Hardwood - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,1

flag in the window of this bar, the bar I can’t work up the nerve to go into, the bar I don’t have an excuse to go into because it’s not the one all my friends like to go to.

“Nah, it’s cool,” I assure him. “I’m tired, that’s all.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.” He doesn’t sound certain, but he doesn’t press it anymore. We say our goodbyes and hang up.

I sit in my car for another half hour before I give up and accept the fact that tonight isn’t the night.

I buckle my seatbelt again and start my car, driving home with the weight of disappointment heavy in my chest.

Next weekend, I promise myself for the millionth time.

Chapter 1

One Month Later

Everett

My back is aching as I climb into my car at the end of a long fucking workday. I take off my hard hat and toss it onto the passenger seat, smiling for a brief second at the rainbow and unicorn stickers my daughter covered it with over the weekend. I grab my favorite black baseball cap and place it on my head to cover my sweaty hair.

“You look like you’re hurting, old man,” Stone, one of my business partners and closest friends teases from outside my car as I wince at the twinge in my muscles when I twist to pull my seatbelt across my body.

“Watch who you’re calling old. I’ve only got about two years on you,” I counter without much venom.

“Yeah, but I’m immature, which keeps me young.”

“I can’t argue with that.” I start my car, and Stone gets into his own, giving me a wave before I start backing out.

I glance at the clock, and I’m relieved to see I’m actually ahead of schedule for a change. There’s nothing worse than being the last parent to pick up their kid from a Girl Scout meeting. It’s happened more times than I like to admit, and every single time, poor Livi looks embarrassed, and the troop leader gives me a pitying look that says I know it’s not easy to be a single parent. But god dammit, it’s not like I’m the only single parent in the world, and most of them seem to do just fine. Besides, it’s been five years since Val and I split; I should have a hang of this parenting thing by now.

I take the familiar route to the house where the Girl Scouts meet and do a mental fist pump when I pull up to find several parents still lingering on the front porch, chatting with each other while their kids look bored and impatient to go home.

I get out of the car and the mothers who are chatting fall silent, turning their attention on me all at once like a herd of Velociraptors. I paste on a smile and try to forget that I reek of sweat and wood after a long day and that I’m not so desperate for a soak in the tub to relax my muscles I would literally murder someone for it. So, the last thing I want to do is make mindless small talk for twenty minutes.

“Everett, it’s so good to see you,” Judy coos. Or is it Jody? Julie?

“It’s nice to see you too,” I say politely, keeping my smile firmly in place but refusing to slow my gait, heading toward the front door with purpose.

“You know, you’re just the person we need in this conversation,” one of the other moms, I’m ninety percent sure her name is Melanie…or Melody, says, and I do my best to hide my cringe.

“Sure, what can I do for you ladies?”

“Well, my husband just got this new sanding belt, and he swears he knows how to use it.” She rolls her eyes, and the other women giggle. “But—”

“Daddy!” I have never loved my daughter more than I do in this moment. I give the women an apologetic smile and turn to greet Livi.

“Hey, sweetheart. You all set to go?” I check.

“Yeah. You got here early today,” she says, and I know she doesn’t mean it to make me feel like an asshole, but it does.

I chuckle uncomfortably and ruffle her hair while she grins at me. She looks exactly like her mother with her pretty blue eyes and light blonde hair, hell even the shape of her cute button nose. If I didn’t know any better, it wouldn’t look like I had a part in her genetics at all.

“We built birdhouses, mine was the best. Most of the other