The next afternoon, Dad shoves his hands in his pockets and looks around. “So, this is The Barn, huh?”

“This is it. Except there’s usually not all the girly shit,” I say. There are purple and pink balloons and streamers everywhere. “Rose went a little overboard.”

I wait for him to make some comment about The Barn, because he hated how much time Chloe and I spent here, but he doesn’t.

“It looks great,” he says instead. “Chloe is going to love this.”

The first thing that pops into my head is You know nothing about what Chloe would or wouldn’t like, because you don’t know her. I keep my mouth shut, but it’s difficult keeping those thoughts at bay when I’ve been having them for so long. I’m going to have to work on that.

Roy catches my attention from across the room. He turns and says something to Rose and walks toward us. He’s smiling, but when he sees Dad standing next to me, that smile dies. For years, Roy took me and Chloe in whenever we needed it. Gave us a quiet shoulder to lean on, food when we were hungry, and a place to escape. Several times he’s voiced the desire to beat the shit out of my dad. I should’ve told him I was bringing Dad today, but I never got around to it.

“Roy MacElroy,” he says, holding a hand out to my father.

“Chris Bennett. Lincoln’s father.” Dad grabs Roy’s hand for a firm shake.

“I know who you are.”

There’s a bite to Roy’s words, and I can tell by the chagrined look on Dad’s face that he hasn’t missed it.

Dad releases Roy’s hand and clears his throat. “Thank you for always being there for my son. He speaks highly of you.”

Well, son of a bitch, I did not see that coming.

Obviously Roy didn’t either, because he turns to me with a cocked brow. I can tell by the look on his face that there are a million things he wants to say to my father. However, Roy may own a gym and train men to be strong, but he’s not a fighter at heart.

“You’ve got a great son. You should be proud of him. I know I am,” he says, squeezing my shoulder.

Dad concentrates on the floor for a few seconds before he looks up and nods. “I’m very proud. He’s come a long way in life—no thanks to me. If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

His words catch me off guard, and all I can seem to do is point toward the back of the room where the restrooms are located. Dad disappears, and Roy guides me away from the center of the room.

“Didn’t know he would be here.”

I cringe. “I should’ve told you.”

“Does Chloe know he’s going to be here?” he asks.

“Yeah, I told her last night.”

“And she’s okay with it?”

“She says she is. I guess we’ll find out.”

“Linc…” Roy runs a hand through his hair and narrows his eyes. “What the fuck is going on?”

“I don’t fuckin’ know. He’s not drinking. He got in to some old photos of us growing up and started reminiscing. He’s been different the last few times I’ve seen him.”

Roy doesn’t look convinced. “And you really think he’s making a change? After all these years? How many times has he done this?”

“I know,” I growl, blowing out a breath. The last thing I want to do right now is fight with Roy, or anyone else, about my dad. “I get it, okay? But what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to be a better person than him and my mother if I can’t recognize when he’s making an effort?”

“First of all, you’re already a better person than either one of them ever were or will be. Second, I get it, okay? I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I get it. He’s your dad.”

Wrapping an arm around Roy’s shoulder, I pull him in. “Thank you, Roy. He might be my dad by blood, but you’re the one who shaped me into the man I am, and I swear to you I’ll never forget that.”

“Don’t go gettin’ all emotional on me now.” Roy tightens an arm around me and claps my back several times before pulling away. “Now go fetch me a beer, and don’t let Rose see ya.”

“I heard that,” Rose yells. Hands on her hips, she walks toward us. “Is that what you’ve been doing when I’m not around, sneaking beer?”

“No.” Roy scoffs and pretends to look offended, but Rose and I both seem to know he’s lying his ass off.

Rose rolls her eyes and turns to me. “His blood pressure has been high, and the doctor said he needs to cut back on his salt intake and all the beer.”

“Who in their right goddamn mind would give up salt and beer at the same time?” Roy grumbles. “No one.”

“Maybe if you’d quit barking orders at all the guys and actually get out here and do some exercising yourself, you wouldn’t have to give up all the things you love.”

Roy waves his daughter off and turns toward the food table. “These boys wouldn’t know what to do if I got into the ring with them.”

Rose waits until her father is halfway across the room before turning to me. “How does it look?” she says, waving at the decorations.

“It looks great, Rose. You went above and beyond.”

She shrugs and grins. “It was nothing. I love this sort of thing.”

“Do you need some money? Like I told you before, I don’t mind helping.”

“And I told you before that we wanted to do this for Chloe.” Rose’s eyes drift over my shoulder, and she pokes me in the chest. “Now go get your father before he does something he’ll regret.”

Huh? I spin around. Dad is standing over the beer cooler, staring at it like it holds some sort of giant secret.

Shit. When I invited him, I wasn’t thinking about the fact that there would be beer here, and I sure as hell wasn’t thinking about how Dad would deal with that.

“Excuse me for a minute, Rose.”

She pats my arm. “Go.”

I’m at Dad’s side in five long strides. I mimic his stance beside the cooler and look at him. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking about there being alcohol here. I can take you home if you want.”

“No.” He turns to look at me before moving his gaze back to the beer. “Beer never was my kryptonite. Well, maybe early on it was, but it’s the hard shit I crave.”

“Dad—”

He raises his hand. “I’m okay, Lincoln. I’m not going to lie and say it isn’t hard, because it is. It’s taking every ounce of strength I have not to reach in there and pop a top. But that’s not what I want for myself or for Chloe. She deserves better than that from me, especially on a day like today.”

Resting a hand on his shoulder, I squeeze it. “Let’s go stand somewhere else.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

We walk to the food table. I snag a handful of grapes, and Dad reaches for a cookie.

“If it’s gets to be too much, just say the word, and I’ll get you out of here.”

“Quit worrying about me for once and go enjoy the party. I’ll be fine. Is Chloe here yet?”

“I haven’t seen her. But knowing Chloe, she’s going to make some dramatically late grand entrance.”

Just then a set of arms wraps around me from behind. “You know me too well.” Chloe kisses my cheek and steps back.

“Chloe.” Dad takes a small step forward. “You look great.”

“Thanks.” Her eyes sweep over him. I imagine she’s looking for signs of intoxication, something the both of us have gotten good at spotting over the years. When she doesn’t find any, she looks to me and smiles. “Have you guys been here long?”

“Nope.” I say, popping a grape in my mouth. “Just long enough to say hi to a few people.”

“And raid the food table, I see.”

“Of course. That’s the only reason we’re here. Right, Dad?” I nudge my old man in the arm.

“Speak for yourself, Linc. The food looks good, but I’m here for Chloe.”

Chloe’s eyes widen. Her mouth opens and closes and then opens back up.

“I know you’ve got a lot of people here to spend time with you today, but if you get a second later, I’d love to sit down and catch up.” Dad manages a smile.

Chloe nods, still unable to find her words, and he continues.

“It’s just… I haven’t seen ya in a while and, well, there’s a few things I’d like to say.”

“I’m—” She stammers and looks to me for help, but she isn’t getting any. This is her thing. Her eyes shift back to our father. “I’ve been busy.”

“I know you have,” he says. “Linc told me all about graduating college. I’m real proud of you, Chloe. I always knew you’d do something great with your life.”

“You did?” she asks.

He nods. “Do you have a minute so we can talk?”

“Uh…now isn’t a good time. I need to go thank Rose and Roy for throwing me this wonderful party.”

Dad’s face falls. “I understand. Maybe later.”

“Maybe.” She touches my arm softly and disappears into the growing crowd.

“She’ll come around.”

Dad looks at me. “I’m not so sure. And I can’t say I blame her.” He takes a bite of his cookie.