Page 22 of Jag

“Yeah. Romeo, Preacher, Stroker, Cruz.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I’m sure I’ll catch shit when I see them again.”

“Why would they say anything to you? I’m the one who backed into the spot, but in my defense, they shouldn’t have been crossing the street from there!” I turned my head and looked at my dad when he started laughing.

“Did you tell them that?” I nodded, and he laughed harder. At my glare, he got himself under control and continued. “I’m sorry, honey. I wasn’t laughing at you. I was laughing thinking of Stroker’s and the others’ faces. They aren’t used to having people stand up to them. But I guess with the women their sons are pairing off with, maybe they’re learning to take things in stride.”

“You said Dom came by to pick up papers, wasn’t that what he came by for earlier?”

“Well...we had a little disagreement before.” I furrowed my brows at him but didn’t speak. “Fine, he pissed me off, and we had words, then he left. He came back to apologize.”

“Dad, I’m sorry I put you in the middle. It wasn’t fair to you. He throws me off balance, and I don’t like that feeling.”

“Come here,” Dad said and pulled me back to his side. “I’ve tried over the years to let you live without interference from me. Mainly because I didn’t feel like I had the right to since I was only around for a short time each summer. From a distance I watched you grow into a beautiful, smart woman. I also noticed the struggle with you trying to find your way, instead of what your mother expected of you. Then you married Thomas right out of college, and I felt I missed the opportunity to exert any advice. My life was here, I never wanted to move. Your mother, she wanted to be anywhere but here. And the one person who we both should have protected paid the price for her and my decisions. I should’ve fought to keep you closer than giving in and letting your mother take you across the country.”

“Dad.” He squeezed my shoulder.

“Let me finish. Yes, I spent vacation time with you, but I should have insisted that your summers were spent here. Instead, I listened to your mother about how it would disrupt the structure of your childhood. That idiotic shit is on me. I love you, River, and I hope you know I would do anything to see you happy.”

“I love you, too, Dad. And I’m getting there. Don’t worry about me. I’m settled in the house and looking forward to starting my teaching job. I’m even going shopping with Sami, Bailey, Carly, and Luna. I may not have grown up here, but, Dad, this feels like home. And a lot of that has to do with you being here. You might feel you’ve let me down, but I never have.” I tilted my head and kissed his cheek.

Sometime during us talking the swing stopped, so I gave it a push to start it back up.

“Going to tell me what’s going on between you and Dom?”

“What happened to not interfering?”

“I think I saidtried. That was before. You’re here now. So...”

“Honestly, Dad, I’m not sure. After Thomas, I don’t know if I can trust my feelings. And Dom is confusing. One minute, he acts as though he is irritated I breathe the same air, then he is kissing me, and I—” I stopped talking when I realized what I let slip.

“What the hell, River?”

I sat up straight to see my dad’s face. He was pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers and had his eyes closed. I watched as he lowered his hand, then took a deep breath before he opened his eyes.

“Dad?”

“Give me a minute.”

The way he spoke had me grinning. This was the side of my dad I missed out on when I grew up and started dating. “Take all the minutes you need. But, Dad, you know I’ve been kissed and—”

“Stop! I know somewhere in my mind that you’re a grown woman who has been married. I get what that entails,but...knowing and hearing about it as the woman’s father doesn’t work well. Yes, when I look at you, I see an adult,” he moved his hand to his heart, “in here, you will always be my little girl. It is also the place where there will never be a man good enough for you. With that said, I know you’re unsure of yourself because of that cheating ass, son-of-a-bitch pansy you were married to.”

“Don’t hold back how you feel, Dad,” I said, and when he glared at me, I couldn’t stop from smiling.

“Smartass. Everything I said about him is true. But back to you. Don’t let what happened with him keep you from finding happiness with another man. Whether it’s Dom, or someone else. Know that I will be happy when you do. I just don’t want to share in the details.”

“I’ll try. Not sure I’m ready though.”

“You’ll know when you are. Don’t let anyone push you if you aren’t.”

“I can’t say it enough. Coming here was the best decision I’ve made in a long time.”

“I’m glad you made it, too. Now, how about feeding me another piece of that apple pie before your old dad heads home?”

“You got it. Come on, I might be swayed to make you some coffee to go with it.”

My dad stood and held out his hand. I grabbed ahold, and he pulled me up, then we headed into the house.

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