I don’t love him. I never will.
The water warms too soon, cascading down my back and around my shoulders. His fists were tight on my coat, like he didn’t want to let go. His mouth was warm and inviting. If I didn’t know what he felt like naked against me, maybe it would be easier to push this event aside. But I do know. I know how his shoulders get cold if he’s not covered all the way to his neck, even in the summer, but he loves to sleep naked.
No. He did love to sleep naked.
I don’t know who this man is. I’ve seen him twice in twenty-five years, although one is questionable. He’s a stranger. I need to hold on to that.
Because I don’t love him…but I could.
Fuck.
I turn the water off and dry myself. In the bedroom, I pull out underwear, a clean pair of sweats, and a long-sleeved T-shirt.
Dinner. I need to make dinner.
I’m in the kitchen when Kay comes home.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, Princess Mayhem. How was your day?”
“Wet.”
Kay comes over to the stove to check on what I’m cooking, so I take the opportunity to give her a hug.
“Daaad.”
“What? You’re too cool for hugs now?”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t shrug away from my arms.
“No. But I’m supposed to be mad at you. I can’t get mad if there’s hugs.”
I do an evil laugh. “I found your Kryptonite. You shall be mine forever.”
“Ugh. You need a life. When was the last time you had a boyfriend or girlfriend, huh?”
“I do not need my teenage daughter to give me relationship advice.” I grab a spinach leaf from the salad and put it in my mouth.
“Duh, you’d need a relationship first. If you think you’re going to cramp my style when I start bringing girls over, you can think again.”
I pause midway to stealing a pepper from the salad. At this rate, there will be nothing left.
Don’t react. Be the cool dad.
“You can bring anyone you want. I’m cool with that because I’m a cool dad. Okay? The coolest.”
She bursts out laughing.
“What?”
“Your face.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” This time, I steal a cucumber slice.
She squeezes me tight just like she used to do when she was younger and I was undeniably her one and only hero…maybe after Fox. “I guess that wasn’t the subtlest coming out, was it?”
“You don’t need to come out to me, honey. You know I’ll love you no matter what. But I reserve the right to go all papa bear on anyone you bring over.”
