“Your mom was five the first time I met her, so no.” He laughed. “We grew up together, so we were friends first.”
“What about when she was older?” I don’t know what I was trying to prove here, but I wasn’t going to let him out of this one.
“We were friends.” Dad swallowed and his face started to redden. He was thinking about something, but he wouldn’t tell me. “Kinda like you and Caleb used to be.”
Checkmate, Dad. He made his point. He knew I didn’t want to talk about Caleb. Growing up we were friends; it was almost like a brother/ sister relationship. I never saw him as more. “I’m not even sure we’re friends now.” I opened my door and climbed out. “The last time we talked, he acted like he couldn’t stand me, and then last week he acted like he didn’t know who I was.”
“Give it time. Things change.” He smiled before climbing out of the truck, and leaving me there. I stared out the windshield as he unlocked the front doors, and pushed them open. He turned, gave a come here motion, and then went inside. After climbing out, I followed. ooooooooo
It was quiet inside, and dark. “You wanna put your stuff in the back, and I’ll get the lights for us?” Dad motioned to the area where we used to work out. There was a heavy bag, and some mats stacked up. I always thought that he used that area because it was out of the way.
“Sure.” I shrugged as I ambled back to the spot I considered ours.
“You seem like you don’t want to be here.” He startled me when he approached from behind.
“I don’t at five in the morning.” I rolled my eyes as I slipped out of my flip flops, and tossed my bag against the wall. I dug out a pair of gloves and began strapping them on. “Can we work on form today? My hand is still sore.”
“It’s not broken. Don’t be a baby.” Dad knew exactly how to get to me.
“Hope you’re ready, old man,” I teased.
“Bring it.” He laughed as he held up a pad and braced his feet. I spun, and connected with the pad, causing him to step back slightly. “Nice. Have you been working without me?” He seemed impressed.
“Not really. I’m just kinda pissed off right now.” I shrugged as I switched it up and went for a one two punch.
“Come here.” He tossed the pad down, and grabbed head gear. “Put this on.”
“Why?” I never suited up before, and wasn’t really ready for what he had planned.
“You’re pissed. I’m gonna let you loose. I wanna see what you’ve got.” He slipped the helmet on my head, and then tossed me a mouth guard from my bag. “Stay away from my face. Your mom will kill me,” he mumbled as he slipped his own mouth guard in, and grabbed some gloves.
“I’m not gonna hit you, Dad.” I shook my head at the idea.
“Oh yes, you are.” He pointed to the sparring ring in the center of the gym. “Go!” I took a few deep breaths before I felt him behind me. “Get up there.” He pointed with a gloved hand.
“I’m not doing this.” I dropped my hands at my sides.
“Yep, you are. Your mom used to tell me the same thing. I’d let her whale on me, and she felt better after. I’m not going to let you hurt me. I’m not that crazy.” He laughed as he climbed through the ropes. “Now, come on, hit me!”
I stood there, staring at him. He placed his hands in the ready position, and bent his knees. I’d always seen my dad as this giant in the ring. He was untouchable in my eyes, but this morning he seemed different. He wasn’t this protector anymore, he seemed like my dad.
I advanced on him, and took a half-hearted swing. He blocked me, and rolled his eyes.
“That sucked. You want me to piss you off, Rils? You want me to tell you to think about Dean?” He bounced on his toes.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” I growled as the anger I’d been pushing down started to simmer below the surface.
“I don’t care. Picture Dean, right here.” He pointed at his face. “Now show me what you got.”
I took a few shuttered breaths before I launched myself at him. Arms swinging, I delivered a one two before sweeping my right leg out, trying to take him down. “Nice.” He chuckled. “I see we’re starting to remember how to fight. Too bad your old man was an expert on the floor. Try again, Princess.” He gave me a smug look before bouncing again. “Take a swing. I’m wide open.” He held his arms out to the side as I wound up and delivered a blow right to his chest. With an ‘ump’ he stepped back and rubbed where I’d connected. “Princess has some muscle now.”
“Don’t call me that,” I growled. “You know I don’t like it.”
“Why do you think I said it?” He laughed. “Come on, Rils. Hit me again.” I swung, and he blocked this time. I swung again, blocked again. We went round and round until I was exhausted. “Feel better?” He removed his gloves and tossed them to the side.
“I feel like I need a nap,” I grumbled.
“But do you feel like you worked the anger out?” He smiled and it was the Dad smile I’d been hoping for.
“I do. Thanks, Dad.” He opened his arms, and I fell into them. As he wrapped me in a hug, I felt that feeling I’d been missing before. He was the hero I’d always
