page10 (1/2)
“If I knew the answer I wouldn’t be tied up in knots,” he grumbled Wasn’t that obvious? “I knohat the easy answer is but I can’t do that”
“If the easy answer is to walk away then you’re lucky you’re not within slapping distance because I would totally whack you upside the head for being so dumb Of course, the answer isn’t to walk away The answer is to woo Shannon You’re attracted to her and perhaps, with any luck, she’s still attracted to you Make a grand gesture to show her that you care”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, use your i about flowers”
“I don’t know her well enough to knohat she’d appreciate and what she’d hate,” he said morosely “She doesn’t care about ainst me How am I supposed to combat that?”
“It isn’t that she doesn’t care about your money, it’s that she knows you’ve used it to o away Show her that you can do the work like everyone else and that you’re not just going to throwto be a true father”
“I want to be,” he said “But I don’t kno”
“Well neither does Dillon but he’s excited to find out You need to stop being so afraid of failing and just go for it I think you’ll be a natural”
“Yeah? Why do you say that?” he asked
“Because at your core, you are sweet and sensitive and caring What ood father? I know you’ll put the baby before your needs because you’re already doing it”
“How do you know?”
“Howin San Jose?” Penny asked, startling Nolan with the bold question
“None,” he answered “I haven’t been in the mood”
“Let’s examine that for a minute: you, the perennial lover of woe tail Either you have a fever or you’re growing up”
He shuddered “Don’t say that Sounds like a death sentence”
“It’s not,” she assured hih “It’s actually pretty awesome Welcome to the Grown Up Club”
“Well, don’t welco of his unfortunate sexual flop the night before He knew at the time he shouldn’t have left with CeCe but he had anyway and it’d turned out eht “My brother is a lucky h and Penny chuckled warmly
“No, I’irls I won’t accept anything but total triumph Got it?”
“Yes
“You can do this, Nolan Trust in yourself,” Penny said
Trust Commitment Responsibility — the trifecta of terror He wished he had Penny’s faith “Thank you, Penny”