Last Friday Night (ManxMan) ✔️

Chapter 24

"Surprise!"

Melodie held up a plate of cookies to River's chest. The sugar cookies were messily decorated with pink and green icing, a wonky looking smiley face sitting front and center. Most of the icing was splotchy and thin because Melodie wouldn't wait until they cooled to start decorating. They were a mess, but adorable.

River wore a tense smile as he took them in.

"Thank you, Melodie."

A beat passed, but River hadn't moved. Melodie's bright grin faltered.

"Eat one, Daddy!" she instructed. But River shook his head, side stepping his daughter to drop his keys down on the kitchen island.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, I'm not hungry right now. I'll have one tomorrow."

River was taking off his shoes and heading for the couch but Melodie still stood by the door, her rejected cookies held out. Hunter's heart broke a little bit for her. Of all the reactions she hoped he would have, this is the last one she expected.

River noticed her sad frame and sighed.

"How was school?"

Hunter plucked the plate from her hands, allowing Melodie to run to her father's side. She began to regale him with all the adventures she'd had. It was a pretty mundane day from what she told Hunter hours before. They'd done some singing and learned a new game.

River did his best to react and be engaged. Yet, his body was tense and his smile was as fake as the one he used at the bar. Melodie finished her story and, after a quick hug, was sent off to bed. With his daughter out of sight, River finally let go.

Hunter replaced Melodie's spot on the couch and began rubbing soothing circles on River's knee.

"What's wrong?"

"Just a bad day. Bad customers," he muttered, eyes shut against the palms of his hands. River stayed there, pushing his hands into his eyes and seeming too wrecked for it to just have been a 'bad day.' Looking around for a way to help, Hunter spotted the plate of cookies. He got up and returned with the melted smiley face.

"Why don't you try a cookie? Melodie and I made them with all our hearts."

River rolled his eyes, eyeing the sugary treat with disdain.

"No matter how much love you guys tried to stuff in them, cookies can't fix this."

"You can still try~"

"I don't want the fucking cookies!"

River smacked the cookie from Hunter's hand, leaving it smeared on the gray carpet. They made no sound for a moment. River stared at the mess before letting out a single scoff.

"I don't have time for this."

Hunter's temper flared. Hours of work. Double that in clean-up. Meticulous decorating and numerous conversations of what "Dad" would think of her cookies. All that earnest effort from a sweet child and that was River's thank you? He reached out, stopping River from standing up.

"Don't say that," Hunter glowered. "Do you know how excited Melodie was to make these for you? As a parent you have to at least acknowledge that."

"Don't tell me what to do," River hissed, flinging Hunter's hand from his body. "You don't know me and you definitely don't know my daughter. You have no right to tell me what to do as a parent."

"River-"

"I am a perfectly capable father!" River leapt up from the couch, spinning toward Hunter with a fiery glare, his hackles raised. "Do you know how long I spend thinking about Melodie every single day? Wondering if she finished her homework, worrying if she got fed, hoping I make her happy? Do you?"