Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Screw it. I wasn’t going to spend all night wondering if Rose was pissed at me. She could be pissed all she wanted, but she’d still come back. The chemistry was too good for her to stay away. I huffed and took another drink. I knew firsthand that this thing between us was too hard to walk away from.
* * *
When I woke up the next morning, Kara was already dressed and ready downstairs.
“Hey, princess,” I greeted, running my hand down her ponytail as I walked toward the coffee pot. “You’re up early.”
“Can I go to Charlie’s today?” she asked, pausing with her spoonful of cereal halfway to her mouth. “I called her last night and her mom said it was cool.”
“She did, huh?” I asked. I’d been contemplating calling in to work and taking my girl for some fun, but I could tell by the stubborn set to her chin that wasn’t going to fly. If I was reading her right, she wanted to get away from me. Wasn’t that some shit.
“Please, Dad,” she said, trying and failing to keep the whine out of her voice. “I don’t want to hang at the clubhouse all day. Please.”
“Fine with me,” I said as I poured my coffee.
We both went silent, and I had no fucking clue what to say.
“You feelin’ okay?” I finally asked.
Kara’s face went beet red. “I’m fine.”
“It’s nothin’ to be embarrassed about,” I replied, making her blush even harder.
“I’m not embarrassed,” she lied.
“Women have been bleedin’ once a month for thousands of—”
“Jeez, Dad!” she yelled. “I’m fine.”
“It’s gonna happen again,” I continued. “And I don’t want you thinkin’ it’s somethin’ you gotta hide, or—”
I stopped talking when she stood from her chair and raced out of the room.
Well, that had gone fucking fantastic.
I kept my mouth shut for the rest of the morning, and things were almost normal by the time I dropped Kara at Casper’s place.
“Bye, Dad,” Kara said quickly, not even bothering to take off her helmet before dashing up the porch steps.
I followed her at a more reasonable pace and reached the doorway just as she went inside.
“Hey, Mack,” Farrah said, meeting me at the door.
“Thanks for having her over,” I replied as she gave me a sympathetic look and stepped outside. “She didn’t want to hang at the club today.”
“Charlie told me,” she said, giving me a look. “How you holding up, Papa?”
I laughed. “I’m not ready for her to grow up,” I said seriously.
“Well, you can’t stop it,” she replied, smiling. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”
“Yeah.” I shook my head. “She was embarrassed. Because of me.”
“I’ll talk to her today about shit, see if I can get a read on her,” Farrah said. “First periods are weird when you’ve got a mom to talk to, I’m sure it’s worse when you’re dealing with a dad. Hell, I don’t think Cody’s ever even acknowledged that our girls have a monthly visitor.”
“It’s a fuckin’ natural event,” I said in frustration. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Well, aren’t you progressive?” Farrah teased. “Don’t worry. The girls didn’t even like talking to me about it at that age.”
I huffed and Farrah laughed. “If it’s that bad, why don’t you let Rose take the lead on this one? The girls never wanted to talk to me, but they did talk to Trix. And Lily went to CeeCee, if I remember right.”
“Nah.” I shook my head.
“So, it’s like that, huh?” Farrah replied knowingly.
“Like what?”
“She’s in your bed, but that’s it?” There was an edge to her voice that hadn’t been there before, and the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. Farrah was Rose’s aunt, they were as close as mother and daughter, and I had to tread carefully.
“That’s not how it is,” I replied. “But we aren’t to the point where Rose is makin’ decisions about my kid or steppin’ into that role.”
“Will she eventually?” Farrah asked.
“Don’t know,” I said, lying through my teeth.
“Well, you better figure that shit out,” Farrah shot back. “Because my niece isn’t gonna sit on the sidelines for long, not when she’s spending most nights at your house, eating dinner and hanging out like a family with you and your kid.”
I looked at her in surprise.
“I hear everything, man,” she said, her eyes on mine. “And just saying, I know where to bury a body that no one will ever find.”
“Message received,” I muttered.
“Take this as it’s meant,” she said seriously. “I like you for Rose. You’re good for her, and I think you guys work. But don’t fuck her around. Because, full disclosure, I’d be the least of your worries if you do.”
“We’re dating and shit is good,” I replied, growing irritated with the whole conversation. “That’s where we’re at right now.”
Farrah nodded.
“Thanks again for keeping Kara today.” I walked down the steps calmly, even though I wanted to jog away from Farrah’s knowing gaze. As I got to my bike, she walked to the edge of the porch and crossed her arms over her chest.