Falling in love.

“And straight up,” Hawk continued before Axl could recover from the velvet hit of those three words. “The man isn’t ninety, but he is ill. He’s got a life to live that is likely going to be abbreviated by his condition. So he needs to be encouraged to live it.”

“Yeah,” Axl grunted, still stuck on the thought of Hattie falling in love.

With him.

Which he was doing with her.

He’d just not consciously acknowledged it.

“The second is harder, which is why you’re here,” Hawk carried on. “But if you had no problem getting down to important business on your first meeting with this guy, I’d find your times to continue to go over when she’s with him. Regardless of the rocky start, try to establish a relationship with him. And then point out, if he loves his daughter, he should get his head out of his fuckin’ ass and put the work in to build a relationship with her that isn’t based on shit.”

“Yeah,” Axl repeated.

“That’s harder, Axe, ’cause you can’t go in there doing that without her knowledge. Which means you gotta point out to Hattie in the middle of sorting her head out about past and current issues that there’s healthy emotion mixed in that. And since there is, you think it’s worthwhile you both work on him in coaxing it out.”

Hawk leaned forward.

Because he wasn’t done.

“But you gotta be certain you’re at one with thinking it’s worthwhile to coax it out,” he warned. “If you’re not, then you should keep doin’ what you’re doing. Support what she feels she has to do, and step in when he crosses a line.”

“Right,” Axl said.

Hawk’s gaze remained steady on Axl.

“It’s been a rough road for you with her, what she experienced growing up, even when you got together, it wasn’t going to be easy,” Hawk remarked. “Still, sucks to hear that it’s not only not easy, but also confusing.”

“Definitely sucks,” Axl agreed. “Though, appreciate you talkin’ it out with me.”

Hawk sat back again and replied, “Anytime.”

Axl stood.

Surprisingly, Hawk didn’t.

“Again, gratitude,” Axl said. “I was at a loss. Now I’m not. It’s important so it’s good to have a path.”

Hawk nodded.

Axl moved to the door.

“Axe?” Hawk called.

He turned to his boss.

And it felt like someone punched him in the sternum when he saw the look on Hawk’s face.

A look he couldn’t quite read.

But he could feel it.

“You know what fucks me?” Hawk asked quietly.

“No,” Axl forced out.

“That you came to me with this.”

And a sock to the gut.

“Sorry, I—”

“No,” Hawk bit off. “That you came to me because you can’t go to your dad. That fucks me, Axl. Because I’m honored you felt safe sitting across from me and talking this through. But you should feel safe with your dad. You do not. And that pisses me right the fuck off.”