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“What do you mean?” I ask as I look around the room.
Merritt, Parker, and Audrey descended on Hank’s bar this week and the rustic tavern is now strewn with flowers and crepe paper garlands—something I found out Zelda always made for the girls’ birthdays.
He tips his bottle toward the girls on the dance floor and answers, “Those girls are the best thing that ever walked into my life. But watching them terrorize the male population has been… traumatic to say the least.”
I look to what he’s pointing at and see Audrey twirling around the dance floor with some jackass in a custom suit. Seriously, who wears a custom suit in Alaska? There’s something about him that I can’t put my finger on, but I don’t like him. Sure, he dotes on Audrey and BK, but I don’t like the way that he looks at Brenna. It’s not like she’s his whole world, it’s like she’s his prized possession and Audrey is not a woman a man posses.
Brenna is at the house being watched by Mason’s parents. When all this shit comes out, it’s going to blow up in all of our faces. The thought of what’s to come has me pulling out my now ever present pocket pack of Tums and crunching two between my teeth. Who knew becoming the dad to three grown women would be so hard?
I honestly won’t blame Mason one bit because if I ever found out that even my parents kept the knowledge of my kids from me, I’d lose my shit, so I’m assuming he will too. I already feel like I’m playing catch up for the last twenty or so years on the girls. They may not be my blood, but they’re my heart.
Audrey says something to Parker as her date swings her by. Parker, the one who has her shit together. I thank God for her and her level headedness every fucking day. She’s also known as the one who got as far away from Alaska as possible without leaving the United States. Her boyfriend is nice enough but still… there’s something about him I don’t like. Maybe this is what being a father is all about and no man will ever be good enough for one of my girls. I don’t know. But there’s just something there that I can’t put my finger on.
Hank is right, it’s both heaven and hell.
“I see your point,” I tell him as I clink the neck of my beer bottle to his and he laughs.
“There’s something off about that guy,” Wyatt says as he moves to stand with us lifting his chin at Parker’s boyfriend.
“Yeah,” I agree.
“I’ll look into him,” Mason says. “But to be honest, it’s that guy who bugs me the most.”
We all look to Audrey’s fiancé. “Yeah,” I say again.
“You sure it’s not just a little jealousy?” Wyatt prods the sleeping bear.
“I had my chance and it’s gone,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “Life isn’t always fair.”
“I see what you mean,” Wyatt says as some guy from the next town over swings Merritt around on the dance floor.
“You all right, mate?” I ask. I genuinely like the guy even though he’s just a sahde off from persona non grata with my girls and wife.
“Getting there,” Mason says, in a way that makes me think he’s lying through his teeth and he’s never going to get there.
“Not even a little bit,” Wyatt answers honestly. He’s another one that I think is going to blow the doors off this town when he and Merritt eventually come together. “I think I’m going to get drunk.”
“Be my guest,” Hank says and laughs.
“I’m gonna head out,” Mason says. “This should be for family and friends and I’m neither.”
“I like to think we’re friends,” I say.
“Nah, you’re on the inside looking out,” he says sadly. “I’ve always been on the outside of the Harris girls. Once, I thought…”
“What did you think?”
“It doesn’t matter. That was a long time ago. I’ll see you around.”
Hank and I watch as Mason walks away. “That is going to blow everyone’s dick off like a Bouncing Betty gereously gifted by the VC.”
“While that was rather eloquently put, you and I seem to be the only ones who think so,” I tell him.
“Women,” he says, shaking his head. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thanks. I think it’s time I claim my bride.”
I move across the room to pull Zelda into my arms.
