There.I said it.Might be missing some southern charm, but it is what it is.
“They don’t hate you,” she whispers.
We’ll see.
The thought scurries through my mind before I can stop it, making me hate myself even more.It’s fucked up.Lumping June’s parents in with my father.I know it.Anyone with two brain cells would know it.But I can’t help it, either, and that’s something I need to work through.I just hope June’s patience will last long enough for me to do it.
“Junie?”her mom calls.“Will you come here for a minute?”
“Coming!”June kisses me one more time, then wiggles free from my grasp.“I’ll be right back, okay?”
“I’ll be here.”
Her hand lingers on mine before she lets me go.The worn floor creaks as she exits the room.Taking advantage of the moment, I move toward the picture frames along the wall next to the wood-burning fireplace.There she is.June Bug.She can’t be more than six or seven.She’s sporting a missing front tooth, and her hair is high on her head, split into curly pigtails as she holds a baby bunny in her little arms.
“She always had a thing for animals,” a low voice notes.
I turn around, feeling guilty, though I have no idea why.Gerald moves closer.He motions to the framed photograph.“Brought that one home from a neighbor’s house.Name was…Fluffy, I think?”
I glance at the photo once more.“Classic choice,” I muse.
“Yeah.”He chuckles.“She’s a classy lady.”
“That, she is,” I agree.
“A happy lady, too,” he adds.
I nod, sobering internally, though I keep my casual smile in place.“I hope so.”
“She is.Always was, always will be.”
I gulp, unsure what to say.Is he trying to insinuate that she’d be happy with or without me?Kind of a dick move, but it’s not like I can call him out for it.He’s right, too.She had her life together before I came into the picture.I’m sure it’d be even more steady without me in it.Is that what he’s trying to say?That she’d be better off without me?
What a fucker.
“Seems especially happy lately,” he continues.
I glance at him from my periphery but stay quiet.
“Seems you make her happy,” he adds.
Huh.Okay, I take it back.Maybe he’s not trying to be a dick after all.Maybe he actually…approves of our relationship?
Tongue in cheek, I murmur, “I hope so.”
“You do,” he pushes.“Although, from what I heard, you’re quite the, uh, the class clown.”
My mouth lifts.I wonder what else June has told them about me.Or maybe I don’t want to know.Did she tell them about my past?About all the shit I’ve done?About how I didn’t call her after we hooked up the first time?God, I hope not.
“Haven’t seen that side yet,” he notes.“The class clown version.”
I give the picture of June and Fluffy my back.“Trust me, I’m doing you a favor.”
“You think?”
I nod.“Trust me,” I repeat.
“You know, we were surprised you called.Excited,” he clarifies, “but surprised.I mean, we’d heard so much about you.Your brothers.Your parents.”
