“Yeah, I would really rather not have had the discussion, though.”
“You know, I have to tell you—one of the things about raising girls is that about ninety-five percent of the conversations you have are conversations you would really rather not have. But I’m the daddy, and I’m the only parent they have, so I have those conversations. But believe me, I understand. And we haven’t even gotten into first periods, first kisses, birth control, or any of that stuff.”
Cam looked like he was going to barf, and Mitch kind of got it, but then also part of him was like ‘Fuck you, I can do all this myself. I’m a stud.’
It actually felt good to sit with that for a second.
Cam shook his head, finally. “Well, you’re a brave man.”
“I try.” He winked. “God, that chicken smells good.”
“You want some? We can totally have some.”
Mitch shook his head. “I’ll wait until the girls get home. Besides that, I foresee a temper tantrum in my near future.”
“Oh?” Cam looked confused.
“Rachel is going to be exhausted, and she’ll have been all ramped up, so we’ll wait for her to have her meltdown and then a little nap. When she wakes up, she’ll be a brand-new person.” Not to mention the fact she was still convinced that her mother was a ghost.
“Oh.” Cam seemed a little confused. “Where’s Bekka?”
“I assume in her room. I don’t hear the TV in my room, so?—”
“Your girls are as social as you are, man.”
“Hey, Sarah’s gonna have somebody to spend the night tonight. That’s crazy.” He waved a hand in the air. “We can’t all be like a Halley.”
“Trust me, that gets exhausting in its own right.” Cam shook his head. “Then I’ll just make myself a sandwich or something. Do you want a little snack? Some crackers and cheese or some pickles?”
“Here I’ll get up and help. I need to find Rachel anyway. Five is too young for not knowing where she is.” Mitch scooted to the end of the chair and slowly stood up. He was so glad that the horrible pain was gone. Every day felt as if he could breathe a little easier.
“I can do it, man. That’s why I’m here.”
“I know.” He sighed and sat back down in the chair.
That was part of the problem, wasn’t it?
He wanted Cam to be here because he was exciting, because he was a beautiful person. Because Cam was interested in him.
He didn’t want to be a pity case.
Oh, Mitch didn’t lie to himself, hewasa pity case, but he didn’t want to be.
“Thanks, man, you rock.”
Chapter Nine
“Mr. Cam, did you know it’s almost my birthday?”
Cam glanced at Rachel, who was twirling around the kitchen like a mini dervish while he attempted to make a new recipe. Sausage and cheese bread looked like it would taste a lot like sausage balls, but without all the squeezing meat and sticking to the sheet pan. “I think your daddy told me that, yes, ma’am.”
“He’s going to get me a bike.” She did a split, very cheerleader-like. Just watching it made his balls protest.
Five-year-olds were very flexible.
“So you’re going to start school, too, in just a few weeks?”
She nodded and shot him a grin. “I’m going to be in kindergarten. I get to go buy school supplies.” She glanced at him, hesitating. “Bekka says that maybe we don’t get school supplies this year. Will they still let me go to school if there aren’t any school supplies?”
