Page 38 of Until Forever

My heart stops. Her dad never cared for me, and I’m sure he hates me even more after all these years, but I can’t imagine why he’d say something like that to a child.

“Do you trust me?” I ask.

He nods.

“Then believe me when I say, I’m here forever.”

He smiles.

“Is that what happened a few months ago? Your mom said that you came home from a sleepover upset?”

“Brandon teased me because all my friends get to practice with their dad and I only have my Paw Paw.”

“And you didn’t like that?”

“No. It hurt my feelings when he said that I didn’t have one.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what. We’re going to practice and show them they don’t know what they’re talking about. And while Mommy’s at work, we’re going to have lots of fun. Okay?”

“Okay.”

We roll to a stop in front of the school. “All right, let’s go sign you in.”

He’s out of the car before I can finish my statement. When I make it to the other side of the van, I take his hand, and he skips alongside me. We reach the attendance office, and I check him in. It takes a bit for me to convince the secretary to allow me to walk him to his class.

I hug him and promise to be back in time to take him to practice. He waves goodbye, and I wait until the door closes to leave. Once back in my ride, I dial Bax’s number.

“Yo. Where are you at?”

“The compound. Why? Are you coming through?”

“Yeah, I should be there in twenty.”

“Cool, we’ll see you when you get here.”

* * *

“Wait. You’re telling me that for nearly eight years, you had no idea you had a kid?” Bax hands me a beer.

I accept it. After seeing how upset JJ was and hearing the things Latoya’s dad said to him, I need a drink. So it’s a good thing it came back that I’m not a match to donate part of my liver to my dad. Not that I didn’t want to. Yes, he was horrible to me and still is, but ever since I learned I was a dad, my perspective changed. I could stay hateful, or I can forgive him.

I’m grown now, and the past doesn’t define me. My desire to be here for my son and show him how a man should be, trumps the neglect I got growing up. I also realize that by continuing to resent my dad, I poison my own happiness. So, I forgive him—for me and for the future I have with JJ. It sucks I can’t help him now, not that he deserves it, but he is my father.

“Oh. You know now?” Harlen blurts as he works on an engine.

“You knew?” Bax, Cobi, Jax, and I speak together.

“I don’t know all the details, it’s not my business. But Harmony told me a little about it. I didn’t put it together that you were who she told me about until Wes’s party,” Harlen admits.

“And you let me walk around here that whole night?” I ask with my arms out then bring the amber bottle to my lips.

“Aye, man. The wife said to keep it quiet.” He shrugs.

I shake my head, taking a larger sip.

“I’d be pissed,” Sage chimes in.

“Tell me about it.” I recline in my seat.

---