Page 27 of North
“That’s even better. Fuck the annoyance out of her.”
Elijah’s smile told me he wasn’t above the idea he suggested. I slapped his shoulder a few times and said, “Maybe you should handle her for me then.”
“Gladly but she only has eyes for you, bro. I’ll shoot my shot and see what happens though.” He flashed a suave smile at me and I met him with unmovable features.
“Don’t ever smile at me like that again, Elijah. You’re not my type.” We broke into easy laughter while we headed to our respective cars. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told him climbing in the truck. He tossed up two fingers and gave me a mock salute before getting in his car and pulling off.
I didn’t go straight home. I couldn’t. Even though I wanted to talk to North, I didn’t know what to say. She short-circuited my brain and rewired everything meant to keep me sane. She was going to ruin me but I wasn’t sure it was a bad thing.
North, North, North.
…
To kill time, I took a drive to Target and got a few things North needed. I picked up more clothes and shoes, toiletries, snacks, and decorations for her room. I also made sure to get heavy blackout curtains that would stop the intrusive light from pouring into her room whenever she had a migraine.
By the time I got home, I noticed a light on in the kitchen, casting a soft yellow glow. It was the first time my home in Telluride seemed remotely warm and inviting. A smile found my lips as I walked inside to the smell of something delicious.
I rounded the corner into the kitchen and laid my eyes on ribbons of long crimson hair and a petite frame that had undoubtedly been eating better. Heat flooded my veins while I stood unashamedly looking at my daughter’s body. No matter how many times I tried to look away, I couldn’t. My eyes slid up and down her toned legs and landed on her ass.
I cleared my throat over the music playing through the speakers and she jerked her head in my direction. “Hey, Dad,” she said trying to keep her voice even-toned and uninterested. I knew how I affected her body though and now, I saw it for myself. North’s nipples turned to pebbles beneath her fitted t-shirt and her breathing stuttered in her chest before coming out.
I held up the bags from Target and lifted one side of my mouth in an apologetic smile. I didn’t know what I wanted to apologize for though. It wasn’t like she and I could have a relationship. What I told her in the truck earlier was true. We couldn’t touch and kiss each other. We couldn’t be what we wanted to be. We had to remain what we’d always been.
Father and daughter.
That’s not what your heart is telling you…
I ignored the voice in my head and cleared my throat while trying not to look at the way her nipples were calling to me. “I picked up some things from the store for you.”
“Thanks.”
“What are you cooking?” I sat the bags on the kitchen counter then took off my hat and coat.
“I saw a recipe on Pinterest for chicken chili and I tried my hand at it. It’s probably shitty but it’s dinner.” She tugged at a rogue lock of hair right at her temple.
“I’m sure it’s amazing,” I told her. I moved over to the stove and peered into the pot of chili. Aromas of spice and garlic hit me and made my stomach growl. “God, this smells amazing, Shortcake. This is your first time cooking chili?”
“Yeah. Can you taste it? I’m scared to.” A sheepish smile found her full freckled lips and stole my heart away.
“You’re scared to taste your own cooking? You sure you aren’t trying to kill me?” I retrieved a spoon from the draw at my hip and dipped it into the steaming pot. The moment the flavors mixed on my tongue, I let out a groan of satisfaction and rubbed my stomach. North’s eyes tracked my movements before quickly returning to my eyes.
“Is it good?” She quizzed. She was still trying to hold on to her anger but the more I raved over her chili, the faster it dissipated.
“Nah. It’s horrible, North. I’ll take one for the team and eat the entire pot.” I winked at her and touched her silky hair, letting it slip between my fingers. The energy between us was shy and unsure but I felt the hurt feelings lifting little by little.
“I’ll get you a bowl,” she told me.
“Can we talk over dinner?” I quizzed with hope in my voice. North’s blue eyes hardened against my question.
“I don’t want to talk about earlier.”
“We need to, dammit.” My voice was rough but it didn’t bother her. She scooped a bowl of chili out for me then one for herself and sat them at the kitchen table.
“No.” It was a full sentence and she meant it. Defiance turned her eyes to blue steel.
I clenched my jaw and tugged the bags off the counter so I could take them upstairs. I needed to put space between us for a few minutes. She was practically grown. I couldn’t force words out of her but I at least wanted her to listen. When North dug her heels in the ground she refused to be moved.
I took the bags in her room and cursed the sweet cherry smell that greeted me. It drilled into my defenses and weakened my resolve turning both into flimsy paper in the rain. I was no match for her storm. I was getting sucked in quicker and quicker.
