If I Could Tell Him

Chapter thirty-nine

EVAN POV

TIME SKIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY ALEX BONIELLO PLAYING CONNOR I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

Evan sat in his car, parked in front of the ballet studio where Marigold was studying. Her birthday was the week before, she'd just turned nine years old. Marigold was easily one of the best dancers in the studio, the thought making Evan's face light up in a proud smile. He and Connor had both gotten compliments on their daughters' performances. Neither of them ever took any credit for Marigold's talent, though. Evan made sure that they knew Marigold's dancing had nothing to do with them. Evan remembered a time when Connor has sputtered something about knowing how to ice skate, as if that had anything to do with it. He shook his head and chuckled softly at the memory.

Evan was jerked back into reality when the girls, all in matching white leotards and tutus, started to pour out of the building. He scanned the crowd for his daughter noticing every girl was holding a brightly colored flyer. When he saw Marigold, he smiled wide and waved at her. Stepping out of the car, he held out his arms for a hug. Marigold ran into his arms and hugged him tightly.

"Hi dad!" She said excitedly. "Hey, you're wearing the shirt I got you for Father's Day!" She noticed. Evan grinned and nodded. He was, in fact, wearing the shirt that Marigold had chosen for him. It had a diagram of a birch tree printed on the front with arrows detailing the scientific terms for each part of the tree.

"Of course I am! I love this shirt!" He assured her. She giggled and gave him a neon pink flyer.

"I have a dance recital tomorrow night. It's gonna be super awesome and I really want you and dad to come." Marigold said hopefully. Evan tried not to show the panic on his face as he remembered all the comments made to him and Connor by other parents when they attended their daughter's events as a couple. At one point he literally had to hold Connor's arm back to keep him from hitting someone who had insulted Evan. "Dad?" Marigold asked, poking his arm. "Earth to dad, come in dad, over." She joked, smiling.

Evan jolted himself back into the present, lifting his hand as if it was a walkie talkie. "This is dad to Mari, there are no signs of life on this planet, over." He smiled slightly.

"You're so dorky." Marigold said, smiling.

"I am not dorky, who said I was dorky?" Evan protested. "I'm a cool dad."

"Uncle Jared calls you dorky, he said that he is always right." She pointed out, getting in the car.

"Uncle Jared is the dork." He replied, getting in and starting the car. As they drove, Marigold filled Evan in on the latest drama in her dance class.

"...and then Elizabeth said to Sophie, 'well at least I'm not dumb like you!' And that made me sad because Sophie was crying and then the teacher told her to stop so everything was ok." Marigold was explaining.

"Sounds like Elizabeth has some issues of her own." Evan suggested.

"Yeah but Elizabeth is always mean to everybody." Marigold pouted.

"We've just gotta love everybody." Evan sighed. "Even if they don't love us."

They pulled into the house, and Evan couldn't get in the door quick enough. Connor was standing at the counter, eating out of a box of Oreos that Evan had bought the day before.

"Connie!" Evan squealed, still getting excited like the teenager he was when they met. Connor turned and his eyes lit up as he saw his husband.

"Hey, Ev!" He said, crossing the kitchen to embrace him. Evan felt Connor's lips gently press against his, and he smiled.

"Dads! Not while I'm here! Gross!" Marigold's voice rang out, interrupting them. She giggled and hugged both of them.

"Oh look it's my favorite daughter in the whole world!" Connor said, lifting her up and twirling her around. "How was dance class?"

"Elizabeth made someone cry today." She said, eager to spill the drama.

"Well Elizabeth is a bit-" Connor started.

"-TER PERSON." Evan interrupted, appalled, shooting Connor a look. "She's just a bitter person." He confirmed, nodding at Marigold.

"Oh. Ok." Marigold said, buying it. "Dad?" She asked, looking up at Connor.

"Yes, dear?" He asked. Evan could tell Connor was pretending to ignore him.

"Can you and dad come to my recital tomorrow night?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Oh we're gonna be busy that night." Connor said apologetically. Marigold's face fell, causing Evan's heart to twist. "Because I'm gonna be at my daughter's ballet recital." He continued, a teasing smile on his face. It took a minute for Marigold to understand what he was saying, but her eyes lit up after a moment.

"Dad!" She said, laughing.

"Now go ahead and change into pajamas. Dinner is almost ready." Connor said, grinning. Marigold nodded and skipped up the stairs. As soon as she was out of sight, Evan swatted Connor's arm.

"Did you almost say "bitch" in front of our nine year old daughter?" Evan hissed quietly. Connor shrugged.

"Different parenting techniques." Connor responded, kissing Evan's nose, causing him to blush.

"God, you're impossible." Evan grinned. "I love you."

"I love you too, my prince."