“Oh, uhm, sure.”
“We have to agree on the line to be taken, and I don't think it’s appropriate to do that with the kids present.”
I thought I could do it, but I couldn’t. I only had to look at them to go back in time and make their story something too much my own.
“You are right.”
“How about tomorrow?”
“I’m working a double shift at the club tomorrow. I’ve taken too many days off lately, but the kids will be with Mr Yang. I assure you there is no better person than him.”
“No one expects a single father to care for the kids alone and even work full-time, Seth.”
Seth remains silent for a few moments as if lost in thought.
“Everything okay?”
“A single father. You called me that.”
“Isn’t that what you are?”
He barely smiles. “I always dreamed of having children, a family. Not like this and certainly not alone.”
His words hit a little too many points and a little too hard. I see Seth with children. He’s loving, caring, and a bit eccentric. I can see that. Lost in his calm, blue eyes—like a still, early-morning sea, deceptively peaceful yet hinting at hidden, powerful currents—I forgot everything I should have been thinking about.
“I could come by,” I say suddenly, interrupting this too-intimate moment.
“At the club? And you don’t mind?”
“We absolutely have to put down the key points of our position.”
“Oh… of course. Our… er… position.”
His embarrassment shines through on his cheeks and in his voice. Perhaps I should have used a less ambiguous term.
“What I wanted to say…” I clear my throat for no reason. “That it would be appropriate to discuss certain things privately.”
I don’t think I did any better with my clarification, but Seth smiles.
“Relax, Rowan. I know that… well, I’m not your… type.”
“My type? What do you mean?”
“Male?”
“Oh. I’m your lawyer. This is totally inappropriate.”
“I’m sorry. I’m used to flirting. Customers will likely leave you a nice tip if you do that.”
“And do you do this often?” I find myself asking.
Seth’s eyes immediately glaze over with new concern.
“That was inappropriate of me. I’m sorry. I should probably go.” I leave my beer on the windowsill and walk towards the living room to retrieve my bag.
I should never have given him space, time… or anything else.
“I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position,” Seth says, reaching out to me.
