Page 86 of View With Your Heart

“I might only be seventeen, but I know a thing or two about woman, and you fucked up here, old man.”

I’d love to argue that I’m not old at thirty-eight. One day, he’ll get to this age and realize how young it still is, but lately, I’m exhausted.

“I just need to see her. I need to explain something.”

Theo shakes his head. “I think you’ve said enough to her, man. You’re done.”

“Look, kid, I’m Gee’s dad. She and I have history, and we need to be in each other’s future. I need to see her.”

“Calling me kid makes me less inclined to tell you anything. Have a good night, old guy.” Theo starts to close the door on me, but I stop it with my hand and set my foot near the jamb in case he tries to slam it.

“If you don’t want to be treated like a kid, then act like a man, and help me find my girl.”

Theo bitterly chuckles. “I am acting like a man. I’m protecting my family.”

With that, he wedges my foot back with his and closes the door on me.

+ + +

After ten texts, I give up on finding Britton and return to my parents’ home, finding the house dark. I’m relieved everyone is gone. After I close the front door and head to the staircase, I hear a sound in the kitchen and quietly walk toward it.

“Still sneaking back in the house.” Dad guffaws, wrapping his hands around a coffee mug. He sits at the kitchen table without the lights on. Hunched over, he looks older than his sixty-something years. “Where’ve you been?”

I hesitate before answering. “At Britton’s.” I step forward and lean against the counter. The kitchen is small, but it was always the center of our house when we were kids.

“That girl’s been a lot of trouble,” he says to the table, twirling the mug in his hands. I scowl at the edge to his voice.

“That girl has a name, and it’s Britton,” I respond. “And she’s the mother of my child.” Dad glances up at my tone and nods once.

“Whatcha going to do about that?” It’s the million-dollar question. “Marry her? Take her to California with you?”

“I haven’t figured it out yet.” I cross my arms and then cross my ankles, looking down at my feet. We remain quiet for a minute.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with her.” He doesn’t need to remind me. I’m already angry I won’t be in her bed tonight. “Think you love her?”

“I don’t know,” I mutter, but I do know. I love her. Things are complicated, but we need a chance. Too many things have been happening at once.

“Damn shame you don’t know because she’s going to be part of this family, with or without you.” My dad pauses a second. “Your mother just had a sense about that boy. She said she couldn’t put her finger on it, but she just knew he was yours even when it didn’t add up. She said he had mannerisms like you. Tics and that smile. A dimple only on one side.”

I lift my hand for my mouth, scrubbing around it as if I can find that matching dimple.

“She said she knew you’d be back one day. Didn’t know when or how, but someday.” Dad shakes his head. “I think she meant what she said when we left that night. She’d been waiting for you to come home before she let go. She was waiting for you to meet that boy and set the truth straight.”

My eyes burn, and I swipe them collectively before pinching at the bridge of my nose.

“Be a damn shame if you come home one day with some floozy when a good woman is right here waiting on you.”

“How do you know Britton’s waiting on me? And who says I’d end up with a floozy?”

“You’re right. Maybe be the other way around. She’ll find a good man who loves her and deserves her love in return, and he’ll love your kid while you’re off making movies.” Sarcasm fills his voice, and I’m not liking what he said. Britton’s already let another man love her and father my child.

“You don’t think very highly of me, do you?” I bitterly chuckle.

“I think you have a second chance at a few things, and I’m worried you’re going to throw it away as you did in the past.”

“I was hurt, Dad. I couldn’t get back in the game.”

Dad huffs, restoring us to old arguments.