Page 80 of Awakening His Daddy

“He killed someone while he was high. Thankfully, I was away at college. He had to sell the house to pay his fines and legal fees.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell us?”

“Leo knows, and I’m still not entirely sure he didn’t have something to do with Dad going to jail.”

“I hope my son didn’t have someone killed, but I wouldn’t put it past him to do it to protect you.”

“He got so mad whenever my dad would hurt me, but I would make him promise not to do anything because I didn’t want to get thrown into the foster system and sent away.”

“I would have adopted you.” He sounds surprised but sure of his words. “I would have.”

“I know, but we were worried that wouldn’t be possible because of all the rules, but mostly, I didn’t want you to.”

“Why not?”

I turn to face him now. “Because I didn’t want you to be my dad. I wanted you to see me as more, and if you adopted me, you never would.”

“So you’ve just been waiting this whole time, hoping I would notice you?”

“Well, not waiting exactly, but hoping. I’ve fucked around and dated, but there’s only one person I’ve ever truly wanted.”

“Izzy, it’s?—”

“Don’t,” I warn.

“I was going to say flattering.” Then he pulls me into his arms for a long steamy kiss, and we make out until the water gets cold.

“Can we have lunch and watch some movies?”

“Sure, not Christmas movies, though.”

“It’s funny that you think you have a choice.”

“We’ll see who gets the remote first.”

“I’ll make a deal with you. We can make out through all the commercials if you watch with me.”

He tilts his head, clearly thinking about that. “Isn’t that a reward for you too?”

“Fine, we can just fast forward the commercials.”

“How about this? You pick a movie, and I pick a non-Christmas movie.”

“Can we still make out during the commercials?”

“I suppose.” He huffs an exaggerated sigh like it’s the worst thing in the world, before he kisses me and helps me out of the tub.

We just finished our third movie, and while he said he wouldn’t pick a Christmas movie, he picked a comedy about a dad who wanted to give his family the perfect Christmas. Instead, their Christmas lights don’t work. A squirrel gets loose in the house, and the police destroy their house after they kidnap someone. Itwas pretty funny, and I wouldn’t mind making it a part of our family tradition.

“Why haven’t we watched that before?”

“Leo and I watch it every year. I can’t believe he’s never shown you this one. But you guys are addicted to those sappy lovey-dovey Christmas movies. So maybe he never had the time to show you.”

“We can add it to our rotation.”

“I think you and Leo will have to continue the sappy movies without me.”

“We can compromise and throw in your movies too.”

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