Page 67 of Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend
“I don’t want you to put too much pressure on yourself about this,” Trace said. “I understand that your relationship with Matt is strained. I don’t want to be your breaking point.”
I sighed, my determination seeping away. “Just think about it. We can’t hide this forever.”
“No, we can’t.”
“I can be strong for you.” I bit the inside of my cheek to control my expression. Too often, everything was plain to see on my face. I didn’t want Trace to understand how weak I felt sometimes, and how much I wanted to be a better man for him. “This doesn’t all have to be about you holding me together, you know.”
“I know.”
I raised a challenging eyebrow. “Really? Because I’ve opened up to you a lot, but you’ve been reluctant to lean on me.”
He shook his head. “It’s not the same. I’m your Daddy. I’m supposed to support you.”
“And I can’t be a source of comfort and support?” I asked. Judging by his expression that was exactly what he thought. I shook my head, disappointment crashing in. “I don’t accept that. You give so much. I just want to give something back.”
“You do,” he sound, sounding a little frustrated. “Letting me be the one to support and guide you is a gift.”
“And what about when you need help?”
He hesitated, a frown wrinkling his brow.
“Come on, even Daddies need support sometimes. I might be young, but I’m not helpless.”
“I know that,” he said gruffly. “I don’t know why you’re so hung up on this.”
“Because you help me and you help me, but you don’t let me do the same,” I said in frustration. “I know your business is struggling, but you won’t open up about it. I know you have feelings about my father and how he’ll react if he finds out about us, but you pretend I’m the only thing that matters.”
“You are,” he said thunderously. “You are the thing that matters, brat.”
“You matter too.” I knew I was like a dog with a bone. Trace was probably baffled by my sudden insistence he open up. For weeks, I’d been gradually sharing more of my life—sometimes intentionally, and sometimes because it came spilling out in an emotional meltdown—but if I was a flowing river of emotion, then Trace was the dam. Strong, sturdy, resistant to budging. “I just want you to let me in.”
Trace’s eyes narrowed, flashing dangerously. He looked angry for a moment before he sagged against the headboard. “I’ll try.”
I cupped his face, combing my fingers through his beard, petting him soothingly. “That’s all I ask,” I said softly.
“I’ve not been in a relationship in a long time,” he admitted. “I’m rusty.” He laughed gruffly. “Not that I’ve ever been all that good at showing my underbelly. I guess that’s why I love being a Daddy.”
Shit. He sounded so defeated. Leaning in, I kissed him softly. “You’re a great Daddy,” I said. “The best. Your spankings could win awards.”
He chuckled. “You’re just saying that because you’ve got nothing to compare it against.”
“I don’t want anyone’s hand on my ass but yours.”
He tried to sound stern. “Good, because you’re mine.”
“I am,” I said reassuringly. “And you can trust me with all of you, even your soft underbelly.”
He kissed me. “You’re too smart for me, brat.”
I scoffed. “First time I’ve been accused of that.”
“It won’t be the last.” He kissed me again. “I’ll try to open up more. You’ve been incredibly vulnerable for me, and I love that. You told me you could be strong, as if it’d surprise me. But I already knew you were strong. It’s not easy to bare yourself to someone the way you have to me. You’re the strongest one in this room.”
It wasn’t true, but it was sweet that he’d said it. I didn’t really blame Trace. He was self-reliant, which was a good thing.
Laying my head on his shoulder, I sighed. “I wish you didn’t have to go, even for a few days.”
“Me too, brat. Me too.”
