Trouble(84)
No, Dad, I’m not, but I’m trying my hardest to be. And with Mia by my side, I think I can do it.
He lets out a sigh. “So we’ve definitely got no other bookings?” He checks this again as if I’m going to suddenly magic some up.
“No … I’m sorry, Dad.”
“It’s not your fault. Business will pick up soon, I’m sure of it.”
Always the optimist, my dad, but I hope for both our sakes that business does pick up.
“How’s Dozer doing?” he asks. “His leg healing okay?”
“Yeah, it’s healing fine, but he’s bored shitless not being able to go out for a run, so Mia’s currently keeping him entertained.” I look out the window at them again. Mia’s laying on the grass with Dozer standing over her, pinning her while he licks her face. She’s laughing, trying to push him off. The sight of them has me smiling.
“Mia – as in our hotel guest Mia – is keeping your dog entertained?” Dad says, wiping the smile from my face.
Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. He’s going to know something is going on between Mia and me now, but then he would have as soon as he got back home. I’m serious about her, so telling him now isn’t going to hurt anything I guess.
“Yes, Mia as in our hotel guest—”
“Is there anything I need to know?” he cuts me off before I get a chance to tell him about Mia and me. The ‘dad’ tone in his voice irritates me, so the immature side of me decides to play it out to annoy him.
“Like what?” I say with a casualness to my voice
“Like are you having sex with this girl?”
Okay. Straight to the point.
“Yeah…” I exhale. “I’m sleeping with her … but before you start kicking off, I want you to know this is different. She’s different.”
He’s silent a moment. “You’ve never told me that a girl is different before. Should I take this as a good sign?”
“Yeah.” I smile. “You should.”
“So you really like this girl, huh?”
Like, is the understatement of the century, but I’m not about to tell my dad that I’ve fallen in love with Mia.
Yeah, you heard me. I fucking love her.
I’ve never had feelings for a girl before, but the first time I do, I’m falling in love, and hard. I guess this is what happens to us men who don’t love easily. We love quicker and harder.
Now, I just need to find the nerve to tell Mia that, after just a little over a week of knowing her, I’m crazy in love with her. I’m hoping that when I do, I won’t sending her running for the hills. She can be skittish at times.
“Yeah, I really like her, Dad,” I reply, running a hand through my hair. “I didn’t intend to start anything with Mia. I meant what I said to you that time on the phone … but we just got close.” I smile at the thought of how good it feels to be close to her.
“She came here looking for her mother, and after she helped me with Dozer when he had his accident, I said I would help her try to find her mom, and we just ended up spending more and more time together. I got to know her really well, and she’s pretty fuckin’ amazing, Dad.”
“Sounds like you got it bad, boy.” He chuckles. “I’m looking forward to meeting this girl who’s managed to turn my horndog sons’ head.”
“Ha! Nice, Dad, real nice.” I laugh. “You’ll like her though. She’s smart, and real beautiful. She reminds me a bit of mom – tiny, blonde, has the tendency to speak without thinking. Actually, that reminds me. I’ve being meaning to ask you, have you ever heard of a woman called Anna Monroe who lived round here?”
It’s a fairly biggish town that we live in, so chances are he might not have, but in his old line of work, he tended to know everyone.
I get no reply.
“Dad? You still there?”
“Yeah. I’m here.” He’s a little short, and his voice sounds different … gruff, strained.
“Did you hear what I said? I asked you if you’d heard of a woman called Anna Monroe.” I’m pushing now because I know there’s something there. He knows something about Mia’s mom.
“Jesus Christ…” He sighs. “Jordan, I need you to do something for me. Do you have a photo of Mia that you can send to my cell?”
A hand comes around my throat. “Why?”
“Just do it!” he snaps.
My dad never raises his voice at me – never. Not even when I screwed up with the gambling did he once raise his voice at me. It’s just the type of dad he is – a reasoner, not a yeller.