AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My dad drags us to the beer tent and buys a round of drinks to eat with our meal. I’m grateful. I down the beer and buy another few rounds. I keep the conversation to a minimum. Eat and drink. I’m being a dick, I know. I’d rather mount my bike and ride. Riding always eases or erases my emotions and feelings. I can handle rejection. I can handle someone not liking my personality or not being attracted to me. What I’m not familiar with is someone being afraid of me.
“I’m gonna call it a night.” I rise to my feet. Too fast. My buzz makes me dizzy for a short second.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” My dad sidekicks the back of my legs, and my ass lands on the picnic table bench.
I send him a sideways glare.
“What? You can’t keep up with your old man?” He clamps a hand on my shoulder. He’s surpassed tipsy and soared into sloshed from hitting the bottle this afternoon.
“I can keep up with you.” I don’t know why my competitive side comes out with my dad. Why I need to prove to him I’m capable when I know damn well I am.
He snorts. “Sure you can.”
I don’t want to end up looking like a drunken fool like him.
“There’s my date.” My dad stands. His body wavers.
“Whoa, hey.” Bexley jumps to her feet and reaches across the table. Her hand grasps a handful of my old man’s shirt.
My arm shoots around his back. “I’ll take this.” I pry the beer can out of his deadly grip.
“I’m good.” He swings a leg over the bench and stops to steady himself. “Rune!” He waves and staggers, nearly flipping over the bench seat.
“Damn it, Dad.” I lift him right over the bench and set him on his feet. “You should call it a night.”
He slaps my cheek. “My boy, the night is just beginning.” He braces both of his hands on my face and draws me close to him. “I’ve missed you.” If he’s trying to whisper, he’s doing a shoddy job. Everyone within hearing range can hear. “I love you, Son. Maybe I haven’t told you.”
“You definitely have not.”
“I read your articles. Every single one of them, Lone Rider.” He pinches my skin.
I’m shocked by his admission. Using the pseudonym Lone Rider, I hadn’t expected anyone to figure out my column in the motorcycle magazine. I certainly never told him about the column. I had to make money on the road, and writing my experiences gave me the opportunity to ride and travel.
“I didn’t know you knew.”
“Of course, I knew. I know my son's voice. Even on paper. I’m so proud.” He kisses my cheek before wrapping his arms around me. His body slumps against me like the deadweight he is.
It takes me a second to realize he’s actually hugging me. It takes me another few seconds to lift my arms and hug him back.
My eyes meet Bexley’s and the soft smile on her lips. For another few seconds, everything in my life is perfect.
“Otto?” I recognize Rune’s voice from the other night.
My dad pulls away from me, but not before he plants another loud kiss on my cheek. I’m tempted to wipe it away.
“Let’s be on our way, doll.” He wraps his arm over her shoulder. Surprisingly, the woman holds him up.
“You need help getting him back to the booth?” I ask.
“I’m not going back to the booth. Rune and I are going to hers for the night.” His elbow digs into my side. “If you know what I mean.”
Everyone knows what he means.
“Wait, what?” Bexley walks around the table and lowers her voice. “Otto, we have a plan tonight.”
“Don’t you worry. I have a plan.” My dad thinks he’s whispering, and again, he’s loud enough that the table behind us can hear. “Johnny’s going to step in and spend the night with you. Right, Son?” He swings to slap my back or shoulder—I’m not sure which—misses and crashes onto the picnic table.
Now everyone is looking in our direction.
