Page 66 of Detention with Daddies

“People always want what they can’t have.” By the wink Nick offers Olivia, I’m curious about how close the two of them are.

Should I be jealous? Am I allowed to be jealous?

I don’t like the sinking pressure in my chest. I’m more than a little jealous.

Olivia turns back to me. “I saw that Ivan got a date with Chelsea.”

That teases the tiniest smile out of me. “Yes. He did. Those cupcakes you helped him make worked.”

She beams at me. “Good. He’s a sweet kid. Funnier than I expected. I bet that sealed the deal.”

“I’m glad the two of you think so.”

Her laughter lightens the serious mood that my presence brought to the table. “Making a girl laugh is a big win, especially at that age. I bet Ruby would agree with me too.”

Nick lifts his brow. “She would. And as you know, it’s not easy to make her laugh.”

“No. She’s a serious girl. I get that. Especially at her age.” There’s something more unsaid about her observations of Nick’s daughter, and that jealousy burns bright again.

I didn’t know she’d met his daughter. Spent time with her. How much time has she spent with Nick outside of the classroom or the center?

Is it strange that I haven’t heard any rumors about the two of them?

It must just be my old possessiveness. I need to stop dissecting this, so I excuse myself easily with a nod to them both.

When Olivia checks on me a little later, my jealousy subsides. Her tentative smile has me standing to pull her inside, and I’m happy when I see it widen.

I don’t hesitate to lean her back against the closed door and kiss her.

WAYLEN

It’s been a week, and it’s time for me to find Olivia. I’ve hated leaving her alone for so long, but I wanted to give her space. Wanted to give myself time to properly put myself in her shoes. To understand her perspective.

She’s right. I have no clue what she’s gone through. How what I say might have been offensive to her. And believe it or not, my daughter was the one to give me a proper talking-to when I sat moping around our house.

When she sat down on the couch next to me and tucked her legs up under her, I knew I was in for a conversation. As standoffish and grumpy as she’s been the last few years—granted she’s fifteen, so I can’t really blame her—having her settle in means we’re going to have a serious discussion.

She’s got something to unload on me.

“So, Dad. Remember how Mom was when I gained a few extra pounds?”

I nodded to her, already hedging my bets on where this was going.

“I hated myself for so long because of it.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Cassidy held up her hand. A move her mother was famous for.

“It just—I want to remind you that being too thin is just as unhealthy as having some extra weight, and Dad, I’ve seen Olivia. She’s not that big.” My daughter blinked at me meaningfully.

Sighing, I nodded and rubbed my thumb across my mouth. “Have you been talking to your brother about this?”

Cassidy gave me a look, and it was the final nail in my resolve. “You’re never going to understand completely what it’s like to be a woman. How other people—guys and girls alike—look at us. Dissect us. Every single part of us. It’s not fair, but that’s how it is. So, just keep that in mind when you apologize.”

It was one heck of a mature viewpoint. One I needed.

One that sends me to find Olivia in her lab, going over her notes and charts.

She doesn’t smile at me like she usually does, and I get why she’s tentative. Or at least, I think I do.

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