Page 70 of Badges
Even if she chooses to move out.
Fuck, that makes my chest tight. I hope she doesn’t.
This is more than wanting her in my arms, I want her light back. The fun, lighthearted teasing girl that I’ve seen the last few months.
I think I ruined shit by finally sleeping with her. Hell, if she had found out about Maria earlier, that probably would have never happened.
That might have been for the better. It wouldn’t hurt so damn much knowing what I was missing.
“Fine. It’s officially being submitted this morning. Welcome to parenthood, Wade. Let’s hope she waits a while before she starts to hate you like every other teenager and their parents.” His soft chuckle cuts off when he hangs up.
What will it be like? Cynthia’s already half grown. Will she hold it against me that I didn’t come sooner?
Hell. A million questions swarm in my head.
But I have to tell Dad. At the very least he’ll be able to help keep an eye on my place…and Elena if she decides to stay.
Whoever has my daughter will know who I am.
He squints at me under his bushy white brows. “Is it that dark haired gal I’ve seen hanging around?”
“No, Dad. That’s Elena. Cynthia is my daughter’s name.” I stare at my phone for what feels like the hundredth time in anticipation of the results.
Which is ridiculous because those can take a few days.
“Then who’s the mom?” He rocks back in his recliner, one tanned arm pushing idly against the worn corner of the end table to propel himself.
“Maria. Remember? I told you about her about a dozen years ago.” I can’t really expect him to recall her name.
I didn’t tell anyone else but him, and it was only in passing when he started getting pushy about me needing to find someone.
“Ah, okay. Then when are you having a baby with Elena? You two have been together for a while.” He raises an empty Coke can to his lips to spit a brown stringer of tobacco laced saliva into it.
“Dad, I’m not.” As tempting as the thought is. “She doesn’t like me that way.”
He snorts as he wipes his chin. “Then whose kid is she? You said she was a friend’s when she moved in.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “She’s also Maria’s.”
He tilts his head to stare at me through his bushy brows. “The same Maria?”
I just nod. I don’t have the energy to explain over and over.
“The hell, son. That there is some Jerry Springer shit.” His wrinkled arms rise and fall limply onto his lap. “How in the tarnation did you get wrapped up in that?”
He waves his palms at me before I can answer. “No, no. I know all too well how easy it is to follow a pecker.”
“Geez, Dad. Enough,” I groan.
After a silent moment, a broad grin splits his face. “I’m finally a grandpa.”
“Soon. In the meantime, I need you to keep an eye on my place. There might be some retaliation over her.” I know he’s retired law enforcement, but he’s too damn old to interfere. “I just need you to call me if you see something weird.”
He cranes his neck to peer out the window. “Yup. I can see most of your parking lot. That’s about it.”
“Thanks.” Pushing off the worn sofa, I pause by the door. “By the way, Sawyer will be over later this week for the extra hay.”
He scratches his gray whiskered chin. “Bumper crop, huh? Gonna be a long winter,” he mumbles, back to gazing out the window. “Maybe I should get a pony for Cynthia?”
