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I laugh. “Are you for real?”
He meets my eyes. “It’s all real, baby girl. All of it.”
My phone rings, and I reach to the coffee table to pick it up. It’s my dad.
“Hey, Dad,” I say.
“Hi, Kylie,” he says. “How are you?”
“I’m great,” I say, winking at Braxton. “How are you feeling today?”
“I’m all right,” he says.
I can’t tell he isn’t. His voice sounds strained.
“Let’s bring him dinner later,” Braxton says quietly.
I hesitate for a beat. I’ve seen my dad once since Braxton and I got together, but I didn’t tell him about us. I was still so overwhelmed that I wasn’t sure what to say. And since we haven’t told Selene, I’ve felt like we need to hide it from the world.
But I know Dad is calling me because he’s lonely, and probably in pain. I should absolutely go see him, and this could be a good time to tell him what’s going on. I just don’t know what he’s going to think.
“Do you want to have dinner tonight?” I ask. “I’m, um … I’m with Brax, and he and I could come over.”
“That would be great,” he says. “I’d like that very much.”
I meet Braxton’s eyes and nod. “Great. We’ll bring food with us. What sounds good?”
“Whatever you want is fine,” he says. He always says that.
“Okay, we’ll see you later today,” I say. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Kylie.”
I hang up and put the phone down. “So, I guess we’re going to visit my dad together?”
Braxton smiles like it’s the best idea in the world. “Yes, we are.”
***
Braxton keeps his hand on the small of my back as we walk into the assisted living facility. It feels so odd for him to touch me like this in public—so familiar and intimate. Like we’re a couple. Which, we are, I guess, although I feel like I’m still not sure what’s happening between us. I want to believe he and I have something solid, but I have to remind myself who he is.
The woman at the front desk looks up and smiles. “Hi, Kylie,” she says. “Braxton, I haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been?”
“I’ve been absolutely fantastic, Chelsea,” he says. He grabs the pen and signs in. “How about you?”
She gives him a shy smile. “Oh, I’ve been fine. Henry should be upstairs in his apartment. You two have a nice visit.”
I look up at Braxton as we walk to the elevator. “How does she know you?”
“She’s usually here when I come by,” he says.
I stop in my tracks. He can’t be serious. “You visit my dad?”
“Yeah, I try to visit once every week or two,” he says. “I thought you knew that.”
I stare at him, my mouth open. “No, I didn’t. I guess, sometimes Dad says he’s seen you, but I didn’t know you visit him regularly.”
“Of course I do,” he says.
