Warning:Huge Age gap (legal)
Rody Lamoree parked his car outside his ex-wife's house, staring at the familiar driveway for a moment longer than usual. He could feel the tension in his chest, the weight of what was about to happen pressing down hard. Today wasn't just any dinner; tonight, Vincent was coming over to meet his kids for the first time.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. He could already imagine the looks on their faces-Camille's sharp tongue and Louis's cold silence. Neither of them had taken the news well when he first told them he was seeing someone new. When they found out that someone was a 19-year-old, their reactions had gone from bad to worse.
His daughter, Camille, hadn't been subtle about her disdain. She'd called him reckless, accused him of going through some kind of midlife crisis. And Louis, who was usually the quieter one, had barely been able to look at him since then. It was as if they couldn't see him as their father anymore, just as a man making bad decisions.
Rody sighed, rubbing his temples. He was already dreading it, but Vincent deserved to meet them. And maybe-just maybe-they could find some common ground.
Getting out of the car, he walked up to the door, the sound of his shoes on the gravel louder than usual in the quiet evening air. He took a deep breath before knocking, wondering how this would all play out.
---
Inside, Camille was setting the table, her face a mask of frustration as she slammed plates and cutlery onto the dining room table. Her long, straight hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and she wore a frown that seemed permanently etched on her face whenever she thought about her dad's new relationship. Louis, sitting at the kitchen counter, stared blankly at his phone, occasionally glancing at his sister with mild discomfort.
"Can you believe he's actually bringing *him* here?" Camille muttered, shaking her head. "What's Dad thinking? He's practically babysitting his boyfriend."
Louis said nothing, just shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was only a year older than Vincent. The whole situation made him feel strange-like he was suddenly caught in the middle of something he didn't want to be part of.
"He's 19, for God's sake," Camille continued, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I don't care if Dad's lonely, this is just... disgusting."
Louis finally spoke, his voice quiet. "Maybe we should just... let him explain."
Camille shot him a glare. "Let him explain? What's there to explain, Louis? He's dating someone younger than both of us. You think that's normal?"
Louis shrugged, uncomfortable with the confrontation but unwilling to push back. He wasn't thrilled about the situation either, but Camille's constant hostility was making the whole thing worse. He didn't want to fight, but the air in the house felt like a ticking time bomb.
Before they could say anything more, the door opened, and Rody walked in, followed closely by Vincent.
There was a moment of heavy silence.
Camille's eyes flicked over Vincent, her expression shifting from cold skepticism to outright distaste. The tension in the room shot up instantly. Vincent, for his part, looked calm and unbothered, his pale face impassive as he gave the room a brief, cursory glance before settling on Camille and Louis.
"Kids," Rody began, trying to keep his voice steady, "this is Vincent."
Camille didn't bother hiding her disdain. "We know who he is, Dad."
Rody's shoulders tensed at her sharp tone, but he forced himself to smile, gesturing toward the dining room. "Let's sit down and talk."
As they all took their seats, Vincent sat across from Camille, his dark eyes watching her with cool detachment. He was used to this kind of scrutiny, especially when it came from people who disapproved of his relationship with Rody. It didn't faze him.
