His hand still holding mine squeezes while the other lifts so he can tilt my chin back with two fingers.
“I love you, Casey. I’ve loved you from that very first night. I might not have known who you were, but I knew you were going to change my life in ways I never could have imagined.”
My breathing is erratic, and the moment I press my hands to his chest, I feel the heavy beat of his heart against my palms.
Tears fill my eyes as I replay everything he just confessed. It’s everything I’ve always wanted to hear from him, but something I always thought would be a dream.
“I love you, too, Kodie. I always have.”
“Goddamn it,” Dad suddenly barks, and we turn just fast enough to catch him wiping his eyes.
“Dad?” I whisper, desperate for him to say something. Anything.
But he doesn’t. Instead, he slips from the stool he was sitting on and marches over.
Kodie and I tense as he closes the space between us.
I stop breathing.
Dad’s going to hit him. I’m going to be forced to watch Dad pound into my man, and knowing Kodie, he’ll take it.
It won’t be the first time I’ve seen Dad fight. It used to happen almost every game back in the day. But he hasn’t hit anyone in years. As far as I know.
But as he comes to a stop in front of Kodie, no fists fly. Instead, Dad holds his hand out for the man at my side to shake.
Kodie hesitantly slides his palm against Dad’s.
“Welcome to the family, Son. It’s been a long time coming.”
All the air rushes out of my lungs.
“What?” I ask, as Dad releases Kodie and turns to me.
“I’m so proud of you, Care Bear,” he says, his voice cracked with emotion as his arms wrap around me.
“Thank you, Daddy,” I whisper, clutching him tightly as my tears soak into the soft fabric of his ratty Vipers tee.
Long seconds pass before he pulls back and wipes his face, turning his back on us in favor of sticking his head in the refrigerator.
“You okay?” Kodie asks, wrapping his arm around my waist as I also dry my tears.
“Yeah, I think I am. He’s…he’s happy about this, right?”
Kodie chuckles. “Yeah, baby. I think he is.”
Turning to look up at him, I find the same amazement and bemusement I feel reflected in his eyes.
“Okay, good. That’s how I took it.”
“You both want a beer?” Dad asks, finally emerging with three bottles in hand.
“Uh, yeah, sir. That would be great.”
“Kodie, for fuck’s sake. Stop calling me sir. It’s James while you’re under this roof.”
Kodie nods, looking thoroughly chastised.
“Living room,” Dad states before walking off with the beers, leaving us both to trail behind.
