Page 62 of Bratty Badboys

As I knocked on the dark wooden door, I hoped Anna liked the dress I had bought for her.

Thankfully, my hands weren’t clammy, but I was nervous. I didn’t know how his father might react to him dating two people at once, especially when Anna and I were both much older than him and at different stages in life.

Caleb had told us that his dad was ‘chill’ and it’d be fine, but still. My hand tightened on the paper bag.

The latch was moved, and my pulse increased as Caleb’s handsome face appeared, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he shamelessly checked me out.

“Hi, Daddy,” he teased, pulling me closer by the lapels of my suit and planted a chaste kiss on my lips. Too short for my liking, but I was glad he was relaxed enough for both of us.

“Daddy?” I asked, raising my brow as he fixed my glasses and nudged the house slippers with his toe. I removed my shoes, eyeing the black heels, pink heels, and two more pairs of dress shoes.

“You don’t like?” Caleb asked as I looked around the hallway. The interior of his house was cozy as we moved to the source of familiar laughter of Anna. It was warm with a wall covered in cute photo frames of his family and childhood pictures of chubby Caleb.

“It’s not something I’m used to,” I replied, eyeing the bookshelf in the living room, and my steps slowed, eyes lingering on Anna’s silhouette. Her wide smile and dark lipstick suited her pearly white teeth as she animatedly talked with a young woman.

My heart relaxed seeing her—seeing them happy. I realized at that moment, in my young boyfriend’s house, meeting his dad for the first time, that I would do anything in my power to keep them both happy.

“He’s here,” Caleb announced, wrapping his arm around my waist. His musky perfume wafted in my nose, and I ached to kiss his neck when he introduced me. “Dad and Em, this is Kyle. My cute boyfriend, and Kyle, this is Cillian and Emma.”

I smiled and shook the hand of the blonde-haired woman, her movements graceful with the big diamond in her left hand blinding me. She just didn’t look rich but wealthy, with a sincere smile reaching her eyes.

“Cillian,” a deep, gruff voice said as I averted my gaze to her husband. Caleb’s dad, Cillian, was much taller than me with broad shoulders and huge muscles. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but he looked more like Caleb’s older brother, with tattoos and a scar on his lip. “Nice to meet you.”

“Pleasure is mine,” I said, handing him the gift I had purchased. I had given flowers and wine to Marissa’s parents when I met them for the first time, but it didn’t feel right to give Cillian flowers, so I got an expensive scotch.

His handshake was brief and rough with callouses on his hands. Caleb had the same callouses.

We all sat down at the dining table with me on the side of the table with Anna on my left and Caleb on my right, both sitting across from each other. There was some tension in the air as Cillian sat across from Emma with Anna on her side. Soju, Korean alcohol, was served and Caleb taught us how to cheer and how to drink it formally by looking to the side if there’s an elder drinking with us.

For dinner, Cillian had cooked Korean striploin steak served with rice and stir-fried veggies and various sides of kimchi and radishes. The food was mouth-watering with bursts of umami flavors, and conversation flowed as we all talked about work.

Cillian was retired. Emma was a billionaire heiress, so she didn’t need to work but helped indie movie productions and starred with her friend, Summer, in a makeup commercial of her brand handled by her brother.

“Caleb told me you were married before,” Cillian asked, taking a sip of soju.

I put my fork down and said, “Yes, I loved Marissa. She was a brave woman.” Who died protecting a little girl from a house fire.

Marissa was a great firefighter, and there wasn’t a single day I didn’t worry about her or her job. But I smiled every morning, kissing her on her cheek, saying how much I loved her before she left, and one night, she was taken from me. It hurt, it still does thinking about her last moments, but it’s a sad relief to know that she didn’t have to suffer in fire but passed away quickly with a collapsed roof.

Warm hand squeezed my thigh as I looked at Caleb, his eyes soft. Soft hand laid on top of my hand on the table, and I averted my gaze to Anna who gave me a small smile.

I cleared my throat and was surprised when Cillian said, “I’m sorry for your loss. I lost Olivia, Caleb’s mother, way too early, and the grief is only mended by the sweet memories.”

Emma squeezed his hand. The sight of manicured pink nails in the hand of large, calloused hand was odd, but despite their age differences, they loved each other. I could see it in their eyes.

I hoped I didn’t look like them when I met Anna’s or Caleb’s eyes. I hoped I could hide my feelings for them a little longer.

After steak, Cillian served a huge pot of samgyetang, which was a whole chicken ginseng soup. I never thought a soup could be so flavorful, but I loved it and even took seconds, dipping rice in the rich broth of the soup and wondering if Cillian could adopt me.

“Cillian,” Anna said, her cheeks pink with the alcohol. “You and Emma have twenty years of age gap. Don’t you get worried about what people might say?”

I frowned, wondering why Anna hadn’t brought that up with us yet. Caleb had the same look on his face, but for once, he was quiet as Cillian replied.

“I don’t care what they think. I’d like to see them try saying they’re bullshi—rubbish opinions to my face.” His face was stoic, but Emma was smiling. Anna nodded. Because of course, you had to have a death wish to confront Cillian with his large frame and almost-scary face.

“Why don’t I show you Caleb’s childhood photo album?”

We cheered as Caleb groaned, hiding his face.

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