Page 25

Earlier I offered to help Tala with the party plans, but she’s so excited about this date, she said no. Now I am pacing the balcony in the late afternoon heat, questioning this whole thing.

I get a text from Channing.

I smile, I am a punctual person. I am never late. Ever.

It’s four-thirty when I go inside to shower and get dressed; I need enough time to get from my side of the Hudson to hers. I don't want to be late — in fact I plan to be early. A little test to see if Channing is as punctual as I am. I am buzzing with an unexplained energy, something thrills me about the idea of spending my evening with her.

In a way that the other date didn’t. Not even dinner with Selene gave me any sort of feels, but this young lady has caused my brain to short-circuit. Maybe it has to do with the way I know she’s already imagined my cock. She’s incredibly sexy, in a smart, unconventional, completely not fake way. She also gets under my skin, she’s young and she’s cocky — snark is her love language. I think it may also be a defense mechanism, but to me it is better than any blue pill my kids may think I need. Her sassy backtalk gets me hard, and for some reason I fucking love that.

Just thinking about it is making getting dressed difficult. Sucking in a breath, I try to calm my racing mind, and focus on making sure I look and smell good for tonight.

Tala made it very clear I should smell nice. As if I’d ever walk around smelling not nice.

The charcoal grey suit and matching grey button down shirt cover up the part of me that almost no one has ever seen. My ex, and my kids, maybe, but suddenly I am self-conscious about the dark inked lines that cover almost all of my torso. Channing won’t expect this — she’s expecting the actuary who collects stamps. Nipple piercings are probably not on the list of what she thinks about when she sees me. No one ever does. I had to pack that part of my life away when I became a dad to three kids, with a high-society wife. The fun part of me had to die, so I could be the provider, the stable dad, and the person my kids could call home.

Looking at myself in the full length mirror as I get dressed, I see a me looking back that’s been gone for far too long. Instead of pulling on my jacket, it’s hot as hell, I roll my sleeves halfway up and let a little of me show. I want to shock her a bit, make her rethink that boring AF statement.

I have a hard time admitting it even to myself, but a bigger part of me wants her to like me. Combing my hair, I make sure my short beard is neat and tidy. Aftershave, so I smell nice, and instead of my usual glasses, I put my contacts in.

It’s a good feeling to make myself look good for something other than work. To not worry that I am not covered up. To be myself inside and out.

“Jesus, Dad,” Fallon says, shocked as I come into the living room to say goodbye before I leave. They have never seen me in anything other than a full suit unless we’re on vacation far, far away from the city. “You really are letting loose.”

“It’s fucking hot.”

“You’re fucking hot.” It slips out of Emily’s mouth and she quickly covers it as Tala laughs and Lycan looks a bit jealous.

“You look great, Dad. I have a feeling about this date,” Tala says. “Do you have a condom?” I don’t, but I am not having that discussion, or asking any of them for one. My face obviously answers the question, because Fallon pulls out his wallet and flings a silver wrapper across the counter.

“I don't want any more siblings,” he says.

“You know I had a vasectomy after you were born, so that’s never going to happen.”

“Really?” Tala says. I don't remember ever telling her, but we had a boy talk about it once.

“Yes, really. I am not going to be knocking anyone up.”

“Yeah, but STDs are real.”

“I somehow doubt that a lady like Channing is an STD risk,” I say, grabbing my wallet and keys, sticking the condom in it before I pocket it. “I’ll see you kids later.” They have a look in their eyes, one I know too well. “Whatever it is you’re planning — don’t. Just don’t. Tonight for me, please fucking behave!”

“We always behave, Dad.”

“Badly,” Emily snarks. I have no time to argue, I don’t want to be late.

“Goodbye,” I call out as I close the door. Knowing full well they’re up to no fucking good.

I park close to the address that Channing sent me, a neat row of two story brownstones. I straighten my shirt, pull myself together and swallow my nerves, as I walk up to her house. I am forty-five. I shouldn’t be shaking before a date. It should get easier when you’re older. I pause, and put on the same false confidence that got me through years of business. I am almost at her front steps when her door flings open and she steps out.

She’s wearing a black dress that hugs every one of her curves. Channing is not a stick-figure. She’s fucking gorgeous, and her legs in those heels are enough to cause all my blood to go to my boner. Fucking hell. As she turns around to see me, she slams to a stop and stumbles down the steps, barely catching the railing so she doesn’t face-plant. I turn my head so she can’t see me laugh, before I rush to help her up.

“Hi,” she says, breathy and embarrassed.

“Hi, do you want to go put on shoes that won’t kill you?”

“No, I’m good.” She smooths down her dress and rights herself. She’s staring at my arm, right where she’s holding onto the bare skin I left exposed. “No jacket tonight?” she asks with a soft smirk on her perfectly painted lips.

“It’s hot.”