"A dog is a lot of work," I concede.
"She wants it to sleep with her," he continues."And I would love for her to have what she wants..."he trails off.
I know what he's trying to say.As a single dad, he can't work it out so that he can live, work, and support her along with a dog.I hate this for them, because he's right, she should have what she wants."Maybe one day, when you're older, you can have a dog."
Nic makes a noise in the back of her throat, and Darren laughs."People tell her that all the time.She's sick of people telling her that."
"Are you?"I ask her, reaching out to tickle her stomach.
She nods, rolling her eyes.
"Oh I see she has the eye roll down.At such a young age, too," I tease, giggling.
"You can thank Ella for that," he references his little sister.
I've only ever met her a few times, but she seems like a really nice girl."If she can't learn that from her aunt, then what can she learn from her?"
He grunts."That's not all she's learning from her.I was so excited when I found out Mom and Dad were having a baby, but I never realized how the age gap between us would affect things.Like I'm nearing thirty-one, and she'll be twenty in a few months.We're just in two different parts of our lives, and I love her for the help she gives."
"I hear a but in there."
"Oh there's a really big one.She's all about partying and having fun, and I haven't been at that spot in my life in a very long time.She had Nic in her car at a party waiting for me to come pick her up after I got off-shift.It's not like she had her actually at the party, but it was close enough and it pissed me off."
There's disappointment in his tone, and written right across his face.I know that Darren loves his sister, he respects her, and no one better ever touch her, but he also expects a lot of her."She's young, she'll understand."
"In the grand scheme of things she's not much older than you," he points out."Would you take Nic to a college party and wait in the car until I was able to come get her?"
He's got a point, but I also don't want to be judgmental.I was that young girl at one point, and I'm not sure how I would've reacted.The me now, is completely different than the me I was a few years ago."No, I wouldn't have."
"There ya go."
Nic turns to us."Swing?"
I don't know what she's asking, but it's obvious that Darren does."It's chilly out there, baby girl.Are you sure?"He asks, running a hand along the back of his neck.
We're into the first part of April, but cool temperatures have been hanging on like a bad cold.I'm not sure we're going to hit the high sixties today.
"I wanna swing," she says those words with her deeply southern accent.
"You heard her, Daddy," I taunt, giving him a grin."She wants to swing."His gaze flares and I wonder if he likes me saying the world Daddy, but he continues.
"Alright, let's go swing."Nic is excited.She gets up, yelling with joy."You have to wear a jacket," I remind her.
She doesn't seem to care, and runs through the house to get her shoes on.
"I wish I was that excited about something," I laugh as I watch.
Nic brings her shoes to her Dad, and he pushes himself forward on the couch to help her put them on.He clears his throat, and his dark gaze lifts to mine."I didn't want to ruin the morning, but I do have to take you down to the station for your statement.Mom's going to come and watch Nic while I take you down there.She'll be here in about an hour."
I had hoped he'd forgotten about me going to the station.I don't want to relive it, and I don't want to tell people about the shame I feel, but at the same time, I realize that he's never going to be caught if I don't."Okay," I swallow hard."I'll be ready when she gets here."
"Do you need a sweatshirt?"He asks, his eyes flicking up and down my body."That shirt is going to be chilly."
He's right, and it would be bad to admit that I would love to wear something of his."Yes please."
He holds up a finger and heads back toward his bedroom.When he comes out a few minutes later, he's holding a hoodie.When he tosses it to me, I grab it, and shrug it over my head and shoulders.It smells exactly like him and I can immediately tell this is going to be my favorite shirt I've ever had.
Thirty minutes later, I'm pushing Nic on the swing."Higher!"She squeals.
