Page 56 of What A Croc
“Thank you.” Swallowing around the gigantic lump still clogging my throat, I swiped my damp hands downmy thighs. Goddess, I was sweating like a pig in my suit. “I’m sure it was a shock.”
Wyatt ran his fingers across the table’s surface, quiet for a moment. “I imagine it was more of a shock and surprise to you and pops.”
“Yes, but a good one.” Clearing my throat, I tugged at the knot on my tie that suddenly felt way too tight.
“Jackson, do I make you nervous?” Wyatt asked, one brow arched at me in a way that reminded me so much of Robert.
Laughing a little at his question, I shook my head. “No, I’m sorry, I’m just nervous. But you don’t make me nervous. Does that make sense?”
The man was a genius, surely he would be able to decipher my nonsensical rambling.
“I think I understand what you mean. What’s on your mind?”
“First, I want to make sure you are really alright with the baby coming.” Where had that come from? That wasn’t at all why I was here, but at that moment, with Robert’s son staring at me across the small table, I needed to know.
Because I knew Robert still felt a bit uneasy about Wyatt and the new baby. Or in his ability to be a good father to this child.
Wyatt gave me a thin-lipped smile, then looked away briefly before meeting my eyes. “I will admit I was a bittaken aback for a few minutes last night. I’m not sure what pops had told you, but until last year, our relationship was…complicated.”
“That’s the exact word he used,” I admitted. “He’s told me a few things, here and there. Some things I’ve been able to piece together.”
Not sure how much I should share with Wyatt, I decided to be honest. “Your dad had a bit of a meltdown after Dr. Sinclair confirmed the pregnancy. He was worried he wasn’t going to be a good father. I think he feels like he…failed you in a lot of ways and he’s worried about it happening again.”
“Oh, Goddess,” he ran a hand through his brown curls, and I wondered if Robert grew his hair out if his hair would curl the same way. “I…no. Yeah, things weren’t great between us but that had more to do with my mother than anything else.”
“I’m sure this is probably not my business,” I said, “but he’s carrying a lot of guilt about some things, and it might be good for you both just to clear the air.”
Wyatt sat back in the chair, crossing his arms over his chest, and gave me a look that made me sit up straighter too.
Finally, he relaxed his shoulders. “He did let me know some of that. I thought just building our relationship now, as two adults, would be easier on both of us. But I didn’t realize…well, I likely didn’t realize many things. I probably carried around some misdirected anger. I’m realizing, as an adult with a mate and a child, that no one really knows what goes on in a relationship but the two people in it. And some things your child doesn’t need to know. The baby announcement just took me by surprise. Brought up some feelings and I needed a minute to sort through them. But I am happy for you both. Pops and I talked last night, and I think we’re okay. You make my Pops happier than I’ve, well, ever seen him.”
“I appreciate that,” my voice was sincere, “that’s actually not why I came to see you.”
“No?” Wyatt had a little smile on his lips, his eyes twinkling, like he might have some inkling of exactly why I was actually there.
“I…whoo,” air whooshed between my teeth, “this is harder than I thought it was going to be.”
Wyatt tilted his head, patiently waiting for me to spit out what I needed to spit out.
“I love your father, Wyatt,” I finally managed. “I was shocked to find my fated mate, but meeting Robert brought something back to life inside me that’s honestly been missing since my mate died. I want to ask Robert to marry me–”
Wyatt opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, I rushed the words out, before I could lose my nerve. “Not right now, but sometime in the future. If I do it now, he’ll think it’s only because of the baby.”
“Is it?”Wyatt wondered quietly. “Because while I completely understand that you are fated mates and that puts a different spin on things, this has all been extremely fast.”
“No,” I shook my head vehemently. “I was in love with Robert before we found out about the baby. But I know him well enough to know that if I ask now, he will assume that is the reason I want to marry him.”
Taking another deep breath, because fuck I couldn’t breathe right in this room, I continued, “I would like your permission to marry your father, when I do ask him.”
Wyatt didn’t say a word for so long, my heart began pounding in double time again.
“Pops is an adult,” he finally said, “he doesn’t need my permission to marry you.”
“I know. It’s not about permission but more a sign of respect.” I explained. “You’re his son, his closest living relative. I want to know that we have your blessing. It means something to me, and I know it does to him, to know that you’re okay with this.”
Wyatt smiled, this time a wide smile that lit up his face, but his eyes were glassy. He sniffled, “That’s really…I really appreciate you asking me, Jackson. I know we don’t know each other that well yet, but I hope to change that. All I wanted for Pops when he moved here was for him to be happy. To truly know what happiness means, and for someone to see him for the wonderful person he is. He loves you, I can see it in his eyes, the way he is around you. It’s funny. For most of my life, I thought my Pops was really quiet, meek even, just sort of there. Not taking up a lot of space.”
Blinking at his assessment, I couldn’t wrap my head around that picture of Robert, because it was nothing like the man I knew.
