Page 61 of Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend
I’d dropped my voice to a whisper. I wasn’t even sure why. Maybe fear of the answer to my question.
“That we can handle his reaction.”
It wasn’t what I’d expected. I’d thought Trace was going to say we needed to be sure of our relationship, sure we really wanted to stay together. Despite loving every minute with him, it was still difficult to picture a future. But then, figuring out my future had never been my forte.
My heart thudded. “When will we be sure of that?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. When we know that we’re strong enough together to weather anything?”
I wet my lips, suddenly nervous. I wanted to say we were already strong enough. That I’d do anything to be with Trace. But when I thought of telling my father about us, my palms grew damp and panic clawed at my insides. I’d already disappointed my father in so many ways. Hurting him to please myself felt wrong. It felt too similar to what Mom had done. I didn’t want to be that person. I’d been fighting the urge to follow inanyof my mother’s footsteps for the past four years.
But I couldn’t give up Trace. He was too important to me.
“Okay. We’ll wait until we’re sure then.”
He tugged me down for a soft kiss. “I am sure of one thing. You’re the only frat boy for me.”
I laughed into his neck. “And you’re the only Daddy for me.”
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight, and I melted into him. I didn’t know how we would come out on the other side of this without hurting someone. But I couldn’t make myself let go.
Not now. Maybe not ever.
18
TRACE
After my seminar ended Saturday afternoon, I returned to the B&B just long enough to change into jeans and a long-sleeved gray T-shirt before joining Cooper at the address he’d texted me: 515 E. Laurence Ave. I’d stayed at the frat until the party geared up the night before, enjoying some alone time with Cooper in his room until his duty called. Then I’d made my way to the B&B for a lonely night in. Cooper had offered to join me after the party, and maybe I should have let him, because the bed had suddenly felt empty without him. Funny how I could sleep alone ninety percent of the time, but one weekend with Cooper and I was ruined.
The small bungalow-style house where I was meeting Cooper and his crew had seen better days. It looked gray at first glance, but as I neared, I realized that its paint had peeled so thoroughly—and was dirty enough where it remained—that it wasn’t gray at all, but had once been a pale yellow. Like the sun hiding behind a cloud, this yellow house had lost its ability to shine, now dull and dreary. The porch sagged in the middle, its steps were loose, and at least two windows were boarded up where glass was missing.
A small crew of frat boys were at work on the exterior. It wasn’t the right season for painting, and they were making no attempts to brighten the old house’s cosmetics. They were more focused on the essentials: sealing the front door against the elements, repairing window frames.
I found Cooper on a ladder, swinging a hammer. He held three nails in his mouth as he hammered a fourth into a new piece of wood that would become a piece of window frame. This window had its glass at least, but it looked as if the original boards around it had rotted away.
Frowning, I glanced around. A couple of guys were at work on the front door, and I could hear voices from the back side of the house. But Cooper was alone. I pressed my hands to each side of the ladder, bracing it.
“You really should have someone hold the ladder while you’re up there,” I called.
Cooper glanced down, pulling the nails from his lips to speak. “It’s not that high, and I’ve got good balance.”
I scowled. “It’s not safe, brat. Even a fall from six feet can kill you if you land wrong.”
His lips quirked, and he gazed past me to check on his motley crew. When his eyes returned to me, they were warm. “Sorry, Daddy.”
My heart swelled. I knew Cooper was still adjusting to our daddy/boy dynamic, even with all the fun, kinky sex we had. Calling me Daddy here, within feet of his friends, was significant. He wanted me to know that’s how he saw me.
I wrapped a hand around his calf and squeezed gently. “I just want you to be safe.” I cleared my throat. “But I’m here to work. Where do you want me, boss?”
Cooper laughed down at me. “Seriously?”
“I want to spend time with you. If this is where you are, then I might as well help out.”
Cooper turned, slipping his hammer back into a tool belt he wore—and damn, that was sexier than I’d imagined—and backed down the ladder. I remained where I was so that his body brushed mine as he reached the ground. I stepped back, giving him just enough room to turn to face me. He smiled up at me knowingly.
“Got another hour here. You sure you want to stay?”
I nodded. “I am.”
