Struggles of a Single Father (Book 1 of the Struggle Puff Series)

Chapter 38

Written – 3/18/2020

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September – fourteen-years-old

It had been a week since my conversation with Amy took place.

Since then, I'd helped her search for apartments online, look over the statistics of the hotel she would be overseeing, and seen her off to the airport so she could get some of her things in order.

Tilisia and Cadence were spending the next few days with Ain and his other friend Jessica, so I was basically alone.

After having not seen Rosie since our kiss, I decided it was time for us to talk. Of course, I knew she wouldn't do it willingly, so I scheduled her to close with me like any mature adult would do.

Unfortunately, my plan backfired on me when she put her headphones on the moment I locked the doors and started cleaning. Determined to talk to her, I decided to not let that deter me.

Being the smooth guy that I am, I decided to pick up the rhythm of the way her head was moving and twerked along with it.

At least, I tried to. I probably looked more like Tina Belcher trying to twerk in Bob's burgers.

When she noticed me, I thought she was going to choke because of how hard she started laughing. When I stopped and she calmed down, she slid the headphones down to her neck.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked with a half-smile.

I scratched the back of my neck as I straightened up, "I was apology twerking." I answered awkwardly, "Did it work?"

"Well, it was funny." She said with a shrug, "The most convincing thing would be to promise to never do that again."

I grinned, "You've got yourself a deal." I laughed at before sobering up again, "Really though. I am sorry. For a lot, actually. I shouldn't have let Amy talk to you like that, I shouldn't have compared you to my daughter, I shouldn't have kissed you, and I shouldn't have avoided you after. All of that was really garbage and I'm sorry."

She was avoiding my gaze, "It's fine. I know how to stand up for myself, and the kiss and the avoidance thereafter was mutual." She said with a shrug, "It just can't happen again, ya know?"

"But..." I was hesitant, but there was no turning back at this point, "But I want it to happen again."

She stared at me dumbfounded, so I continued, "I want to kiss you again. And I want to keep getting to know you. You said that I didn't see you the way that you saw me, but that's not true. I like you a lot, Rosie. I've liked you since I first took you home and asked you that first getting to know you question. Every question and answer from that day just made me like you even more, and I do want to be in a relationship with you. I don't care if you're my employee or not, I want to be with you." I closed my eyes as the next part came out of my mouth, "But... I can't. Not right now. It's just that-"

"There's no need to explain." She said with a soft smile. She moved closer and held my face between her hands, "I can tell that Tilisia is going through something right now and you need to focus on being her father rather than being someone's boyfriend. And that's okay. I knew what you were before I was interested in you."

I laid my forehead against hers and laughed softly, "Could you be anymore perfect?" I whispered.

Without a moment to spare, I moved my lips to press against hers. Her response was immediate, and she wrapped her arms around my neck as my hands found their place on her waist.

We stayed in each other's embrace for a few more moments before pulling away just enough so that our bodies were still close.

Her eyes were shining as she grinned at me, "I'm going to take that as a promise."