Page 17 of Daddy Issues

The man had raised me since I was twelve and was the closest thing to family I had left. Leaving him, the only home I’d ever known, was like being stabbed in the chest. But I had to. A few more weeks and I’d have a deposit for an apartment.

But I was pissed. These clothes were my work clothes. I’d needed them. Now I was going to be late. Seething, I put my clothes basket on the dryer and glanced from the washing machine to the shop sink beside it.

The machine was running. I opened the lid to see her clothes filled to the brim, sudsy, and halfway through their wash cycle.I dumped them piece by piece into the shop sink, getting myself and the floor soaked in the process. Then drained the machine.

Seething anger churned inside me. Nadine, at every turn, tried to make me feel like less than nothing. Just likeshehad. Unlike my mother, I didn’t love Nadine…didn’t even like her. And I certainly wasn’t seeking her approval.

The angry, neglected, abused little girl inside me grabbed the bleach bottle and opened it before I could stop myself. Nadine couldn’t hurt me like my mom had. And for the first time in my life, I lashed out, pouring the bleach into the sink and onto her clothing in a large circle before capping the bottle and putting it back.

It took one quick cycle of my clothes to clean up the floor and change into dry clothes. It would take weeks to heal the wound I’d opened back up. The memories would sneak in then. David had given me something no one ever had—safety and security.

I’d grown up, become my own person, and was too damn old to be so petty. But that’s what I did. I ripped at scabs, behaved poorly, and then paid for it later.

On a sigh, I made David’s dinner like I had every day since middle school. He had the palette of a toddler, something Nadine couldn’t quite figure out. Not that it was healthy food, but it was a little middle finger to the bitch when he went straight for it in the fridge every night.

Tonight would be beef tips and gravy that came in a plastic bag I boiled, and rice that came the same way. I cooked them, mixed them together, and covered the concoction with shredded mozzarella in the fridge.

David hated pork chops and wouldn’t eat the ones she left out to thaw, but he didn’t have the heart to tell her. He’d push them around on the plate, then go scavenge to see what I’d left him as he had every night since she’d moved in.

Once I moved out, he’d figure something out…or bite the proverbial bullet and tell her he didn’t like her food.

I sort of hated I wouldn’t be there for that.

At least dealing with Nadine had kept me from thinking about Puck. In the past twenty-four hours, not thinking about him had been harder than ever before. Partly because I was embarrassed and partly because that had been the single hottest thing I’d ever experienced.

I was dressed and out the door when my phone rang. I made the mistake of looking at the screen before I answered. My heart raced. My face heated.

Puck.

“Hello?” My voice cracked and squeaked like a cartoon mouse with a big red bow. I cringed at the sound, shouldered my bag, and unlocked my truck.

“You working tomorrow afternoon?” No pleasantries, nothing like that. He was always straight to the point. His husky voice rumbled through the phone and right down to all the places it shouldn’t. Even my sore nipples tingle and throbbed as he spoke.

“Um…no. I’m off tomorrow. What’s up?”

“Think you could pick Eli up from school? We’ve got another babysitter, but he’s been asking about you a lot lately.”

And I went from hot to warm for very different reasons. I missed the kid. I leaned against the door of my truck and squeezed my eyes closed tight. This was a bad idea. But…I could picture his sweet little face and big bright smile.

“It’s just that you’re on the list, I’ve got some club shit to do and Mom can’t.”

Was that a hint of desperation in his voice?Fuck me.

“Sure.”

“You’re saving my ass, here. Thanks. I’ll owe you.” He made the last three words sound dirty.

I snorted and fought the urge to flirt. “See you tomorrow.”

I disconnected before I got myself into trouble.

***

Clinging to the cute red apple with Eli’s name on it, I stood away from the small group of preppy moms. They’d stopped casting sideways glances at me after one had worked up the courage and audacity to ask if I was Eli’s mom. Babysitter seemed to appease them. I guess they all had a single dad fantasy about Puck.

I couldn’t blame them for that.

The doors to the small private preschool burst open right at three o'clock. This wasn’t my first time picking Eli up, but I hadn’t been here in over a month. Maybe he’d forgotten who I was.

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