“Are you going to stand here the entire time destroying my house?” My father comes up behind me and I turn to face.
“What do you mean?” I glance, and my eyes catches the hole i have pulled in the curtain.
“I mean are you going to just sit at the window watching and waiting?” So he knows.
“How did you find out?” I ask him. I don’t care that he knows. I just want to know how he knows.
“Just because I don't ask questions does not mean I don’t know. I know everything when it comes to my sons. You and your brothers are my legacy. My sons. My blood. My seeds. My job from the moment MJ was born was to always be five steps ahead. I vowed the day I married your mother and took her from her family, that I would take care of our family come what may and I have honored that promise. So, I have known from the moment it happened, my son. I just wanted you to tell me.” I am both stunned and impressed.
“I am sorry, Papi. I wanted to tell you but I also wanted to keep her to myself for as long as I could. Not to mention who her father is.”
“I take it you are facing resistance at school.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” He chuckles before placing his hand on the back of my neck.
“I don’t doubt it, son. I just want to be sure you know you can come to me.” Full of emotion right now, rocking between anxious and possessiveness, I hug him first.
“I know and I love you.” Wow. I don’t know when the last time I said that to him or my mother without them saying it to me first. He simply squeezes me and says nothing for a few minutes before he pulls back. I see his eyes are a bit wet and it knocks me on my ass. It hits just how closed off I have been for him to be so emotional about my declaration.
He stands there staring in my face, seeing me, searching for the little boy he thought he knew. “So I take it she is to come to you tonight? Are her parents not going to be here?”
“No. They are out of town this weekend.”
“So you are bringing her to meet us. She is going to be your wife.” I look up, his words catching me off guard and unsure how he is really feeling but I see approval.
“Si, Papi. She is going to be my wife.” God that feels good to say.
“Excellent. Does she know about her sister?” Shit. I forgot all about that.
“I don’t think so. She has never mentioned it.” He smiles and shakes his head.
“Then it will be a revelation for all of us, no?” Well fuck since he puts it like that. “I have one question, Alex. Are you showing her the different sides of you and the life she could have besides the part of us we all have?”
His question stops me in my tracks and I realize instantly he is right. I have to give her something else as well. Show her more than these walls and her own. I mean we went to the carnival, but that was it. “No papi. But I want to.” He nods, smiling.
“I suspected. Here.” he throws me the keys to the BMW.
“The family dinner is not until tomorrow. Take her out tonight, whether she shows up or not.” Point taken.
We talk for a few more minutes and then he walks away to find my mom. Thinking about what he said, it becomes clear I need to balance my focus and I know where to start.
Walking to MJ’s suite, I knock on the door, hoping they are here. “Come in,” he says from the other side. “Runt. What’s up?”
“Nothing ass. I wanted to ask Adriel for a favor.” My brother growls at me and pulls her from her sitting spot to his lap.
“What the fuck could you need from her?” I thought I had it bad.
“I want to take Imogen out to dinner somewhere fancy and I can guess she doesn’t have a dress for a night out. I was wondering if you had something she could wear?” She looks shocked and then confused.
“Out to dinner? Tonight?”
“Yes. She is going to be staying here this weekend. Your parents are out of town right now.” her mouth opens and closes before she and my brother exchange a look. She finally looks back at me and nods her head. "Yes, I have something she can wear. Does she know I have been here?”
“No. I didn’t think it was my place.” I still don’t.
“Thank you for that. I guess it is finally time, huh.” I simply shrug. “Here.” She hands me a black dress that is modest compared to what other girls wear but is definitely sexier than what my girl wears even though I suspect she would look sexy in a wooden crate. She also hands me shoes. Thanking her, I walk out and place it in my suite when I hear the doorbell ring.