Tessa Teevan - Incinerate

The invitation to the Labor Day party that Megan gave me is in my kitchen somewhere, and I’m wondering if I should go. If I have Cohen and Charlie, I’m sure I could get through it. Who knows? Maybe this could be a path to reconciliation. I’ve spent years being angry, avoiding this, but part of me feels that its time. If I’m honest with myself, I miss my family. So if I have a chance of getting to know them again, how can I not take it?

They finally agree to disagree, and I take the moment to thank Wade for letting me take part in their tradition. He waves me off, taking a drink of his beer before watching the television.

“Don’t sweat it, Knox. In fact, I have a friend who will be joining us, too, so I’m glad you’re here.”

Charlie’s eyebrows lift up, and she leans forward, giving her dad the stare down.

“A friend, huh? Is she a doctor? Gorgeous hair, flawless skin, last name can be found on a tree?” She’s teasing him, and he nearly chokes on the sip of beer he just took. We haven’t talked about it, but I’m guessing this is new territory for him, and I feel bad for the guy.

Placing my hand on her thigh, I try to help him out. “Sweetheart,” is all I get out before Charlie’s silencing me. It’s too late though, and Wade’s narrowing his eyes as they zone in on my hand touching her.

“Sweetheart? I know it’s been a while, but I thought you told me you were just roommates. That nothing else was going on and you had no interest in my girl.” He’s challenging me, knowing I never said that last part.

Charlie’s looking back and forth between us like she’s confused about what he’s saying. Grabbing her hand, I bring it to my lips and plant a kiss on it as I look him right in the face.

“I never said I wasn’t interested, but at the time, I didn’t think anything would happen. Our relationship has progressed since then, and well, we’re together and I’m lucky as hell that she’s mine.”

Silently, he watches us for a few moments before a huge grin spreads across his face. “Well, you’re damn right about that,” he says before turning to her. “Guess you finally found a soldier with some balls. Nice going, Charlie.”

I’m not even sure I want to know what that means. I’m saved by the bell when the doorbell rings. Wade’s about to get out of his chair, but Charlie quickly jumps up. “I’ll get it, Dad,” she says before she scurries out of the room.

Shaking his head, he looks at me and lifts his beer in my direction. “She’s all yours now,” he says, and I grin as I raise my bottle. I have no problem toasting to that.

Charlie reenters the room with a shit-eating grin on her face. I’m about to ask her what’s going on when Dr. Branch comes into view. I almost lose it when I see what she’s wearing. She looks different out of her lab coat and dress clothes, but the fact that she’s in jeans and an Auburn jersey makes me want to kiss her.

Wade rises from his chair, but not before he lets out, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Charlie is failing at trying to contain her laughter as she rejoins me on the couch.

When Wade approaches Olivia and greets her with a kiss on the cheek, I have to fight the urge to take out my phone and snap a picture of these two in warring jerseys. Leading her to the loveseat, he takes a seat next to her.

“You never told me you were an Auburn fan,” he says accusingly.

Setting her chin, she glares at him. “The way that I see it, it only matters on one day of the year, so instead of getting you all in a huff, I decided to keep that little fact to myself.”

Holy shit. Go Dr. B! Wade shakes his head as Charlie and I try not to laugh. I kind of feel like a voyeur as I watch them, but when I see Wade grin as she leans back against him, I know things will be just fine—at least until the Iron Bowl. Watching Wade and Olivia in the same room as their rival teams play each other should be pretty interesting.

Surprisingly, I find that I’m enjoying being around Charlie and her dad. For the first time, I feel like a boyfriend and it doesn’t bother me. We spend the afternoon watching Alabama crush Virginia Tech, but the way Wade and Charlie are acting you’d think they were winning the National Championship. Once the game is over, we get up to leave when Dr. Branch—or well, Olivia as she told me to call her since I’m no longer her patient—invites us to go to dinner with them. Charlie looks at me, and I shrug, not caring either way.

Charlie answers for us. “Sure, Olivia. That sounds great.”

The two of them start discussing what type of food they want, and Wade gestures for me to follow him into the kitchen.

“If I know those two, they’ll be arguing over whether they want sushi or Italian,” he says, pulling two beers out of the fridge and handing me one. “We might as well enjoy ourselves while they’re sorting dinner plans out.”

“So you and Doc B? Is it serious?” I ask, even though I know I have no right. I’m trying to get the inside scoop for Charlie.

Looking me up and down, he counters with, “How about you and my girl? How serious is that?”

Check freaking mate. “We’re just starting out. We’ve been a couple for”—I pause to check my watch—“less than twenty-four hours now. So we’re not exactly serious, but I can assure you that I do care about her.”

Slapping me on the shoulder, he grins. “I’m not worried about that. I can see the way you look at her. Be good to her, Knox. She deserves it.” He finishes off his beer as his face turns serious. “But if you hurt her, I’ll kick your ass. I may be an old man, but I figure I can get in a swing or two before you could take me down.”

Before I can respond, the girls enter the kitchen, declaring that they’ve decided on Mexican. We go to leave, and although I know Wade wants to ride in Evelyn, Olivia coaxes him into her car. I make him a promise he can drive her another day.

Entering the restaurant, the four of us are led to a booth. Instead of sitting next to me, Charlie slides in next to her dad, leaving me to sit across from her for some reason. I’d much rather be sitting next to my girl, but I’ll deal for now. After we get our drinks and order, the table falls silent until Charlie speaks up.

“So, Olivia, how long have you and Dad been dating?” Damn, my girl goes straight for the jugular.

Olivia takes a sip of her margarita before responding. “Well, we’ve been friends for a couple of years, but it just recently developed into something more.” Wade grins at her, and Charlie looks back and forth between the two of them.

“I’m glad, Olivia. I love seeing Dad happy, even if you are wearing an Auburn jersey,” she says, smiling at her. She’s definitely her father’s daughter. I want to lean across the table and attack her mouth, but I settle for messing with her foot, wishing I could be close to her right now.

I start to slide my shoe up her leg when I suddenly feel a sharp pain on my shin, the result of someone kicking me. Holy shit. That fucking hurt. “Fuck,” I say before I can censor myself around her dad.

Wade grins at me, and I wonder what the hell he’s thinking. “Hey, Knox, I think you have a problem if you can’t tell the difference between my size 11s and Charlie’s much smaller feet. As much as I enjoy a little attention, I’d rather rub feet with someone other than my daughter’s boyfriend.”

Charlie snickers, and I shrug, feeling only slightly embarrassed. I was caught and I can get over it, even though my girl’s trying not to laugh at me. I like to pride myself in my masculinity, and I’d never knowingly play footsie with another fucking man. Sipping my beer, I brush it off, and the rest of the dinner goes off without a hitch as I make sure to keep my feet to myself.

When the check comes, Wade moves to pick it up off the table, but I swipe it out from under him at the last minute. Moving to grab my wallet, I watch as he scowls at me and sticks his hand out, waiting for me to hand it over.

“The bill, Knox,” he orders, and I grin, wondering how many times he’s used that tone with Charlie. Glancing over at her, I notice she’s watching our standoff with playful eyes.

“It’s cool, Wade. I got it.” I try not to smirk when I see him glare at me, and I know it’s really only a matter of time before I give in. Watching him get all riled up lets me know exactly where his daughter gets it from.

“I’m not letting my daughter’s boyfriend pay the bill. This is not a double date. That’d just be weird, so put your damn wallet away. This is me, a father, taking his daughter and her man, along with his woman, out for dinner. Give me the damn check.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, trying to keep a straight face as I pass him the bill, and he scowls again.

By the time we leave, I have to reaffirm my promise that he can drive Evelyn to get back into his good graces. For the first time, I actually care what a girl’s father thinks of me, and if I have to use Evelyn, then I’ll hand over the keys any time he asks. Okay, not any time, but for Charlie, I’d at least consider it.

Charlie

THE DAY spent with Dad and Olivia yesterday went really well, and I’m feeling happy that he and I are both in relationships with people we care about. From what I can tell Olivia is really into Dad, and he seems completely taken by her. He couldn’t stop watching her all throughout dinner, and I started to think Knox and I needed to get a different table. I’m happy for him, and I’m hoping this is the beginning of something good for him.

I know he had fun teasing Knox, but I could tell that he had a respect for him, especially when Knox gave him shit right back. When we got home, I tried to go to my own room, but Knox wouldn’t hear of it and I was too tired to argue with him. That and the thought of being in his bed were extremely appealing as opposed to the idea of sleeping in mine alone.