Page 36 of Thanksgiving With Dad's Best Friend

“I wish we could turn back time,” she says quietly, her voice muffled as she nuzzles into me.

“To when?”

“Last night. I would’ve done things differently.”

“You mean…you would’ve gone with your father?”

Lexi sits up fast, staring at me in shock. “No, why would you think that? You know how much you mean to me…I just mean we could’ve been more careful. We knew he was getting suspicious, we should’ve held off until after this Thanksgiving trip…we could’ve been honest with him.”

“And you think that would’ve made him less angry?”

Lexi sighs and shrugs. “Maybe not. I get why he was so mad, but at least if we were honest about it, he couldn’t have attacked us like that…everything he said…it hurt so bad, Flynn. Am I a bad person?”

I sigh, pulling her in closer. “Of course not, baby. There’s nothing wrong with choosing to be with me…you’re an adult, you should be able to make your own decisions. Your father was being unreasonable…yes, I understand why he was mad. But he wouldn’t even hear you out. It’s him that’s acting like a child.”

Lexi nods miserably. I can see her fighting back tears, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. I feel a growl forming in my throat as I kiss her forehead.

“I hate him for putting you through this kind of pain…you don’t deserve it.”

“He’s lost everything, though,” Lexi whispers tearfully. “Who can blame him for overreacting? I just wish things had worked differently…all I wanted was a taste of happiness. And now…well, it feels like I’ll never be happy again.”

Her words are like a stab in the heart. I know that I’m the cause of her misery, though not intentionally. It makes this whole thing worse knowing that if I’d just held back my urges, she never would’ve had her first kiss with me…we’d never have had sex…we wouldn’t be in this position now. Sure, I’d be fucking lost without her, but at least she’d be free. And now, I’ll carry the knowledge that keeping her with me is a form of torture for her…a way of breaking up her family and her heart.

I sit up and take Lexi by the shoulders, looking into her beautiful eyes. She blinks back at me with an innocent gaze.

“Lexi, listen to me now. I know that you don’t want to leave…but maybe you should. If you go after him now, he might still accept you back into his life.”

“He told me not to follow him.”

“I know, but he said that in the heat of the moment. If you showed up at home and told him that you’re sorry…I’m sure he’d take you back in. Your his daughter and he loves you.”

Lexi stares at me. “And what about us? He’d never let us be together.”

I sigh, unable to look at her. What I have to say next is too painful to even think about, but I have to say it to her. I have to let her know that she has the option to leave me behind.

“You know what I’m saying, Lexi…I’m telling you I won’t be mad if you choose to leave me behind.”

Lexi gasps. “Flynn…what are you talking about? You know I don’t want that.” Her face hardens. “Is this…is this your way of trying to break things off? Are you looking for a reason to put a stop to this?”

I shake my head, feeling frustrated as hell. “Of course not! How can you think that…if I wanted to let you go, I would’ve sent you packing with your Dad last night…do you really think I’d risk my friendship with him for something I don’t care about? Lexi…you’re everything. Of course I don’t want you to go.”

“Then why are you asking me to?”

“I’m not asking you to…I just want you to know that you can and I’ll fight through it. I’ll be alright…eventually, I suppose. Your family is important, Lexi. I never really got to have a close relationship with my parents. I don’t want to take that from you.”

Lexi’s expression softens and she reaches out to touch my cheek. “Baby…I stayed last night for a reason. I love my father, but I can’t let him take this from us…this is something I’ve always craved. It feels right…even though he told us it was wrong. I don’t care what other people think, you’re the one I care about most. I know that’s crazy…we’ve not known each other for long…but I can’t help the way I feel.”

“I feel the same,” I growl. Hearing her talk like that has me hard, even though it’s the worst possible time. She’s my girl and hearing her telling me how much she wants me, it feels good. But I have to stay serious right now. “I just don’t want you to do anything you’re going to regret. You’re at a crossroads, Lexi…the decision you make now will affect the future.”

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