Page 86 of Slow Hands Cowboy

He had mentioned it in passing a month or so ago, that he was going every day. And he had really talked up Cara, the baker. But he had just stopped all of a sudden.

“You don’t know everything about me. And yeah, Cara actually kind of shut me down a few months ago. I had to lick my wounds for a bit. But my pride is no match for her baking.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I probably deserved it.”

“You probably didn’t.”

“Are you okay? Really?”

“I am. In fact, I’m here to get a pastry and a coffee, and then I’m going to go to town and check in on the boutique. I’m much more embarrassed than I am wounded. But I’m dealing with all that. I promise.”

“I believe you.”

“Well, I’m glad. I’m sorry that I didn’t... I’m sorry that I didn’t call you. I just thought that if you were devastated, you probably wouldn’t want to talk to me.”

What struck her was how accurate that was. He was right. If she had been in a state of total devastation, she really wouldn’t have wanted to talk to him. Beginning and end of story. At least, that’s what she would have wanted then.

“I’m sorry. Because you’re right. I wouldn’t have wanted you to see me messed up. But I’m coming to terms with the fact that other people already know that I’m human, and I need to get over it.”

“Good for you. Dad’s never come to that conclusion.”

That comment felt out of left field to her. But then... She didn’t know if Jackson and her dad were actually all that close.

“Have you talked to Mom?”

That casual question with a sip of his coffee surprised her too.

“Really briefly. A couple weeks ago.”

“She’s worried about you.”

That was when she realized she actually had no idea of the family dynamics present right now. She had been so lost in her own thing that she hadn’t realized that Jackson was talking to their mom?

That he had issues with their dad?

“I will. I...”

“Are you still angry at her?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “You’re not?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Not really. But that’s probably not a conversation for a casual coffee shop run-in. Maybe let’s actually have dinner or something.”

“Okay. I just... the mayoral campaign and⁠—”

“I know. You’ve been busy. You’re going to be busy for a while.”

“I don’t mean it like that. I really don’t.”

“Yeah, I know. Neither did Dad.”

Jackson waved as he walked back out of the coffee shop, leaving her there with information that she couldn’t quite process. She walked up to the register and ordered coffee and a strawberry roll to go, then got back into her car, sipping on her drink and trying not to make a giant mess with her roll.

Was she like Dad in a bad way? Was there a bad way to be like their dad?

She felt like she needed to sit down and flow chart all of this, but she didn’t know if she had the mental fortitude to do it. Everything was just on its head, and she had already challenged her perception of herself back then. She wasn’t sure if she could shake things up too much now.