AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I did, and I’d do it again.”
“For the record?” I hold up one finger like I’m making a point in court, and he arches an eyebrow. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Okay.”
My mouth drops open. “You’re not going to argue with me?”
“Why would I argue with you?”
“Because you think I’m lying.”
“Are you lying?”
Yes. It’s a huge deal. I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t want you to see this. I don’t want anyone to see this. I thought Hercules could stop it, but he can’t, and that’s the end of the line.
“No.”
“Okay.”
“Fine. Yes.”
“I know.” Of course he does.
I throw myself into him like I’m five years old again, my arms wrapping tight around my waist, and bury my face in his shirt. His hands move up and down on my back, and neither of us say anything for a little while.
“I don’t think I can do this,” I whisper into his shirt.
“Now that you’re home, it won’t be so bad.
“I might die.” I say this part so softly that my dad could ignore it, if he wanted.
He doesn’t. “I won’t let that happen.”
Thisis a lie, and we both know it. People die from stuff. People whose brains like to freak out and screw around with electrical impulses are even more likely to die.
I don’t call him on it, because I’d rather believe it, at least for a little while.
“Also.” Tears sting the corners of my eyes, so I wipe them on my dad’s shirt. “You can’t murder Hercules.”
“Because you’re in love with him?”
“I amnotin love with him.”
“Okay.”
“Who gave you this habit? I don’t like it.”
“What habit?” My dad smooths my hair.
“This habit of agreeing with everything I say.”
The sound he makes could be a laugh, but it could be a miniature sob, too. “Why would I argue when you’re here?”
“Checkmate.”
“That was not a checkmate.”
“Can we go inside? We have all day to do bad chess jokes.”
