6 Years Too Late

Nineteen

Calum's POV

I straighten out my t-shirt as I take a deep breath. Tucking my keys into my pocket as I reach up to knock on the door in front of me. Nothing has ever seemed so daunting. I wait for about ten seconds before I hear shuffling and a loud bark from the other side of the door, and then the sound of the lock clicking.

"Hey, Cal, come on in." Andi grins, holding the collar of a large German shepherd.

"Hi." I smile, patting the dogs head as I pass them into the front room. "I brought brownies."

"Kason loves brownies. He is going to be so excited. Here." She reaches for the container, taking it over to the counter when I hand it to her.

"So, where is Kason?"

"Hiding in his room." She chuckles, "Turns out it's a little more scary than he thought to be meeting his dad. Especially after the way things started between us again."

"Are you sure I should be here if he's uncomfortable?"

"He's just nervous. Don't worry." She assures me, pulling me towards the staircase. "Kason Robert, there is someone here to meet you." She calls ahead of us.

I hear the squeak of a door before a small head pops halfway out, blue eyes and curly hair all I can see. "Is it my daddy?" He whisper yells.

"Yeah, and he is excited to meet you. So why don't you come say hi?" Andi laughs, sitting down on the top stair. Kason glances at me before back to Andi, scurrying out of his room and directly into her lap.

"Hi, Kason." I smile, sitting down beside them. "My name is Calum, and I am your dad. I want to tell you sorry for how I was acting and for being scared of being your dad."

"Why were you scared? I'm not scary." He frowns, but does look up into my face.

"Because I don't know how to be a dad."

"Well, I don't know how having a dad is, so how about we figure it out together? Mommy can help, she is super smart." He grins up at Andi.

"I'd like that." I smile, "So, Kason, what do you like to do?"

"I like soccer. I am on a team and I play left striker lots because I like it and I'm good at it. I also like music and doggies, and baking."

"You play left striker? That's a big job on the soccer team. Do you know I used to play soccer before I was in a band."

"So did mom but she isn't very good." He giggles.

"Dad played way more soccer than I did. And he was a lot better than me. You would probably actually like playing with him." Andi laughs as Kason calls her out on her skills, or lack there of.

"Really? I want to be a famous soccer player someday!" Kason grins back at me.

"I might have been if I didn't quit soccer to be in my band. That's how good I was."

"We should play soccer, daddy, I can get my ball."

"We've got like twenty minutes until dinner is ready, we could go outside." Andi smiles.

"Then get the ball. I wanna see how good you are." I grin, Kason jumping off Andi's lap to run back to his room.

"He's adorable. Oh my gosh. I love him." I grin, helping Andi up and heading down the stairs with her.

"I knew you would. He's the best." She rolls her eyes at me.

"Ya, and you were right. Go figure." I chuckle.

"Okay, daddy! I'm ready." Kason comes sprinting into the room with shoes on and a ball under his arm.

"Let's go." I grin, taking the hand he offers and hurrying out the back door with him.