Part 20 (2/2)

”I am.”

”And you like girls?” He raises his eyebrows at me.

”I'm not gay, if that's what you mean.” I dodge the question. I know where this is going and I should just lay my cards out. Tell her dad I'm a f.u.c.k up, but I'm selfishly taking his daughter until she comes to her senses.

”Funny man,” Hank adds and the three laugh before flipping to serious.

”I like you, kid. h.e.l.l, you'd make a great addition to our traveling crew. But for my daughter, I'm not so sure.” He shoots a sound through the side of his lips.

”Mr. Thompson.” They burst out in laughter.

”Call me Greg.” His arms cross on the table. Rings adorn almost each finger, tattoos peek out from under his jacket and another one snakes up his neck.

”Greg.” I release a breath. ”I'm not going to lie, I'm a jacka.s.s. If I was you and Paige was my daughter, I wouldn't be happy seeing her with a guy like me. I've destroyed my life since I was seventeen.”

”That's your case?” Len laughs and I look to him, but Greg seems to like where I'm going. Maybe because we're so similar except he's on a much grandeur scale than myself.

”Your daughter, she's spectacular. She's too beautiful of a person to be with an a.s.shole like me.” At this point Greg leans back, patiently waiting for me to come to my point. I glance back to make sure Paige isn't returning.

”I can't stay away from her because the idea of breaking her heart, her spirit, and her energy is like being strapped down on a bed of nails. I can't and won't do it. She's more than I should ever be able to have, but that's why I'll prove my worth to her every d.a.m.n day.”

I lean back, bringing my beer to my lips, satisfied with my speech.

”You really going to enroll back in school?” Greg c.o.c.ks his eyebrow to me and I'm already nodding before I can verbalize.

”Yes, I'll have one year left.”

”Greg, it's only a boyfriend. He isn't asking for her hand.” Len chimes in, knocking him with his shoulder.

Greg nods. ”That's true. Break her heart and then we have a problem, got it?”

”Got it.”

”Then let's have some fun. Relax, have fun. We're easy going.” He raises his drink in the air and I follow doing an air clink.

”Paige,” Hank calls out to her and my head instantly spins, my eyes roaming up her body. When I reach her eyes, I see they're glossy.

She quietly slips into the seat next to me and I move my hand on her thigh. Her hand covers mind and she squeezes.

While the guys ramble orders to the waiter, I lean in. ”You okay?”

She nods and I can tell she's containing her emotions.

We share a smile and then her dad grabs her attention.

”Paige, you still like goat cheese?”

”Yeah, Dad,” she whispers, and her dad orders her something special.

She inhales a deep breath. ”Ask me again.”

I tilt my head. ”What? If you're okay?”

”Yeah.”

”Are you okay?”

”I'm perfect.” That small smile widens and seals my heart.

She's captured me and I don't want to be thrown back.

”DINNER WAS GREAT, Dad. Thank you.” My eyes veer over to Rob, waiting by the elevators for me. Once we finished dinner, we came back to the hotel and my dad carted me aside after paying for our room.

”You're welcome, sweetheart. So, he's the real deal?” His eyes focus on mine, never s.h.i.+fting to Rob.

I shrug my shoulders. ”I like him, Dad.”

He's never been the typical you're not going to sleep with anyone until you're thirty, or let me meet your prom date and clean my rifle type of dad. I didn't even go to my prom. I was supposed to, but my dad came into town the night before to toss a few condoms on my bed. When he didn't stay, my mom fell into her depression and my prom night was spent at Granger Memorial Hospital.

”Is that all?” His one eye rises at me and I'm not sure where his leave my princess alone act is erupting from.

”Dad.” I shoo him again. It's uncomfortable talking about my boyfriend.

”Fine.” He rolls his eyes. ”I get it; you don't want to talk to your old man about love.” He opens his arms for me to step into. ”Just be careful, sweetie,” he whispers in my ear and I grip him harder, committing his smell to memory again.

”I will. Will I see you tomorrow morning?” I ask, knowing the answer before he speaks.

”No, I leave early. You two sleep in, enjoy some room service.” He steps back holding my upper arms. ”You still have those condoms?”

I laugh and he smiles. ”It's covered, Dad,” I confirm just to ease his mind. Sometimes I swear he grabs buy one get one deals of condoms. When I first started college, he actually s.h.i.+pped them to me. I'd run down to the mail center eager that I received a package. When I'd open it up, it was filled with condoms. No need for the Health Department, just come on down to Paige's room.

”I love you, Paige. Bring the boy over when I get back from tour.” He gives me one more hug and kisses me on my cheek.

I'm not sad and don't feel abandoned by my dad. It's been this way between us my whole life. Instead I smile as he stops in front of Rob and shakes his hand. A warm loving sensation comes over me watching him whispering something to Rob, portraying that I'll protect my daughter stance.

I'm confident my dad loves me; I've never doubted that. At the same time I resent him for continuing to live the life he wanted without really sacrificing anything for me. Over the years, I've accepted it. He was tricked into having a kid, and he accepted it gracefully. It's not his fault that the woman who tricked him is beyond f.u.c.ked up.

My dad disappears through the elevator doors and Rob kicks off the wall, briskly walking to me. Not stopping until I'm in his arms, he nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. ”Can I please have you now?”

His voice is pained as though I've been stripped naked in front of him, holding him at arm's length. It only surges electricity through my veins listening to his tortured tone.

I flick the key from my back pocket and hold it up in the air. ”Take me upstairs and find out.”

He s.n.a.t.c.hes the card from my hand and presses his palm on the small of my back, gesturing for us to go up to the elevators.

After the elevator ride, we find our room. Rob scans the keycard and opens the door for me to enter first. I've stayed here before, the night of The Raptures concert when they got inducted. It's nice and plush, just like the numerous hotels my dad's brought me to.

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