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“Yep.” Kane nods. “I love you, Sunshine.”
I rapidly blink and process his words. He stares into my eyes and all the love and feelings I have for him bubble to the surface. Ever since Mom mentioned love last night, I’ve been thinking nonstop about if I do love him and I realize in this moment that I do. I do love him. A smile graces my face because he feels what I feel, this is no longer some crush. It’s real love. Reaching up, I cover his hands on my face and murmur, “I … I love you too, Kane.”
Leaning forward, I press my lips to his and kiss him, cementing our voiced out loud love for one another. Sliding my hands around his shoulders, I deepen the kiss, slipping my tongue into his mouth. Completely forgetting my dad is here but I soon remember when Dad shouts, “Time out. Time-fucking-out.”
Kane and I pull apart, he winks at me and when I turn my head to look over at Dad, I see him mimicking the timeout motion with his hands. This causes my smile to widen and I have to hold back a laugh. I don’t know why I find that funny but now isn’t the time to be laughing, especially with Dad still glaring intently at both Kane and me. “Let’s just back the fuck up. Back this fucking truck up.”
Pursing my lips, I hesitantly turn around to face Dad. “Yes, Daddy?” I innocently say, I may as well try and milk my luck with him. I’ve never seen him this angry before, not even when he caught Raven and I kissing, but Raven isn’t his best friend and I was only a kid. This is a little more serious than that. “Let me get this straight, you two have been sneaking around and are dating … and apparently now are in love?”
We both nod.
“My daughter and my best friend.”
We both nod again.
“My best friend and my daughter are together.”
We nod again, neither one of us game to speak. He nods his head. Up and down, processing everything. With each nod, his anger seems to be dissipating and I’m ever so thankful for that. I look over to Kane. “I think we, well, I need to tell him everything.”
“There’s more?” Dad runs his hands through his hair and laces his fingers over his head. Shaking his head side to side, his eyes widen. “Please don’t tell me you’re pregnant!”
“No, no babies, but I think you better take a seat.” I nod to the armchair next to him. Dad looks to the chair and then back to me. “Please?” I ask again, and thankfully, Daddy drops into it.
“I’ll get you a drink,” Kane offers.
“Make it a double.”
Kane steps away from me and instantly I feel the loss of his body. He walks over to the wet bar and pours a drink for Dad. He hands it to him and Dad knocks it back before shoving the glass to him again. “Another,” he demands. Kane takes the empty tumbler and refills it. Handing it back to Dad before he takes a seat.
I stand here awkwardly, suddenly not sure what to do. Do I sit? Do I stand? Do I leave the two of them alone and let Kane tell him everything? What the fuck do I do? Kane senses my unease and taps the sofa next to him. Okay, I’m sitting.
Walking over, I sit down next to him. He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips, that one little kiss calms me, that is until Dad opens his mouth and growls, “Okay, start talking, Calliope.”
We’re still on the Calliope bandwagon BUT at least he’s talking to me again, and at least Daddy’s vein hasn’t appeared today. I take a deep breath as nerves and angst filter through my veins as I begin to tell him everything. “When I was a little girl …” and for the next few minutes I fill Dad in on my childhood crush and all the secrets I’ve been keeping from the moment I left Silverbell for New York.
“Let me get this straight, you’ve had a crush on Kane since you were little. You lied about how great New York was. Became friends with my best friend behind everyone’s back. You also became a stripper and then you …” he points to Kane, “… got a lap dance from my daughter, and then you both fell in love?”
“That’s the gist of it yes.” I nod and study Dad. I can’t read him now but the fact his forehead vein is still MIA, I think it’s all going to be okay.
“Why did you do it?”
“Dad,” I scoff and roll my eyes, “you cannot help who you fall in love with. If I remember correctly, you told me that when I fall in love, it will be the most all-consuming feeling in the world and you will stop at nothing to have that feeling.”
“No, not that, the stripping? Why didn’t you say anything? Mom and I would have helped you.” Then he looks to Kane. “And you,” he grumbles, “how could you let her strip?”
Kane holds his hands up defensively. “Hey, I didn’t find that part out ‘til a few months ago. If I had known when we first ran into one another, I would have stepped in.”
“And by stepping in, you mean falling in love with my princess?”
“That came after. When I saw her in that room, I was shocked, but I saw her in a different light that night and—”
“Yeah, a half-naked light,” Dad jokes.
“Daaaad,” I draw out the word but the fact he just cracked a joke gives me hope that all will be okay. “Are … are we okay?”
“It’s a lot to take in, Princess.”Yes, I internally cheer, we’re back to Princess. “It’s not every day you find out your daughter was a stripper or that she and your best friend are in love.” He looks to Kane. “You do really love her, don’t you? You’re not just fucking about? It’s not some mid-life crisis bullshit?”
“Very much so, Garrick.” He lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles, reaffirming the love he has for me. “I love her to the moon and back.”
