The Interruption
Jack
“I’m going out,” I yell and grab my car keys off the rack.
“Jack.” My dad’s voice stops me.
“Yeah?” Fuck, I have Harper all to myself for minutes and I want to get there before Luke thinks to head over. Not sure where the others are, but they can miss out. I’m not planning on fucking her, but we can definitely get each other off a few times.
My dad walks across the kitchen toward me. It’s obvious where my genes come from. His dark hair has flecks of gray in it now, and he wears glasses over his blue eyes. He usually has an easy smile on his lips, but his lips are pressed thin today.
“Something wrong?” I clutch my keys tight. He’s been good about letting me do my own thing lately, but I know he worries.
“Are you going somewhere?” His gaze drops to my hand holding the keys. Dad is a stay-at-home dad. He takes care of me and my eight-year-oldoopssister, while Mom works long hours as a doctor. “You’ve been out almost all weekend.”
Before I can answer, the little terror races into the room at full tilt.
“Jacky!” Lucy runs into the kitchen dressed in a princess gown. A crown sits lopsided on her dark curls. She slides across the floor on her socks. “Catch me!”
I drop my keys on the counter and catch her before she careens into my legs. Smiling, I lift her and toss her slightly in the air. This was easier when she was a few years younger, but she’s still a little thing.
She giggles the whole time. When I set her on her feet, she puts her fists on her non-existent hips and pouts up at me. “Are you going to be my prince? Or what?”
Dad shakes his head. “She’s been waiting for you to play with her all weekend.”
Well, fuck. I rub the back of my neck, thinking of the other girl I planned to play with. But Lucy’s been having a tough time in school. Some girls are picking on her, and I can’t do a damn thing about it.
Her big blue eyes blink up at me. I give Lucy a smile, knowing I’ll be caving to her demands. “Of course, but you need to find my horse first. I can’t be a prince if I don’t have my horse.”
Her eyes twinkle when she smiles. She rises up on her tiptoes and squeals. “I know where he is.”
She takes off to find her stuffed horse. She’ll be a heartbreaker when she’s grown. I need to make sure the little shits in her grade know I’ll tear them to pieces if they try anything with her.
“Thank you.” Dad sits at the kitchen table. “I know you’ve got places you’d rather be?—”
“It’s okay, Dad. Lucy is important.” I pull out my phone and see the texts Harper sent in a panic. Dammit. I blow out a breath.
Me:
Sorry sweetheart, something came up. Rain check?
“You’ve been busy lately,” Dad hedges. “You seeing someone new?”
I lower into the chair across from him. “Kind of.”
My situation has never been a typical one. When I came out to my parents as bi, they were supportive. But Dad always seems confused. Like he thought Caden and I were a couple for a while which, while hilarious, makes me wonder if he’ll ever get it.
There’s this assumption that because I’m attracted to both sexes, if I date one I’ll be unfulfilled or something. Pretty sure when I find the rightperson, they’ll be it for me. Even if I have to share her. I glance at my phone to see if Harper texted back.
“That’s good.” He blows out a breath. “We’d appreciate it if you let us know when you won’t be home at night. Just so Lucy won’t expect her good night kiss.”
Ouch, that was a punch to the heart. “I usually text when I’m out.”
“And we appreciate that.” Dad struggles to find something to say.
“I found him! I found him!” Lucy comes racing into the kitchen waving a stuffed horse. “Come be my prince, Jacky! We need to save the dragon.”
I grin. “Don’t you mean slay the dragon?”
