Four Letter Word (Love Logic #2) - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,120
in his eyes. He looks tired; has he always looked that way? “What exactly are you planning to do instead?”
I perk up, my heart beating faster again. I can hardly contain the joy inside myself just thinking about the shop and all the plans I have for it. “I’m going to open a comic book shop. One of my partners is going to invest in it. I already have a store front locked down.”
My dad sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I think you’re making a mistake. Most new businesses fail.”
I shrug. “At least I’ll have tried.”
He leans back in his large chair and studies me. I swear there’s a hint of pride in his eyes I’ve never seen before. My heart swells. I’ve spent so many years working my ass off to make him happy, but it turns out it feels a hell of a lot more powerful to have his respect.
“Partners?” he asks, that word seeming to dawn on him for the first time.
“I have three boyfriends; they’re great,” I explain easily. “I’d be happy to bring them all around for dinner sometime if you’d like.”
He’s quiet for several seconds before he straightens his tie and shifts in his seat. “I’m sure your mother would like that. She’ll hate knowing you were seeing someone...er...people without her knowing about it.” He winces, and I can tell he’s not comfortable with the subject, but he’s trying, and he gets points for that.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You’ve taught me how to run a business, and you’ve shown me what it means to have the convictions of your beliefs about something.”
He clears his throat, and I bite back a smile at his obvious attempt to control his emotions. “I’m sure all you’ve learned about financial planning will be an asset in running a new business.”
“I’m sure it will,” I agree, standing up and offering my hand. He stands as well, taking it in a firm handshake. “You didn’t fight me as hard on this as I always expected you would. It was a bit anti-climactic,” I admit.
“I’ve never heard that kind of passion in your voice before,” he says. “I know I’m a hard ass sometimes, and I can be a bit of a perfectionist, but I’m your father, and all I want is for you to have a good life.”
“I love you, Dad.”
He clears his throat one more time and nods. “Love you too, son,” he mumbles.
Leo
Leo: I’m here.
Hudson: Be right down.
I lean against my car, reading the message and then pocketing my phone. My stomach flutters and ties itself in knots as I wait for Hudson to come down for our date. Our first date. After all these years it feels like we’ve finally found our way to where we’re supposed to be. In high school, I always had a little crush on Hudson, but it was complicated so much by my jealousy of him.
“How’d it go?” I ask, pushing off the car as soon as he steps out of the building.
“Better than I expected,” he answers with a huge smile lighting up his face. Everything about him seems lighter and happier than it ever has before. “He was upset at first, but once I explained it, it seemed like he got it. Then I told him about all of you and our relationship, and he was cool with that, and fuck, I just feel like I could fly right about now.”
I don’t even think about it before pulling him toward me and pressing my lips to his. He gasps against my mouth before grabbing the front of my shirt and kissing me back. Does he still remember the first time we kissed a million years ago in his parent’s basement? Does he ever think about that night like I have over the years?
“That’s so great,” I say, resting my forehead against his for a few seconds before letting him go.
“I just can’t believe I didn’t do this years ago. I can’t help wondering how different my life would be if I’d have told him when I was sixteen that I didn’t want to go into finance,” he muses, shaking his head as he walks around my car to get in on the passenger’s side.
“I doubt he would’ve taken you seriously back then,” I point out.
“True. This was the right time to finally reclaim my life and forge my own path.”
I get into the car as well and pull out of the parking lot. “You