I glare at her. “Of course I didn’t. I brought you up here to protect you.”
Her head falls to the side with a small grin gracing her face. “So, you were my hero last night.”
I let out a quick laugh. “Hardly. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t end up in the wrong place since you weren’t there with anyone.”
A full smile builds on her face. “Wow, so you’re, like, a good guy then.”
“Yeah, don’t tell anyone.” I wink, trying to keep the mood playful.
A girl moans from the bedroom before I hear Max saying, “Yeah, take that dick. Take it all.”
I turn to Sheila. “I’m hungry. Want to get some food?”
She covers her mouth, not sure how to react from what we just heard, and nods slowly. She’s obviously in shock from the morning’s events, but it’s just another day in my crazy life.
Holding her hands out to her sides, she says, “Why not? Adam Jacobson, let’s go get some food.”
“You can just call me Adam.” I grin before I slip my shirt back over my head.
She inhales and tries not to laugh. “Okay … Adam.”
5
Sarah
I enter the multipurpose room that’s lined in pink and white streamers and balloons for the father-daughter dance.
This is my favorite school event, and I offered to help make sure things run smoothly just so I could take part.
I remember attending this same dance with my father. It was my best memory as a little girl. Every year, my mom would buy me a dress that I could twirl around in and even take me to get my hair professionally styled.
I make my way to the registration desk, lining up the papers that list who has paid before people start to arrive.
“Do you need any help?” Cindy asks as she approaches the table.
I hand her half the stack of papers. “Do you want to help me check people in?”
“Sure.” She sits down next to me. “I think we need to start a mother-son dance.” Since she has two boys, the statement makes sense.
“I don’t see why you can’t organize something like that. Do you think your boys would want to come, all dressed up?”
Her head drops back in laughter. “No way. We’d have to do a glow night or a carnival or something like that. But I think it’d be fun.”
“You should do it. Let me know if I can assist.”
She brightens up, proud that I agreed with her suggestion. It’s not often that we see eye to eye on things.
As people enter, I admire every dress worn by some of the sweetest girls around. Some even have corsages on their wrists.
When Cailin steps up, she introduces me to Linda’s husband, Wayne. I don’t bring up anything about how it’s nice that he could bring her or the fact that her own father isn’t here. That little spark I normally see in her eyes is gone.
By six thirty, the place is full. Our PE teacher tries his best to DJ. Sights of dresses twirling around on the dance floor bring me so many happy memories.
A father dressed in a form-fitting gray suit holds his hand up high as his daughter spins. His expression is priceless as he watches his little angel having a fun time.
Wayne is doing the best to accommodate Cailin, but I get the feeling he’s out of his element. When they dance, he’s not holding her like the other fathers do. He’s questioning where to put his arm, and his posture is stiff.
As I walk around the room, making sure everything is going okay, I catch Cailin doing a little dance that signifies she has to go potty. Wayne’s eyes widen as he nervously looks around, so I swoop in and offer to take her.
