Love Hits Hard

Chapter 5-Playtime

As we arrived at the park, I checked the time in my phone to see that it read 1:10 meaning we had roughly half an hour to play and do whatever else.

"You relax," Brendan said to me. "I'll take care of the little one."

Brendan walked over to the playground with Jackson and put him down once they were on the wood chips.

From being left to stand on his own, Jackson fell over and starting crying softly. Brendan immediately looked terrified and picked him up, trying to soothe him and whisper calming words in his ear.

I laughed and yelled, "you're doing great," to only see a terrified looking Brendan with wide eyes turn back around to see me.

"Oh, he's fine Brendan, he just lost his balance," I call to him and he shakes his head in acknowledgment.

Brendan leads him over to the swings and I watch them playing together for the next few minutes before I get a call from Ethan.

Hey, where are you?

I'm at the park.

Why?

Because I had study hall.

We're not seniors, you know that right?

I know, I asked Principal Howards and he said that it was fine.

Who are you with?

Jackson.

Just Jackson?

No.

Who else? Jess?

No, Brendan.

What? Why are you there with him?

Why not?

You barely know him.

Thanks Dad, because I totally need your permission to hang out with guys.

He talked to me about your date on Friday.

Oh, did he?

Yeah, and I don't approve.

Why the hell not?

Because he's my friend and I don't want to feel obligated to stop being his friend is you guys don't hit it off well.

You don't need to shelter me. I can take care of myself, I've been doing exactly that for the past few years.

I'm sorry that I care about you.

Do you? Because it seems like you only care about yourself.

Athena, why would you say that?

I'm just a burden on your life, I'm sorry. After today, I'll move in with Adam and you can see how easy it is to feed the whole family, clean the house, take care of a child, manage school work, drive you guys everywhere. Good luck with Adelaide, tell her I love her.

Athena, you're over-reacting. Stay at home, don't act like a bitch right now.

Oh, so I'm being a bitch now?

That's not what I meant.

It sounds like that's exactly what you meant. I'll leave the car with you and I do not need your permission on who I'm going to date because you don't want to feel obligated to stop being their friend, stop treating me like I'm a burden on your life.

Athena, I-

Save it for the soap operas, goodbye.

I hung up the phone and wiped the tears from my eyes, feeling the coldness on my face from the wind. I checked the time and saw that it was around 1:28.