AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t look it. You have such a pretty baby face.” He ran the back of his hand down said baby face.
“You’re such a flirt.”
“Just keeping the romance alive in our marriage. I hear it’s important.”
I laughed because how could I not? Plus, he was doing a good job at keeping my mind off what we were doing today.
We were almost there when I said, “It’ll be different from how it was at your house. I mean, it’s just my dad, obviously, and he really is great. It’s not like we have to worry about him not being accepting, but he’s…” Quieter, lonelier…
“Him,” Elliott replied. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry so much. I’m good at filling in conversation if I need to. And if all else fails, I’ll just teach your dad how to dance.”
A laugh jumped out of my mouth. “Clearly you don’t know my dad. I can’t imagine him ever doing something like that.” Not anymore.
“That’s because he’s never met me before.”
“You’re so cocky.”
“I’m honest.”
“Oh my God, you’re an idiot, is what you are,” I countered, but I was still smiling…and I felt better.
The boulder in my gut returned as we pulled into the driveway. It was an older home that had still cost more than it should. My parents had both been incredibly responsible, and though they’d been young, they’d had life-insurance policies. What we’d gotten when she passed away had helped us keep things afloat.
“Hey,” Elliott said softly. “You got this. I know you do. We’re gonna have a great day. I’ll wow your dad, and you’re gonna end up making everyone feel good because that’s what you do. And then we’ll go home and I’ll suck a load out of your balls to celebrate. Sound like a plan?”
Well, shit. I didn’t know how I could argue with that, but… “That’s what I do? I make everyone feel good?”
“Yeah. You didn’t know?” As soon as the words left his mouth, Elliott got out of the car, not giving me time to respond. Not that I knew how I’d respond if given the chance.
I didn’t realize I was still sitting there until he knocked on the window on the driver’s side. I hadn’t even seen him come over. That was embarrassing.
“What do you mean?” I asked when I got out.
“It’s pretty self-explanatory.” Elliott took my hand, and when I quirked a brow, he said, “We’re husbands and in love. Keep up with the program.”
“And I make things better.”
“Stop trying to get more compliments out of me, you little praise slut,” he joked. I couldn’t say he was wrong.
“Quit pretending you don’t enjoy it.”
“I would never do that.”
I raised my hand to knock on the door, but surprisingly, it pulled open, and there my dad was. He must have been watching us.
I was tall like he was, but that’s mostly where our similarities ended. He was broad, big-boned, and muscular without having to work for it. Where I was naturally thin and finer boned like Mom, he was thicker. His jaw was stubbled where mine was always smooth.
He wore jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and a baseball cap. He was a sports guy, and while I enjoyed watching them with him, I’d never been good at playing them and frankly had no interest in it. I used to try when I was younger. Not that he made me feel like I had to, but because I’d wanted to, for him. One day he’d sat me down and said, “You don’t want to play ball with me, do you?” I’d admitted I didn’t, and he’d hugged me and told me I never had to lie to him, that I never had to pretend to be someone I wasn’t. When the guys started to come around, Declan and Marcus would play with him sometimes, but I noticed he did it less and less.
Dad’s gaze flickered from Elliott to me. “Park, it’s good to see ya.”
“You too, Dad. Sorry it’s been a while.” I nodded toward Elliott. “Dad…this is Elliott, my husband. Elliott, this is my dad, Roger.”
“Nice to meet you.” Dad held out his hand, and they shook. Another subtle difference between him and Elliott’s parents, who’d both hugged me at least twice that day.
“You too. Parker has told me so much about you. I’m a little nervous, though, because he said you’re a Kansas City fan,” Elliott said, surprising me. My gaze shot to him.
When I looked at my dad, there was a spark in his hazel eyes. “If you say you’re a Raiders fan, we might be in trouble.”
“Guilty as charged,” Elliott answered.
“Um…what’s going on here?” I mean, I knew. The Raiders and the Chiefs were rivals. I’d randomly mentioned Dad liking Kansas City, but I didn’t know Elliott had held on to that knowledge, or that he cared about football all that much. Unless he didn’t and it was just his way of trying to bond with my dad.
