“Yes, Daddy,” I replied. Part of the time I was thinking about everyone meeting, I imagined what
it would be like to show them Daddy’s house that he kept saying he wanted me to think of as my
house, too. Maybe having my family here would help make that feel real.
“Then, would you like to invite them over here?” Daddy suggested. As much as I’d love for them
to see the house, there were going to be a lot of questions. Mom would want to know how long we’d
been seeing each other. Dad would ask if I was able to pay my fair share on such a huge house and
wouldn’t be receptive if I told him Theron refused to accept anything from me. Mom would voice her
concerns about our age difference. Dad would question if it was the right time for me to settle into a
serious relationship.
But through all of that, Daddy would be at my side. I only had to hope they wouldn’t jump to the
conclusion that he was a domineering butthead if I got overwhelmed. “Only if you’re okay with it.”
“Of course, they’re welcome here.” He shook his head as if I was the silliest boy in the world.
“We’ll get one of the guest rooms freshened up for them. Part of the reason I built a house with extra
room was so my family wouldn’t have to stay in a hotel if they came to visit. If you’re mine—and you
are—then your family is my family.”
I leapt into Daddy’s arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. “You’re the best Daddy ever! I
didn’t realize how bad I needed you to be okay with meeting them until you said you would.”
“I know things between us have moved faster than a lot of relationships, Sammy, but I’m yours as
long as you’ll have me.”
“Me too, Daddy.” That was one of the easiest promises I’d ever made. I still worried he’d get
tired of me when the new wore off, but Mav was right. I needed to be the optimistic guy I used to be.
14
Theron
I wasn’t a fan of the utterly helpless feeling I got almost nightly. I hated that Sam was still paying rent
on an apartment he rarely visited, other than to pick up clothes he’d forgotten. If not for his dedication
to honoring his commitments, he could have temporarily cut back on his hours at work, so he wasn’t
spread so thin while trying to study for the last finals he had to take before graduation.
The only silver lining was that heneededhis little time like never before. But even that was a bit
gloomy because we’d entered this phase of trying to keep his stress levels low enough that he could
function. When you added in the anxiety over his parents’ visit this weekend, my boy was about ready
