“I suppose you are right. I don’t want to fuck it up.”
“Is he gone gone or back at your dad’s?”
“I would guess he’ll be at my dad’s eventually,” he said.
“Why don’t you go too? You can surely take the time off work. Spend as much time with him as you can.”
He grimaced and shook his head. “I don’t think that is a good idea.”
“Because you don’t want to see your dad?”
“I don’t think he wants to see me.”
I hated to think of him feeling unwanted and unloved. It hurt my heart a little. “I’m sorry. I hate to ask, but are you sure? Is there a chance he is over whatever beef you guys had?”
He sighed. “It wasn’t just one beef. It was me. He doesn’t like me.”
“I refuse to believe that. You are a very likeable guy.”
He smirked. “You met my brother. He’s likeable.”
I grinned. “He is pretty damn likeable. Is he single?”
He eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“I’m kidding. I was only teasing.”
“Not funny,” he mumbled under his breath.
“It is funny. You are the total package.”
That seemed to make him feel a little better. “Thanks.”
“I don’t want to be nosey, and feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but what happened? That was too forward. I shouldn’t have asked.”
I thought he was going to tell me to fuck off. He didn’t. “Kade is perfect.”
I wrinkled my nose. “He’s a nice guy and easy on the eyes, but perfect? That’s a stretch.”
“Okay, if you keep telling me how good looking my brother is, I’m going to feed you to the lions.”
My smile erupted over my face. I liked his little jealous side. I liked that he wanted me all to himself. “Speaking of, let’s go. They should be getting fed about now.”
We got up, both of us carrying our sodas in one hand while we held hands. “You really are worthy,” I told him.
“My dad doesn’t see it that way. Him and your dad would get along very well.”
That stung. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I rub people the wrong way.”
“You rub me in all the right ways,” I said.
“Be careful,” he warned. “I am still thinking about taking you back into the penguin palace. There were plenty of dark corners.”
“I’m thinking that could be a little cold. The chill might cause some performance issues.”
He slowly shook his head as his eyes raked over my body. “I could never have any issues when it comes to you. I don’t care how fucking cold it is. You make me hot. You would melt away all the cold.”
“You are dangerous,” I breathed.
“So I’ve been told.”
“For what it’s worth, my dad is kind of a dick to everyone. I don’t even think he realizes when he is doing it. He’s very abrasive. He’s never really been that way with me, but I have seen him do it to countless people, students as well.”
“His reputation at the school isn’t great,” he said.
“How so?”
“He’s known as a hard ass. Everyone dreads taking his class, but it’s a requirement to get almost any engineering degree. I don’t want to talk too much shit about your dad, but he’s hardcore. He fails more than he passes.”
It was hard to hear that about my father. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m sorry. I think I’ve had hero worship for so long, I wore blinders. I didn’t see or I chose to ignore the rude behavior and his condescending words to just about anyone he has ever encountered. Truthfully, I have apologized for his bad behavior for the majority of my life. I think I just stopped seeing it. If I don’t see it, I can’t be embarrassed by it.”
“My dad was a dick most of the time, but people expected it from him,” he said. “He was in uniform almost always. People saw the uniform and just gave him a free pass. I didn’t. I think that’s why he and I clashed. I didn’t think it was okay to treat people like shit.”
“It is not okay, but I think we have to acknowledge our fathers are a different breed. I don’t think either one of them is bad, but they are just a little harsher than most people. They don’t have those soft edges we see in TV dads.”
He rolled his eyes. “Not even close.”
“Why do you think you guys clash?” I was prying. I did that even when I told myself not to do it. “I’m so sorry.”