Page 81 of Don't Call Me Daddy
Luka, who seems to be feeling a little better, perks up. “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what that means.”
“Can we not talk about my sex life over breakfast, please?” Leo comes to sit beside me with his plate and wraps an arm around my waist to move me closer.
“Yeah, well, maybe we’re just jealous,” Roman says between a mouthful of eggs.
There’s an awkward silence in the air as I think back to the moment Leo and I shared last night, the way he spoke to me and took control. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on, and I don’t know what any of it means or what happens next. All I know is, I liked it. And I can’t stop wondering about what would’ve happened if we weren’t interrupted.
As if he senses my racing thoughts, Leo places a warm hand on my knee, tracing comforting circles of distraction.
“I think I’m going to take Ivy down to the lake after breakfast to do a little fishing. Is the boat still in the same spot?”
“Should be. Pretty sure you were the last one to use it,” Frank says as he begins packing up the breakfast supplies.
“I hope you don’t mind us cutting the camping trip short, but Evelyn’s hosting book club tonight at her place, and I already RSVP’d to bring dessert.” Mary holds out her hand. She glances at her watch. “We’ll need to hurry though, so I’m not rushed …”
“Okay, well, I guess that’s my cue to leave too,” Luka says before heading back to his tent.
“Can you wake up your brother so I can start loading the truck?” Frank calls, and Luka gives him a silent thumbs-up.
“I guess I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it,” Roman says before swiping a cup and scooping it full with ice.
I watch as he creeps toward Guy’s tent, where Luka waits, holding a finger over his lips. They slowly unzip the tent and disappear inside.
I turn to Leo, who’s looking at me with a curious gaze. “Did you say you’re taking me fishing? In a boat? On the lake?”
He inches his hand higher, tucking it securely between my thighs. “I did. Is that okay with you?”
I narrow my eyes. “Why are you being so touchy all of a sudden?”
“I think you and I have a lot to talk about. We’re leaving in ten.” He kisses me on top of my head before heading to pack up the tent.
“Yowwww! Fuck, that’s cold! Not cool, man!” Guy screams from the tent behind us just as Luka and Roman come flying out, bending over as they laugh their assess off.
“It’s never a dull moment around this family, is it?”
Leo smiles, shaking his head. “Never.”
“How is it that you’ve never been fishing? Not even off a dock or in a pond?” Leo holds out a hand to help me step into the wobbly canoe.
We’re on the pier right next to the bank, and the lake stretches as far as the eye can see in the distance. It feels strangely quiet out here, like we’re the only ones here—andI’m starting to wonder if maybe we are. What’s stopping the Kingsleys from buying a lake? They already own the whole town.
Everything about the Kingsley family is larger than life. Sometimes, I feel like it’s all too much, and I wonder if I’m going to wake up and realize it was all a dream. Especially since we still haven’t talked about what happened last night.
The boat sways as Leo steps in after me, using his momentum to push us out.
“My parents weren’t really outdoorsy people, and they definitely weren’t into the whole family bonding—hell, I don’t think I can remember the last time both of my parents were in the same room …” My voice trails off as I think back on it, making my stomach twist in knots.
I notice the slightest twitch in Leo’s hand, as if what I said angered him, and then he moves it to my thigh in a gentle caress.
I don’t know why, but that small, protective gesture gives me more comfort than either of my parents ever did, and soon, the knot is replaced with butterfly flutters.
I never share these personal stories with anyone, but for some reason, I find myselfwantingto open up. I clear my throat and continue, “And then when my sister got sick, it took everything we had just to survive the day-to-day. I think I’ve spent more time in and out of hospitals than anything else.” I shrug. “I guess that’s why she added it to her list. Fern was always trying to create the fullest life possible; she wanted to try everything at least once.” I laugh to myself, thinking about all the horrible food she’d insist we’d love, only for us to throw it away and order a pizza.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that. You deserved to be a kid too. You shouldn’t have had to worry about all of that at such a young age, and it wasn’t fair for them to expect you to. I can’t imagine the pain you must feel, living through something likethat. If it makes any difference, I think you’re incredibly brave, and I’m in awe of your resilience.”
He can’t imagine the pain I mustfeel.
I don’t miss his use of present tense when referring to my grief, and I think Leo’s the only person who’s ever spoken of it as if it’s an ongoing thing rather than something I should’ve moved on from by now.
