn down.

  Smiling, I shake my head and carry her like Superman toward the sink. Her shrieks and giggles fill our home.

  “Do that again!” Penny cheers as she dries her hands.

  I hold her around her stomach, and she brings her arms out, ready to fly this time. I move her around the kitchen like a superhero, her laughter growing louder.

  Penny’s hands land on my shoulder when I carry her on my hip, her breathing heavy as she tries to control her giggles.

  “That was fun.” She sways in my arms.

  Smiling, I move us to the song that’s playing before setting her on her feet and twirling her around. Penny dances with me, her smile blinding as we both belt out to the song that’s playing.

  “I love you, Daddy,” Penny sighs as she catches her breath when the song ends.

  “Love you, too.” I kiss the top of her head and finish cooking.

  Moments like this are when everything is right in the world, and the past fades away like invisible ink. But like that ink, the past still lingers, appearing when light shines on it.

  After I’ve put Penny to bed and am sure she’s asleep, I reach into the box in the back of my closet and sit on my bed, lighting the past as I lay it out in front of me. Photos of Hadley and me, letters we wrote to each other, broken promises and washed out smiles stare back at me.

  Running a hand down my face, I take a steadying breath and will my heart to slow down. I pick up the picture of us at Homecoming, me in my football uniform, and her in her long gown as we stand on the field with crowns on our heads. I have no idea what happened to those two kids who believed we’d beat the odds. Now, all that’s left are the ashes of a runaway queen and a lost king with a broken crown.

  Revisiting the past is never a smart choice. I’ve accepted what my life is now, but I still question how these memories never foreshadowed my reality.

  Shaking my head, I take another deep breath and box up the memories. There’s no use in going back when the only way to move is forward. The image of a blonde crosses my mind so fast I almost miss it. Could she be in my future?

  After Hadley left, I didn’t think I’d ever meet someone else. I didn’t want to. The pain I felt was too great to ever put myself in that position again. My priority was Penny and providing for her. I worked my ass off harder than I ever had, and I made sure she never lacked anything she wanted, especially love. She may only have one parent, but I’d love her with the love of a thousand so long as it meant keeping my little girl happy.

  But now… Now, a woman comes roaming around town with a bright light around her, and I’m questioning if she’s worth breaking my own promise of never falling in love again.

  Hadley was my one and only. I haven’t dated, slept, or flirted with anyone else. I’ve been in my own world, keeping to myself where I once was the life of the party. Going home after work when I used to go for a drink with friends. Hadley took my life with her when she left, but I know it’s up to me to get that back. I owe it to myself and my daughter to be the man I am instead of a watered-down version of himself.

  How can I expect Penny to truly be herself and enjoy everything life has to offer if I don’t live by example?

  Grabbing a beer from the fridge, I head out to the front porch and look at the stars that twinkle above. I tilt my head back on the swing and rock slowly with my heels on the floor. Everything my mom and Abbie have told me these last few weeks move through my mind as I try to grasp on to the truth.

  Will you ever truly be ready unless you actually make an eff
ort to move on? That question my mom asked rings the loudest.

  I’ll never forget Hadley and what we shared, but it has been five years since she left. That’s half the time we were together, but it’s time to let her go. She isn’t coming back, and there’s no place in my life for her, even if she did.

  Drinking my beer, I clear my mind and count stars. A little while without my mind moving in circles is what I need, and the rest will fall into place. I have to trust in that.

  Gavin

  “Are you watching hair tutorials?”

  My body flinches and tenses upon hearing the unexpected voice. “Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.” I drop my phone next to my hat on the table at Cup-O-Joe and turn to look at Sutton standing behind me.

  “Sorry,” she laughs. “I didn’t mean to.”

  Scratching my beard, I chuckle. “It’s okay. I was just focused and not paying attention to anything going on around me.”

  “Hairstyles, huh? Are you opting to be a stylist?” she teases.

  I shake my head. “Definitely not the career for me. Penny wants to be able to braid her hair, and all I know about braiding is you have to split the hair into sections. I’m lost after that. I figured some of these videos would help.”

  “I can teach you,” Sutton offers.

  “Really?” I look up at her with the hope that someone can help me understand how the hell I have to move my fingers and the strands of hair to make it look decent.

  “Sure. I love braiding. I can teach you the regular braid, and we can get real crazy and learn how to French braid.”

  “Whoa, whoa. One step at a time. Let’s leave the crazy stuff for another time.”

  Laughing, Sutton nods. “Just let me know when and where.”

  “Thanks. Do you want to take a seat?”

  “Yeah.” She sits across from me with a smile before taking a drink from her coffee cup.

  “How was Nashville?” I move my hat to the empty chair next to me, so she has space on the table to put her cup down.

  “It was great. It was the first time I went to a music awards, and the experience was amazing. I met a lot of people, singers I admire.”

  “Your performance with Knox was really good.”

  Sutton’s eyes widen. “You saw it?”

  “We were over at Abbie’s house for dinner, and the show was on. Congrats.” A carefree smile appears over her coffee cup before she sips it.

  “Thanks. It was a lot of fun, and I owe it all to Knox and Harris. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the first time I attended the ACMs, I would be performing at them.” Her hazel eyes sparkle with pride.

  Sutton relaxes into her seat as she smiles at me while telling me more about who she met and her recent plans to move to Everton, which catches me by surprise.

  “It makes sense, you know? I spend more time here than in Nashville, and paying for a room for weeks while also paying for rent kinda hurts the wallet. I ain’t no superstar yet.” She winks and chuckles.

  Smirking at her, I shake my head. I’ve spent more time at Cup-O-Joe than I planned, and I’m running late to get to the ranch for work. “I gotta go to work, but thanks for offering to help teach me to braid hair. I was going to ask Abbie, but you beat me to it.”

  “I’m glad I did.”

  Well, I’ll be damned. She’s flirting with me. Unsure of how to respond, I nod once and put on my hat. Before standing, I say, “Can you meet this afternoon? Around five?”

  “Sounds perfect. You can come to The Farmhouse,” she tells me, talking about Averly’s bed and breakfast.

  I nod and head out with a smile after having coffee with Sutton. Unplanned and unexpected, it was nice to sit with her for a few minutes and talk.

  …

  “Braiding is really easy, actually.”

  I sit on the couch in the guest house Sutton is staying in that’s a part of The Farmhouse and watch as she ties the end of the three pieces of rope I brought from the ranch. She sits next to me, taping the end of the ropes to the top of the coffee table so it won’t move.

  “Okay, show me your ways.” I nod, focusing on the instructions she gives me, observing as her hands bring one rope over another.

  I keep my eyes on the workings of her hands instead of where her thigh brushes against mine, glad we’ve got our jeans as a barrier. Sutton’s warmth isn’t lost on me, and her proximity makes me as uncomfortable as I’m intrigued by the woman who unconditionally offered to help me so I can do the hairstyle my daughter wants.

  “Now, you try.” Sutton hands me the ropes and watches intently, waiting for me to start.

  I take a deep breath and hold the three strings in my two hands, bringing one over the middle rope. When I grab the other to bring it over to the other side, I move the same rope I just moved, breaking the braid before it even becomes one.

  “Crap,” I murmur and try again. After getting two sections braided, it falls apart again.

  “Okay, let’s go slow. This isn’t some kinda braid race to win a trophy at.” Sutton places her hands over mine. My body tenses before I take a deep breath and relax. Her hands hold mine as they guide me to create the braid.

  I imagine having someone by my side as I raise my daughter, helping me tackle these kinds of things. As much as my cousins are always there to help, I’m starting to realize it would be nice to have someone I can share these moments with, someone I can count on and be a team.

  I gaze at Sutton quickly, curious about her. Her eyes flicker to mine, and she smiles before focusing back on our hands.

  “There.” I lose the warmth of her skin against mine as she grabs a hair tie and wraps it at the end of the ropes. The ghost of her touch lingers as do the thoughts of letting someone into my life.

  I swallow thickly before looking into her eyes.

  “Yeah. Now, I gotta do it on my own.”

  “Imitate what I just did,” she encourages me. “Do you want something to drink? I’ll grab it so you can concentrate on the braid.”

  “Water would be great.”

  “BRB.”

  I chuckle at her use of the abbreviation and look at the rope. Okay, I can do this. Slowly, I start bringing the ropes from one side to the other, holding them uncomfortably between my knuckles, but at least they’re in place.

  “You stick your tongue out the side of your mouth when you concentrate,” Sutton comments as she takes a seat again, placing two glasses of water on the coffee table.

  I look up at her with raised eyebrows, pausing my braiding attempt. “Really? I never realized it. Penny does that, too.

  “She got that from you.” Sutton smiles widely before inspecting my work so far. “Looks… good.” She nods, biting down her smile.

  I look down at a crooked braid, some sections missing the actual braid part.

  “Ugh,” I toss my head back. “I thought this would be easier.”

  “It’s definitely better than your first attempt. Start again.”

  I look at her with a raised eyebrow, and her giggle hits me in the chest.

  “Don’t look at me like that. You’re here to learn, so come on.” She claps her hands two times.

  I shake my head and release the ropes, starting again. Silence falls around us as I braid the ropes and tie the end.

  “Much better!” Sutton cheers.

  A blinding smile lights up her face when I look at her. I lock my eyes with hers, and I can’t help the smile that grazes my lips.

  “Thanks,” I tell her before undoing the rope and going at it again, determined to be the best.

  “I can’t wait to see Penny’s face when I braid her hair tomorrow.” I lean back on the couch, satisfied with my progress. I’m still not a braid master, but I can hold my own now when Penny asks for a braid.

  “She’ll love it, I’m sure. Here.” Sutton reaches for my phone on the table and taps on the screen before handing it to me. That’s when I realize she added her number to my contacts. “Send me the picture so I can see
it. I’ll need to make sure my teaching skills are working.”

  Surprised by her assertiveness, I furrow my eyebrows and nod in response.

  “I really do appreciate it.” I stand and nod. “I should get home before Penny wonders where I am.”

  “Don’t mention it. I’m glad I could help. She’s going to be so excited when you tell her you’re going to braid her hair.” Sutton walks me to the front door.

  “She’s going to flip,” I laugh. I can picture Penny’s face light up when I bring it up tomorrow.

  As I leave the guest house at the bed and breakfast, I turn to look back one more time, seeing Sutton still standing by the door. I wave at her with a smile. For the first time in years, I’ve wanted to have someone in my life to share these experiences with. More than help me with Penny, have someone I can share these intimate moments with, talk to at the end of a long day, and laugh together. For the first time in a long time, I’ve craved having a woman by my side.

  Sutton

  The buzzing of my phone pulls me away from my thoughts and steals my eyes from the dripping coffee maker to the device on the kitchen counter.

  I reach for it and pinch my eyebrows together at the unfamiliar number until it dawns on me. Excited, I swipe the notification, and a photo of Penny’s hair opens in my messages. Chuckling, I shake my head.

  Sutton: That’s cute it looks like Penny did it herself

  Gavin: Funny

  Gavin: It’s harder with hair since all the strands move

  Sutton: You did good, Gavin. I’m sure Penny loved it

  Gavin: Yeah…she went on and on about how she was going to show her braid to all her friends and she bet none of their dads knew how to braid

  A wide smile takes over my face at our back and forth. When I asked for a picture, I didn’t think he’d send one, let alone this early in the morning. Yesterday, Gavin let me in, even if only a smidgen. Instead of closing me off or giving me one-word responses, he spoke, he showed vulnerability, and he allowed me to help him instead of waving me off.