AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your house, old man.”
“That it is, Cross.” Dad’s smile stretches across his weathered face. “You’ve been quiet since you got here. Want to talk about it?”
I kiss the top of Jax’s head and close my eyes, taking it all in. “Just thinking about life, Dad. Didn’t exactly turn out the way I expected.”
Dad chuckles. “It never does, son. But you’ve got plenty of time, and a pretty damn good life. You’ve got a beautiful family. A job you love. Money in the bank. Safety. Security. Don’t be ungrateful, Cross.”
My lips pull up. “I know I’m a lucky son of a bitch. I’m not complaining. Just thinking.”
“Who’s the girl?”
My chest vibrates with silent laughter, waking Jax, who buries his head in my neck. I rub his back with my palm until he settles, then glance at my father. “How do you know there’s a girl?”
“There’s always a girl.”
I shrug, and the old man shakes his head. “You forget I was your age once.”
“Thinking maybe I should swear off women for a while. Too complicated.”
Dad crinkles his eyes. “They’re all complicated. The key is to find one who’s worth figuring out. Swear off women like Helene... sure. But not all women are like her, Cross. You’ve got to find a good one. Find the one who makes you a better man.”
“Not everyone gets to have what you and Mom have.” I kiss the top of Jax’s head, and inhale.
“If you swear off women, you’ll never have the chance, son. I had no idea your mother would turn out to be the love of my life, the night I met her. But she was worth the risk. Now look at us.” He leans forward and tugs the blanket up Jax’s back.
“Still a know it all?” I tease the old man.
He cracks a perceptive smile. “At least we know Ares comes by it honestly. Now tell me who you’re thinking about.”
I continue silently rocking without looking away.
“Fine. Tell me what’s holding you back,” Dad nudges, making me feel like a fifteen-year-old afraid to tell him I like Chrissy Miller.
“I met her the other night, and there was something about her. But she’s...” I chew on it for a minute, trying to figure out what’s holding me back. “She’s young. And beautiful. And... fun.”
Dad makes a disgusted face. “Well damn, Cross. Nobody wants young and pretty and fun. That sounds like a miserable woman to date.”
“Whatever, old man,” I laugh.
“Did you get this girl’s number?”
“Yeah, Dad. I got her number,” I mumble.
“He got her shoe too, Daddy,” Bellamy adds as she walks through the door and lets it slam shut behind her, startling Jax.
“Big mouth,” I call after her as she skips down the steps and climbs into Mom’s car.
“Be safe,” Dad yells after her and watches her pull away before looking back at me. “A shoe, huh?”
I nod.
“Call the girl, Cross. A girl doesn’t leave a shoe if she doesn’t want to be chased.”
I stand and sway, trying to calm Jax. “I don’t like games, Dad.”
“Games can be fun with the right person.”
“Oh my God,” I groan. “I don’t need to hear that.”
