Page 18 (1/2)

The bar I’d spent the last few hours in was just off caht crowd I was tucked away into a dimly lit corner booth, away from the excited bustle of my fellow students

What I wanted was to speak to Jade, but after our row earlier, I thought it better to give her some space, and myself the chance to process her news It had come as a shock, but what surprisedit was , and not some other assholes’

The waitress ca the empty bottle on et drunk – I sure as hell needed a drink – but I wanted a clear head in order to put everything in perspective When someone sat down on the bench opposite me, I looked up and saw that my father had taken a seat His dark blond hair stuck up in all directions as a result of the rain, and his fancy suit was all but dripping on the floor The likeness between us was uncanny, and no one would doubt that I was his son

"I was hoping I’d find you here," he said, taking off his wet coat He shook so me ariness and concern

"A little out of your way," I replied I hadn’t seen him in a feeeks, and couldn’t deny that I was happy to see him Out of everyone close to ht then

"Dane called me, he said he orried about you"

I fiddled with the cap of ave ood at keeping his nose out of my business"

"He cares about you, and the fact that he called reen matched mine, and when he looked at ht h I missed him, he’d always taken the time to be there for me when I needed him Aside from Dane, my father was alsoI never feared his judgment, or worried that he’d be disappointed He simply listened, and helped me where he could

"You didn’t have to come all the way out here, Dad," – I took a sip of my soda – "A phone call would have sufficed"

He waved his hand, and rested back into the booth, his bulking shoulders taking up , son"

If I weren’t feeling so all over the place I would have chuckled at the authoritative way he spoke to me It was one of many reasons why people respected hi a tough-as-nails attorney would have hardened hihtfather, and a devoted husband All the things I wanted to be for Jade and our baby, and that scaredto be a dad

I rubbed my hand over my head, and let out a heavy breath "Where do I even start?" Imess"

My father ordered a beer, and then rested his clasped hands in front of hiinning?

I started telling hi that had transpired between Jade and me, from the moment we blurred the line between ‘friends’ and ‘lovers’ to how I dated Stella in the hopes ofout, my father listened with intent, and I could al in his head His occupation had taught him to analyze every fact, and every detail, and to determine the appropriate course of action I needed hiht direction because I was at a loss

"And then today, I found out she’s pregnant I freaked out because I thought it was someone else’s, and I hury to be rational about it Turns out the baby’s aze, afraid that his concern would shift into disappointot, at all

He let out a loud woosh of air, and leaned forward "That’sshit, that’s a lot to take in"

This time I did chuckle "Lucas Cole, at a loss for words? That’s a first"