Forty-Seven Uses for a Paperclip (Completed)

Chapter Sixteen: Excuse me, Sir, while I dance with your daughter

Chapter Sixteen

Excuse me, Sir, while I dance with your daughter

“Hey, Dad.” I say, stepping out of the cage of Colton’s arms. Something inside me pings at the loss of contact but I ignore it. “What’re you doing home?”

“Forgot my pager.” His tone is gruff and he still has that odd look on his face as his eyes dart from Colton to me and back again.

“Good morning, sir.” Colton says, holding out a hand for Dad to shake. “I’m Colton, a friend of you daughter’s.”

Either he’s ignoring the awkwardness or doesn’t feel it.

“Kenneth Carlson.” Dad responds, giving Colton’s hand a solid pump, his face guarded.

“Pleasure to meet you.” Colton takes a step back until he’s next to me. He winds an arm around my waist, resting his fingers lightly on my hip.

The gesture does not go unnoticed by Dad; his eyes follow Colton’s hand but he says nothing.

“We were just making breakfast.” Colton explains, tipping his chin at the plateful of French toast.

Dad’s eyebrows shoot up. He seems to be weighing his words carefully as he says, “You’re here early. Or late.” He adds as an afterthought.

My cheeks warm.

Colton gives a one-shoulder shrug. “I forgot that school doesn’t start until twelve today.” He looks suddenly sheepish. “So I accidentally woke Carlson up.”

“Right.” Dad’s eyes scan my disheveled appearance and then move to Colton, who looks the same as always in a plain t-shirt and jeans.

I feel a sudden thrill as Dad watches Colton and I with interest. This is the most attention I’ve gotten from him in ages, and all because I have a boy in the house. I should invite Colton over more often.

Dad checks his watch. “Well, I better get back to work.” He gives Colton and I one last long look. “Get back to…whatever you were doing.” I swear he smirks slightly as he turns and goes out the door.

An awkward silence falls upon us as soon as Dad leaves. I’m all of a sudden very aware of Colton’s hand, which is still on my waist, and the heat it’s emitting.

“Do you think he liked me?” Colton turns to me, his hand still on the waistband of my shorts.

I shrug and walk out of his half-embrace and over to the food, which has cooled considerably by now. “Possibly.”

Colton grabs the syrup from the fridge along with two plates and sets them all on the table. I join him and we sit down to eat.

“Do you and your dad get along?” Colton asks between bites.

I glance up, my fork halfway to my mouth. “Uh.” I stuff the bite in my mouth and chew slowly, thinking about my answer and just how much I want to reveal. But then I think about Colton and his family situation –his jerk of a dad –and how nonjudgmental he is, especially when it comes to families. So I go for the truth.

“I think that was the longest conversation my dad and I have had since my mom died.”

There. It’s all laid out on the table. Dad. Our relationship. And Mom.

Colton nods, seeming unsurprised at my admission, but from previous knowledge or just a polite reaction I can’t tell.

“Did you already know? About my mom?” I ask.

Colton seems unable to look me in the eye. Instead, he stares at the pile of French toast on the table between us. Slowly, he nods.

“How?” I’ve only told Adrienna at school. If word got around my mother died I would get pity looks galore.

“I, uh, heard you and Adrienna talking about it.”

“I see.” I know I should feel slightly angry that Colton eavesdropped on Adrienna and my conversation, but I find I can’t muster the emotion. Instead, I’m somewhat relieved that he already knew and this isn’t sprung on him.

We eat in silence for a moment, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I’m marveling at the fact that I’ve just admitted things I never would have imagined admitting to the silly boy who just asks me out for a laugh. It feels a bit…freeing.

“Why don’t you and your dad get along?” Colton asks after both our plates are clear.

I blink, considering the question. “There’s not really one particular reason.” I spread my fingers apart on the tabletop and stare down at them. “Lots of little things. Although I guess the biggest would be that we don’t really talk.”

“Why not?”

I trace the outline of my fingers with my other hand. “I don’t know anymore. It’s like Mom was the only thing we had in common and once she was gone we had nothing to talk about.”

Colton says nothing. I tentatively look at him from under my lashes, wondering why he’s gone silent and feeling very vulnerable at having laid all my cards on the table.

“I know how you feel.” He says finally. “You have a great relationship and then, one day, you realize it’s crumbled down to nothing and all you’re left with is the memories. Which are worthless, especially if all they do is give you false hope.”

I think of Dad –all the silences, words unsaid, feelings kept hidden –and sigh. “Sometimes you just need hope, even if it’s false.”

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I'm uploading so soon I feel as if it's a record haha. Blame Jon-Marc, guys, cause he kept texting me about finishing this chapter lol. Also, my mom just opened a school and this is the first week, so I'm really tired and just keep doing random odd jobs all day. Funfun :) 

By the way, would love it if you would vote, just sayin' ;)