Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I don’t think there is much of anything to talk about right now,” Hawk said.
“You’re in love.”
He stared at his dad and didn’t know what to say. Did he lie? Tell him the truth? He didn’t know what to do.
“Okay, so, you’re not sure, or you’re embarrassed. How about this, tell me how you would feel if you woke up and Katie wasn’t there?”
He frowned.
“Just roll with me on this. You’re a stubborn ass and you could be when you were a teenager as well.”
He took a deep breath. “I don’t want to even think of Katie not being there.”
“That means you have feelings for her.”
He didn’t need his dad to do this. “Look, Dad, I already know how I feel about her.”
“You’re distracted and we’re going to have to work through this at your pace. I don’t need the truck, but you do. Sarah said you didn’t like any other car, and you have always had a thing for this truck. So, we’re going to work through this and get to the source of the problem. How would you feel if another man swooped in and swept her off her feet?”
Hawk growled and got to his feet, because he was not about to have this conversation with him while he was on his back.
“I don’t like it, okay? I can’t stand it. I don’t even want to think about that. Fuck.” He tried not to curse in front of his parents, but he didn’t like the punch to the gut at the thought of Katie with anyone else. He threw the wrench onto the table as he put his hands on the edge, and he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“I love her,” Hawk said. “I love her so much and I don’t want to lose her.”
“And you’re afraid you will?”
“All I’ve known is working. Just focusing on a job. I’ve never been in a single relationship. I don’t know what Katie needs.” He stepped back and pressed his fingers against his eyes. “What if I’m not good enough for her? I’m not like Adam.”
“Well, that is your first mistake.”
“Going after my friend’s girl?”
“No, comparing yourself to him. You should never do that.”
“Come on, Dad.”
“Katie wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t compare you to him.”
Hawk sighed. “I’m not good enough.”
Connor laughed. “You know, all your life you have put yourself down. When you did that science fair project when you were ten, or whatever age you were. It was that volcano. You refused to let me help you, because you wanted to take full responsibility for it, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t want anyone to tell me that whatever grade I got was yours.” He shrugged.
“And you didn’t fail, but I remember that morning, you said it wasn’t going to work, and you came home, and you won that thing.”
“What’s your point?” Hawk asked.
“It’s time for you to start believing in yourself, son. You have built a successful company.”
“Dad, I gave myself a heart attack.”
Connor laughed. “Son, anyone who works like that is going to give themselves a heart attack. You’re not supposed to be flooded with that much stress.” He sighed. “You deserve to have the life you want. What you can’t do is go back to what you were doing, because that will kill you.”
He dropped his head. “I don’t want to go back, and I feel guilty about that.”
“Why?”
“Because I set it up. I started it.”
“And you’re still going to work at it.”
“Actually, I’ve been talking to a couple of investors. They’re good guys, family guys, and they have come to me several times over the years, wanting to buy my company. I’ve always told them no. This time, I had a meeting with them. Just from the kitchen. We’ve been talking and I’ve spoken to my lawyer, and they want to buy my company. It’s a good deal and it keeps my employees.”
“Wow,” his dad said. “You’re sure that is what you want to do?”
“I don’t miss it.” He sighed. “As crazy as this sounds, I love being in Hope. I love getting up every day and walking through town, greeting everyone, and I never thought I would enjoy that, but I do. I like standing in line and having people tell me about their day. I love going to Palmer’s Gifts and seeing Katie smile, especially when she sees I waited in line for her favorite fall coffee. I love it all. I never thought I would say that.”
“But you did.”
“But I did, and I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to lose any of it,” Hawk said. “I want to be a father and a husband, and I want to help out with these events and live my life.”
Connor moved toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Then what are you waiting for?”