All Chapters of The Single Dad Next Door Loves Me: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

This was all a big mistake. Getting involved with Mia, kissing her, making out, allowing myself fall too deep in whatever I had with her.Gosh! I slapped myself on the forehead so loud, if we had neighbors, they could have heard me but we didn't, so I slapped again. Safe.Mia was asleep inside, she and Lily were cuddled up on the couch, watching a movie while I decided to take a little walk outside.Just to clear my head from everything that had been happening so far. The front door screeched loudly as I closed it behind myself. I lowered to my shoes to tighten the lace, took one last look at them and walked right down the paved ice to the darkness beyond the security lights of my house.The longer I walked, the lighter the air got, the deadlier the cold. I walked so far, I should have gotten around five miles before I realized how far from home I was.When my head lifted to the cloud and I saw the pitch dark blackness of the sky, I decided I had walked enough for the night and turne

I told myself I was only going to listen. That's how I justified the drive down the hill, the tires of my car pressing cautious tracks into the fresh snow. I told myself I was not choosing sides. How could I? I wasn't even there?In my mind, I was simply going because I needed to hear his side of the story, I wasn't betraying anymore, I was simply gathering information so I could make a decision. I was not betraying anyone. I was simply gathering information.But that was a lie that tasted bitter in my mouth.The hill down had a fast station that came into view as I slowly drove down the cloudy haze of the morning weather. Judging from how I looked at it, I could see that it had been closed for years….The pumps froze in time, the windows boarded halfway up and the sign hanging cooked as if even gravity had gotten tired of holding it upright.I saw the same truck that parked outside Ethan's house from the other day.Bradley’s truck.In front, he stood leaning by a sign post, hands tuc

The door slammed harder than I intended.The sound echoed through the entry hall, through bone and nerve and restraint, and for a moment I stood on the porch breathing into the cold like a man who had just outrun something feral inside his own chest.She went to him.The thought would not land clearly. It kept striking at angles, sharp and unfinished, like broken glass shifting under skin.I walked down the steps without remembering to put on the gloves. The snow under my boots compacted with dull crunches, the air so cold it burned the back of my throat on the first inhale.She went to him. Bradley of all people?The man who had stood in my office a few months ago and even now, accusation in his eyes and grief sharpened into blame.The man who looked at me as if I had personally lit the match that took his sister from the world, and Mia had gone to him.Behind my back. I reached the car and yanked the door open harder than necessary, sliding into the driver's seat with the kind of ri

Lily came running to me as soon as the truck pulled into the driveway. Her little hands danced in the air, yelling ‘Daddy, where did you go? Daddy, where were you?’I said nothing, the reflection of my side mirror showed Nora standing just by the door with her arms crossed, speaking to Mia. Seeing them both together talking after the argument with Mia made me uneasy.Still, that wouldn't stop me from getting inside now, would you?I grabbed the groceries I got off the passenger’s side, a perfect excuse for when I was asked where I was. A perfect cover so I didn't have to feel like I was lying again.A quick grab and the door unlocked at my command. Lily blocked the way, her jumpy frame in the way of getting inside.Her eyes bright with excitement. Nora must have given her something sweet from her cafe. Damn, Nora. I said no sugar before I let Lily over there.“Daddy, Nora and I just came back home and we couldn't find you. Mia said you left, where did you go to?”“I went to get grocer

I heard Mia scream. A soft fickle sound that tore through the silence of the cabin, even louder than the beeping refrigerator and house heater.I dashed to the kitchen door, ready to run and help but when my hands touched the knob, I froze.The noise stopped and so did time. I leaned my ear on the door to listen, I couldn't tell if Mia wanted me there or not. If she cried from anger and frustration or a knife had cut her.I didn't stick around to find out. One moment longer and then walked away. I stepped into my bedroom and closed the door, my bed called my name, my muscles ached.I slid out of my clothes and into the shower. The water felt like relief to my troubles. I threw my head back, letting the water fall into my scalp.The relief lasted too shortly, after my quick bath, I changed into new clothes. The air outside the window when I poked my head outside was chillier than before, the sun was dawning down at its horizon, the skymies darkened, the moon was somewhere searching for