𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑙𝑦.

#74

-D.F

"We're back," I say opening the door and finally welcoming warmth. Emilio's hand never leaves the small of my back as we enter the house.

"How was your date?" My father stands up from the couch with an excited smile on his lips.

"It was good dad, how was Spear? I hope he didn't cause too much trouble," I say sliding off my sandals and pushing my hair behind my shoulders.

"Oh not at all, he's an easy child, much easier than you were," the man jokes when I walk up to him. He kisses the side of my head as if he's done it his entire life and then shakes Emilio's hand. "It's late, I don't want to be in your guys's hair."

"Don't be stupid you cleaned, cooked and bathed Spear, plus this is technically your house. Stay as long as you'd like." He seems shocked by my words and I swear I even saw his chin wobble but he hides it with a smile and kisses the side of my head once more.

"You're in a good mood," he says before looking up to Emilio. "I can assume you had part in that," he raises a brow at Emilio who tries his best to hide a cheesy grin, I laugh, "thank you son."

"For?" Emilio says removing his hand from my back to play with the ends of my hair that laid a little ways past my shoulder blades. I hadn't thought about cutting my hair in ages, it felt like the new somewhat long style matched the present version of myself that felt new.

"Keeping my children happy."

"Anything for her." Emilio looks down at me with a smile that makes my knees want to buckle.

"Why is your hair and makeup ruined?" My father then says touching my cheek. Emilio clears his throat moving away from the both of us slightly. My lips twitch in an attempt to shield a laugh.

"Oh we went to the beach... and got a little wet," I can't help but chuckle nervously avoiding eye contact with his parental gaze, and for the first time in a long time I felt the father daughter relationship I had always wanted.

"She got a little wet," I give Emilio a look as I turn my head around, "she went into the ocean."

"I see," he says eyeing us both down before bursting out into laughter. "I'm glad you kids had some fun." My father reaches down the table grabbing a mug of tea and sipping it. Since when did he drink tea?

"Yeah we did."

"Listen I wanted to talk to the both of you about something before we leave," the tone my father used makes my bones shiver. If I had learned anything about my father it was that any news was bad news. But not letting my preconceptions about him run with the wind I nod.

"I had an interview for a basic nine to five job remember," I nod my head trying my best to tack my brain for the conversation. "Well I got it." My stomach drops when he shares the news and suddenly my happiness level was over the moon.

"You what?" I say immediately hugging the man. "Dad I'm so happy for you, any job is celebration," my father is stiff in the hug, I can tell it's not what he really wants to do judging by his uneasy face but knowing that he was making an effort either way made me more than satisfied.

"Congrats John this is a good thing," Emilio says placing a hand on the small of my back and patting my father's shoulder when he pulls away from me. Taking a deep breath my father nods his head as if he's trying to convince himself it was good. "And hey, if you do well at this regular job maybe I can offer you a better one in the future." What did I do to deserve this man.