Possessive Baby Daddy

“Klara, this can’t be serious.” Dad looks at Shaun. “Is this serious?”

“We have a contract, Aldo. We skipped a term sheet. Sign the contract, take the money, and be a rich man.”

“I’d be worth…” He sucks in a breath. “Why are you doing this?”

“I want the company,” I say, staring him in the eye. “And I’ll do anything to get it.”

He returns my gaze for a long moment before laughing. He throws back his head and cracks up, unable to control it. The laughter spills over and I glance at Shaun. He just shakes his head, annoyed.

Finally, my father calms down. “Want to know what the last contest was?” he asks.

“No,” I say.

“It was an eating challenge. You know, gross stuff? Except I was going to have these enormous fancy meals, two of them, one for each of you. More food than a single human could consume. You’d both eat as much as you can, then at the end, we’d weigh what’s left. Whoever ate the most, wins.”

“I hate eating challenges,” Shaun says. “They’re disgusting.”

“I know!” Dad cracks up again. “You would’ve lost for sure. My Klara here would’ve kicked your ass.”

“Are you going to sell to me, Dad?” I ask, my voice soft.

“Show me the contract.”

“First, we have one string.”

He groans. “Of course.”

“Dad, you have to leave LA. If you agree, Shaun will throw in another million as a signing bonus.”

He snorts. “Leave LA? Where the fuck would I go?”

“Your own private island? Who fucking cares, Aldo,” Shaun says. “You’ll be filthy rich. Live on a goddamn mega-yacht for all I care.”

Dad stares at me for a long moment. I can see some self-awareness, some sadness. I didn’t expect it, and for a second, he breaks my heart.

But I hold it together.

“Well?”

“You really want me gone?” he asks. “You want me out of here?”

“I do,” I say, and it hurts. It hurts so bad, but it’s right.

He’s a bastard. He’s been holding me back for years. I’ve been cleaning up his messes and succeeding despite him. Maybe moving somewhere else, getting away from this town will help him. It can’t hurt, at least. He can’t get worse than this, that’s for sure.

He nods once. “Give me the contract.”

Shaun slides it across the table along with a pen. Dad takes the pen, flips through, and signs at the end. He then goes through and initials each page without reading. When it’s done, he pushes it back.

“Congrats,” Dad says. “You got what you wanted.”

I want to cry. That’s what I really want to do. But I nod once and stand. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank that asshole. Did you know that he punched me the other day?”

I look at Shaun. “Really?”

He shrugs. “Are you surprised?”

“I guess not,” I say.

“I deserved it,” Dad admits. “But he’s the reason I’m selling. Because I know he’ll do what’s best for you in the end. And I’m a washed-up has-been, aren’t I?”

“Yes,” I say. “You are.”

He nods and sighs. “Anyway, at least I’ll be rich.” He stands, walks to his cupboard, and takes out some whiskey. He fills his coffee cup and doesn’t bother adding coffee. “Now leave me alone. I’m going to get drunk and celebrate my newfound wealth.”

Shaun stands and walks to me. He helps me up and takes my hand. “Come on,” he whispers.

“Dad,” I start, then stop myself. I take a deep breath. “Dad, you need to leave LA as soon as possible. You have thirty days.”

“Fine,” he grunts.

“And I just want you to know… if you get sober, come find me. I’d love to have you back in my life.”

“We’ll see about that.” Aldo Funk grins at me, and I know I’ll likely never see him again.

I follow Shaun from my father’s kitchen and out into the front yard. Once we’re away from the house, I turn to him and he takes me into his arms.

“It’s done,” he says.

“Why doesn’t it feel good then?”

“Because your father is a bastard and you’re finally moving on from him.” He sighs. “It’s a hard thing to do.”

I look up into his eyes. “I love you. You know that, right? I didn’t say it back.”

“I know you do.” He smiles, tilts his head. “You don’t need to say it. I’ll love you anyway.”

I kiss his lips and I know in that instant that I’ve made the right choice.

I’m going to have Truth Hurts. I’m going to own the franchise I helped create. I’m going to have a baby. And I’m going to be with this incredible, amazing man.

I’m losing my father, but I think I lost him a long time ago.

In Shaun’s arms, I realize I’m happy. Even if things aren’t perfect, I’m so happy. I can build something with him, we can build something together. We’ll make Truth Hurts into the reality TV production studio I’ve always dreamed it could be.