Page 47 of The Enemy Face Off

"Sure." I polish off the last of my sandwich. "Like what?"

"I have alooonglist of things to tease you about."

I finish chewing and let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Finally. I've been waiting all day. I thought you'd never grill me for details about myself then proceed to judge and critique all of my responses in your typical acerbic fashion."

She giggles, then quickly brings her hand to cover her mouth. "Is it wrong that I like you using the wordacerbic?"

"Not at all. I only hope it doesn't shatter your image of me as a total dumb-dumb."

Her eyes flash to mine. "I…I don't think you're a dumb-dumb." She makes a light clearing noise. "Let's start with that." She points at my chest.

"My Christmas sweater?"

"Uh-huh. You're a father now. What's with all the muscles? Where's the dad bod?"

"I believe there's a twelve-month grace period before the dad bod era officially kicks in."

She smiles at my joke. I like seeing her smile, but what I like even more is that she's checking me out. I bought the sweater online and despite being the correct size, it sits a little tight on me.

She noticed.

And it seems she approves.

I sit up taller, and hey, it's not my fault if I subtly puff my chest and flex my arms a little. If she likes what she's looking at, who am I to deprive her?

"How are you adjusting to everything?" she asks. "With the kids, I mean. I imagine it's a lot."

"It is. But I'm focused entirely on Josie and Jonah. They're my entire world. All I care about is that they're okay."

She smiles. "They're lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have them," I counter. "I mean, how else am I going to practice smiling so I no longer scare kids away?"

"Good point." She giggles. "It sounds like family is important to you."

"Uh, yeah."

Familyisimportant to me, especially since I've never had a proper one. Which is why I'm determined to do everything I can to make sure that Josie and Jonah do.

"What's your family like then? Tell me, are they as bad as mine?"

Oh.

No.

She was probably thinking this would continue being a light and fun conversation, but my family situation is anything but light or fun.

Reading my face, she winces. "Uh-oh. Did I just step into a minefield?"

"Kinda, yeah."

"It's okay. Like you said to me before, we can talk about something else."

I should take her up on it.

Ineveropen up to anyone about my family, but…I don't know. For some reason, I feel comfortable talking to her about it.

I need to give her fair warning, though. Let her know just how minefieldy the minefield we're about to step into is. My childhood was bleak, and there's no way to sugarcoat it.

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