Walk the Line (Kings of Chaos 5)

“Whitney,” I put the brake on my chair as she bends down and hugs me tight.

“It’s so good to see you, J,” she whispers.

B walks in behind her with a huge grin. “I’m going to take your mom shopping and let Whit settle in.” She winks, and I smile. She supports what I’m about to do one-hundred, percent. I’m putting my head on the chopping block, but it feels right, so I’m going ahead with it full steam.

“Come outside with me?”

“Yeah, let me put my bags in my room, and I’ll meet you out there.”

I nod as she heads toward the room we’d allowed her to decorate however

she wanted. We’d had her in mind when we first decided to house hunt. We wanted a place where she could have her own space, privacy. It was important to both of us that she felt at home. I was marrying her mother, but in a way, I was auditioning for a future father figure. They were a package deal, and I worked hard to build my relationship up with Whit. We have our own weekly conversation, Skype sessions, and things we like to do together when she’s home.

Outside, I run over the words in my head. I’ve looked death in the face, so many times it no longer phases me, and yet I’m terrified of the response of this nineteen-year-old. She emerges with a smile, and I take in the changes that have occurred since she’s been away. Her hair is cut in a short bob that frames her face, making her appear older and more mature. The sadness that clung to her like a second skin has lifted.

Her hazel eyes sparkle with mischief and joy. It’s a beautiful sight. She’s home for summer break this time, and I welcome having her.

“I’m glad your home.”

“It’s good to be home and off school from awhile. I can’t believe that first year I stayed on for the summer session. I must’ve been insane.”

I chuckle. “No, just in need of a break from California I think.”

“Yeah.” She sits down at the patio table across from me. “I think you’re right.”

She tilts her head back and closes her eyes, soaking up the sun like a cat.

“I’m sure you picked up that I wanted to talk to you alone.”

“I do. Are you going to ask me how I feel about you marrying my mother? Because honestly, I can’t even imagine you two not together at this point. I mean you’re both disgusting together. You can’t keep your eyes, hands, or focus off one another.”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing,” I say.

She laughs. “It’s not. It’s actually really cute. It makes me happy to see my mom like this. So happy and full of life.”

The thought of her as anything else pisses me off. I brush the anger aside. “So I’m getting the big thumbs up?”

“Yes. Which you knew you had already.”

She arches her brown in a move so much like her mother I can’t help but laugh.

“A guy likes to hear these things out loud.”

“Right,” she says drawing out the i.

“I’m marrying your mother tomorrow, but you know how I feel about family. The two of you are a package deal, and I’ll be honest, I been thinking of you as my kid for a while now.”

She blinks. “You have?”

I nod my head. “And I’m not sure where you stand on that.”

“Are you asking me if I see you as a Dad?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m asking if you could ever see me that way. If it’s a goal we could work toward, or something you’re just not interested in.”

She goes silent.

“It’s not a trick question. There’s no right or wrong answer, only an honest one. I’m not going to get upset about what you say.”