Knox's Girl (Carmichael Series #1)✔️

Dad vs. Daddy

**Hopefully this will tide you guys over until sometimes next week. My grad party is later today and I'm graduating tomorrow. Not to mention my family is in town so I'm going to be pretty busy the next couple of days. The ending may have a few mistakes because I didn't have time to finish editing. Oh well! Hope you guys enjoy!**

**Edited**

Poppy's POV

I giggled as my mom finished telling her thousandth story about Knox and me from our childhood. Ever since Knox had explained the ulterior motive behind the way he used to treat me, I've found joy and amusement in reminiscing our early years. Hearing them told from someone else's point of view was odd as they were totally different from how I'd remembered them.

My mom sighed happily. "I don't think you ever had a choice in who you ended up with, Poppy. Knox claimed you from the second you were able to play as a child," she teased, poking Knox in the side cheekily as he set up plates on our dining table. It was just going to be the four of us, my parents and Knox and I, eating tonight since Tansy was at a playdate with a friend from preschool.

"Damn right she didn't," Knox joked with a serious glint in his eyes. The response caused my mom and me to burst into another fit of giggles. I'd been so caught up in talking that I hadn't realized my dad was still missing once we'd all settled down to eat.

"I thought he got off work at five?" I questioned while pointing to my dad's empty chair and glancing at the clock on the wall.

"He does, but recently he's been getting off later and later. It's this stupid new case they've assigned him. He can't seem to find any leads, so he's having to spend more time at the office," she explained with a nonchalant shrug. I brushed it off before helping her cover the plate of steaming food up so it wouldn't get too cold before he had a chance to eat it. About thirty minutes into our meal, my dad finally wandered into the kitchen looking disheveled and dazed.

"There you are, honey! I've been waiting for you!" my mom called to him with a smile, getting up to greet him with a hug and kiss on the cheek. His only reply was a low sigh as he grabbed a beer from the fridge and joined us at the table. He slumped into his chair, popped the top off his bottle, and took a long guzzle before releasing an ah of satisfaction. He picked up his knife and fork to dig into his food, but he must've just noticed Knox sitting at the table with us seconds later.

"Who's this?" he grunted, a guarded look on his face.

"Dad, this is Knox...my boyfriend. He used to live next to us, remember?" I rushed out. My dad dropped his silverware back onto the table while narrowing his eyes at Knox - clearly scrutinizing him. I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat as I waited for my dad to say something, anything. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest before shifting his gaze to me.

This wasn't gonna be good.

His stare changed to that of sizing Knox up. Clearly sensing it, Knox straightened his back and met my dad's penetrating gaze head-on. My dad ran his tongue over his top teeth before clicking it. "So, I heard you met my bosses boy. Corbin? Nice kid," my dad noted with a smug expression. Knox growled under his breath while clenching his utensils in a death grip.

"Uh, yeah. He's a good friend, I guess," I muttered, making sure I emphasized the nature of Corbin and I's relationship so no one got any wrong ideas. I had an idea of what my dad was doing but was confused as to why he was doing it. He didn't even remember Knox, so why would he be trying to anger him?

"He's not a bad looking guy, either. Have you ever thought about going on a date with him?" he inquired. I gaped at him, unable to even fathom him asking me that kind of question when I just finished introducing Knox to him as my boyfriend. What the heck was his motive, here?