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He needs me to be his baby girl right now. He needs to know I’m his, so I let myself get lost in my dad’s arms.
“I love you so much, you know that, don't you, darlin’?” he mutters into my hair.
“I know. I love you too, you fool,” I say with a chuckle.
He pulls back and lets me go, looking at me like he always has. Like I’m still a tiny little baby he still needs to look after.
“His name is David Bancroft. He didn’t know about you until I explained. He got the results at the same time as me. He’s desperate to meet you, but I asked for a few days so that you can decide. I hate to say it, but he does seem like a good guy, darlin’.” He rubs the back of his neck in an awkward gesture of uncertainty.
“I’ll meet him, but I’m doing it here. I hope you didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily,” I say with a smile.
"Wait, what about Gray? He really does look just like you," I say as I think of the physical similarities between the two of them.
Gray's been absent more than he's been here since we got back. I've not wanted to push him, so I've done my best to let him experience life again in whatever way he sees fit.
"Yeah, he's mine, and he knows about this. He didn't want you to feel overwhelmed so he went to work," my dad says with a sad smile.
We spend the rest of the night talking things through, my dad explaining and me comforting him whilst Liam and Crow comfort me.
I don’t want to imagine anyone else being my dad. I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job than what my dad's done. I’m not always a grateful daughter, but I do my best to always be a loving one. I think I sometimes forget or perhaps just don’t realise how hard it’s been for my dad, bringing up a daughter on his own alongside trying to work, run a club, and earn money. He’s given up so much for me, and now to find out that it was all for a daughter that isn’t biologically his – I’m not surprised he’s so upset.
The logical part of me knows my next thoughts aren't true, but I can’t help but wonder if perhaps he feels differently about me now that he knows our DNA isn’t shared, if maybe that’s why he’s so devastated because knowing I’m not biologically his has made the love he’s always showered me with diminish some.
Liam hardly says a word, not wanting to interrupt I assume, but he keeps his arms on me throughout the night, whether that be by placing his hand on my back, locking our hands together, or having his arm around my shoulder. He is making it known that he is there when I am ready, and I appreciate that.
Crow, unlike the brooding Liam, jumps in with jokes and banter to ease any tension that arises when certain topics are brought up. His naturally charming and humorous nature serves to be something I'm beyond grateful for.
They're the perfect mixture of everything I need, I realise.
Sixteen
Charlie
"He's not your dad? Holy shit!" Alice huffs out as she sits back, eyes wide, and takes a sip of the wine in her hand.
"Yup, tell me about it. I thought my head was full on going to explode," I say with a forced laugh. If I don't laugh, I'll cry, right?
"Wait, is your real dad hot? Matt's hot," Kira butts in as she watches me eagerly.
"He is definitely not hot. He's old enough to be your dad." Liam laughs as he shakes his head at Kira.
"So are you, but you're still hot." Kira is thirteen. Thirteen.
"Kira, no! You can't say stuff like that to grown-ass men," Alice chastises her as she rubs a hand over her forehead and eyes.
"Well, I just did, so boo-hoo, baby," she says as she glares mockingly at Alice.
She has more sass than anyone I know. More confidence. More arrogance and more insanity, but she's also the coolest thirteen-year-old you'll ever meet too.
"What about me? Why am I being left out? My mum always told me I was handsome," Crow says as he fakes a pout and flutters his lashes at us all, causing a laugh to break out between me, Alice, and Kira.
"Why are you all laughing? I'm bloody gorgeous," he informs us as he looks around at us all with a crooked brow and confusion marring his beautiful face.
"You're hot, too, don't worry," I tell him as a giggle escapes while I pat his leg.
"It's the older men. The girls dig it," Liam tells him, his face as confused as Crow’s.
"First of all, no one says dig it anymore, which just shows exactly how old you are. Secondly, you're not that old. Third, how the fuck old are you?" Kira asks Liam as she leans in closer.
