Page 14 of Need You To Choose Me

“Late. I need you to put some clothes on, and we have to get to school.”

Levi groans. “Don’t wanna.”

His protest has me chuckling. “I’m afraid school’s not optional. C’mon.” I help him sit upright and grab his clothes from the chair where I put them last night. Thank God for that. “Here. I’m going to wake up your brother while you dress.”

Levi grumbles something but starts to change, so I call that a win while I go to the other side of the hallway and knock on thedoor before peeking into Daniel’s room. “Daniel, time to wake up. We’re already late.”

My oldest grumbles loudly in protest and tugs the covers over his head. “I’m not going.”

“Yes, you are. You have five minutes to get up; don’t make me drag you out.”

I wait for a heartbeat, but there is no answer.

“Five minutes,” I repeat as I exit the room, leaving the door open.

I go back to my bedroom and quickly put on some clothes. Going to the bathroom, I splash some water on my face and brush my teeth. When I get out, I can hear both kids moving around, so I make my way downstairs and grab them each a protein bar, just as there are footsteps coming down the stairs.

Thank fuck.

“C’mon, boys, we really have to hurry up,” I call out as I go toward the door.

Not like that was helping anything.

We were late.

And it was only the first day of school.

“I’m seriously killing this single dad thing,” I mutter to myself as I watch Levi rush down the stairs, his backpack bouncing on his shoulders.

I couldn’t believe that he was already starting school.

Seriously, where did the time fly? It feels like only yesterday I brought him home from the hospital.

“Put your shoes on,” I say gently, my gaze darting up the stairs. “Where is your brother?”

“In his room.”

“Dan—” I start to yell when mysixteen-year-old appears at the top of the stairs, a scowl that’s become a permanent feature between his brows greeting me.

“I’m here,” he grumbles. “You don’t have to yell.”

“I need to yell because we have to get on the road. We’re late.”

But my son likes to test my patience these days because he just sticks his hands in the pocket of his black hoodie. Why did he think wearing a hoodie in August in Texas was a good idea, I’ll never understand. Then again, if he wanted to sweat his ass off, who was I to object? There were many more important things to fight about, and this wasn’t making the list.

“Well, if we just stayed in Austin and not moved to the middle of nowhere, I could have taken a bus,” he mutters as he descends the stairs, stopping so we’re eye to eye. “Or you know, if you actually bought me a car, I could use that license I have and drive myself to school.”

Keep your cool,I coach myself, sucking in a long breath.He just wants to rile you up. There is no sense in fighting with him.

“Well, we live in Bluebonnet now, which means you have to drive. And having a car is a responsibility.” I quirk my brow at him. “Something you’ve shown me time and again, in this past year, you’re not ready for. Once you start acting maturely, we can reopen the topic of you getting that car.”

Daniel snorts. “Sure,Dad.”

Don’t let him provoke you.

I press my lips in a tight line as I watch him put on his shoes, and then finally,finally, we’re out of the house.

Locking the door behind me, I run my hand over my face as I watch my sons climb into my truck.

---