Page 13 of Callow

“No?” he asked, lips curving up ever so slightly, his head ducking a bit. “‘Cause I was doing this type of shit at her age too.”

“I was too,” I admitted. “But she was supposed to be better than me, damnit.”

“She’s just a kid. Kids are idiots. Life’s gotta kick them around a little bit to knock the stupid out.”

“True. But whatever happened to, I don’t know, drinking in the woods or someone’s basement? Why is my kid at a biker clubhouse at sixteen?”

To that, Callow actually looked a little embarrassed as he reached up to rub the back of his neck.

“What?” I asked.

“I think she might’ve, ah, come here to find me,” he admitted.

“Oh. My. God,” I groaned.

It wasn’t so much of a ‘My daughter likes older men’ type of oh-my-God.

It was more of ‘My daughter and I have the same taste in men’ oh-my-God.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, not sure what else I could say. “That had to be… incredibly awkward.”

“Hey, at least it was me, I guess.”

He was right about that.

Too many sickos in the world would totally take her up on her little teenage crush.

“Can I ask you something?” Callow asked.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Where is Daphne’s father?”

To that, a little laugh escaped me. “That’s a great question. The last time I was in touch, he was in a prison in New Mexico,” I told him. “He’s… never been a part of her life.”

I’d hunted his ass down after the stick turned blue. And he’d sent me cash in an envelope with a note that said he wasn’t cut out to be a dad.

I had to give him credit for being self-aware enough to realize that. Even if I didn’t exactly have a choice about being a mom.

“Sorry to hear that,” Callow said, shaking his head. “You both deserve better than that.”

Maybe if she’d had a father figure, she wouldn’t be chasing after the attention of older men. That was the stereotype, right? Maybe therapy was more necessary than punishment.

“Do you mind if I gave you my number?” I asked. “In case she is ever here again? Or even if you are ever out and about and see her somewhere she shouldn’t be?”

“Yeah, of course,” he said, reaching for his phone, unlocking it and handing it to me. I typed my information in before passing it back. “Sabrina,” he said, light blue eyes flicking up to me as my name in his voice had shivers moving through me.

“That’s me,” I said, shooting him a smile that I hoped covered up the desire that was raging through me.

“I promise I’ll let you know if I see Daphne anywhere it seems like you wouldn’t approve of.”

“And since she’ll be grounded from now until eternity, that is absolutely anywhere,” I said.

“Eh, go easy on the kid. She looked fucking mortified when I snatched her phone out of her hand and called you in front of everyone.”

“Am I a terrible mother if I say ‘Good’ to that?”

The horn wailed outside, making Callow’s brows raise.