Chapter eight: A NEW addition to the family.
" come on, your grandma can do better than that." Dad scolded holding both of my feet down as I rose from my laying position and threw two punches in the air.
I was breathless, I was thirsty, and if I heard the word crunches for the next twenty four hours, I will murder whoever said them, I swear
." Dad, grandma own a gym. She can do better than you." it was true. My grandparents were only twenty when they had my father so they weren't really that old. The both of them invested their money in a small gym at the time, now they have several ones all over the state. I know when I say grandma you will think of cookies and heart warming hugs but that wasn't the case with mine, though. Which made me love her all the same. She just scares the shit out of me, sometimes. And dad too, but he wouldn't be caught dead admitting it.
" Alright, smarty pants. Ten more to go. Come on." he said letting my legs go and I huffed in frustration. My eyes stung with exhaustion and every muscle in my body complained. I did the last ten, barely keeping my hand from punching his face accidentally then collapsed Into the floor.
" just.. So.. You know. "I told him between pants." this is.. child abuse. "
He smiled throwing a water bottle my way, it almost hit me in the face. " we're done for the day. I'm gonna do my own hundred then we can get out of here. Go take a shower, you stink. "
I opened my mouth to retort but then I found myself too tired to do that so I just closed it again and waved him away. Then unable to hold in my childish nature, I poked my tounge out at him. He laughed heading to the bunching bags at the far end of the boxing gym.
Sundays were our sweet breakfast days. Dad would go all out on pancakes, chocolate croissants, butter toasts with sugar and strawberry jam. He always thought of it as a bonding family day and he tried to sweet his way Into making me love spending it with him at home. It worked. It was the one day where I wouldn't have to think about school, drama or weither if dad's gonna bring over one of his bubble gums. It was our off day. Plus the food was heaven, and a Little more time with Dad never hurt. Quite the opposite, actually. I loved spending time with him. Too much calories you'd think? Well, I'm almost sure we burn them all with the three hours we spend in my grandparent's boxing gym.
I had originally planned to head over at Austin's to see how he was doing but the sight of nutella covered pancakes made it pretty hard not to reconsider. Plus, He had sent me a meme this morning about how people with dyed grey hair are probably the coolest so I figured he was fine.
I also got a text from Elias this morning. It was pretty simple.
Elias: went to the hospital. Thank you for last Night.
It was simple and thoughtful and that's exactly why I didn't actually text anything back. I should have asked how he was, if his jaw was broken, but I still wasn't used to not being hostile to him. Actually being worried about him. It weirded me out, I almost wished he would be an asshole again. That I can deal with.
I sighed, forcing him out of my thoughts and headed to the showers taking a quick one before making my way outside, and leaned on a parked car, waiting for dad. the gym from outside was massive. Three stories, floor to ceiling glass and it quite possibly had every fitness machine/tool out there. It looked more of a fancy spa than a gym from outside, but once inside, brutal and manly didn't even do it justice. It had boxing rings in the third floor where very muscly and captain america like men worked out. It is actually where my dad taught me self defense. I remember when he never let me out alone until I've probably learned how to defend myself which was a pain in the ass at the time but something I've learned to appreciate now.
A smile made its way in lips as I remembered the first time I ever managed to tackle dad on the ground, and I laughed at the look on his face at the time.
Someone walked out of the gym, and I pushed away from the car in the off chance that it's his. I hated the embarrassing 'you're leaning on my car' deal, thanks very much.
Yawning I started stretching my legs. Dad doesn't believe in driving a car to a gym, Says that it defeats the whole purpose of actually going to the gym to which I actually agree, so we jog to the gym and walk back home. It's a half an hour distance on foot which we wouldn't mind much. I can probably use that walk to ask him about the woman from yesterday. It had been resting at the back of my mind along with the many other thing that had been dumped over my shoulders all at once.
Ten minutes later dad excited the gym. He wore a sweatpants with a simple white shirt that showed his tattoos the one he got before I was born and the ones he assured me was a terrible mistake and that I should never try any body art (to which I of course convinced him to have a lip piercing) . They looked really Good on him, though. They complemented his tanned skin and made him even look younger. If I didn't know any better I would have guessed him to be in his mid twenties. His dark brown hair to which I had inherited was still wet. It was moment like these I was grateful I had inherited his looks. Same bale blue eyes and same hair color. Not the same sharp jaw and light stubble, though. Bet that would have been interesting.
He jogged half the way and slowed down when he reached me, " come on, kiddo. Let's head home."
The next five minutes were spent in comfortable silence both of us appreciating the September breeze. We always made it a point to go on walks at this time of the year, not too cold, not too hot. A farewell to the summer and the sweat and stickiness and yes I was a winter person.
Surprisingly Dad was the first one to speak. " so what's up with you and Elias?" he asked, his tone was not curious, nor was it parental or judgmental. It was a simple question that he seems to have already figured out but just wanted to make sure. Dad always had that aura around him, as if he knew everything and always just wanted to make sure. In my whole eighteen years of living with him, I can probably count the times I've managed to catch him by surprise on one hand. Which made it pretty hard to keep things away from him, not the I ever wanted to. Excluding sex and periods, I could really talk to dad about anything.
So I told him the truth. " I'm helping him with something." not the whole truth, though. It felt like more of Elias's story to tell than mine.
Dad nodded taking it in. " thought as much. Finally getting over that sentence he told you?"
I gasped, surprise he remembered that. Surprised he even knew that, because I never actually told him. "Dad! I got over it a hundred years ago!"
He didn't seem convinced, giving me his signature smirk. " why did you continuously complain about him, then?"
" Because, he's annoying and he's always getting on my cas-" dad gave me a pointed look "- alright fine, I'm still the teeniest, tiniest bit bitter about it. He still is an asshole though."
He smiles showing off his left dimple. " you'll get over it. He seemed like a Good kid. I'm glad you're branching out. "
I gave him a surprised look." branching out? What is that supposed to mean? "
He shrugged." take it however you want to. "
I took it the way he meant it. Dad liked Austin, he really did. When ever Austin is over, he spends time with my Dad as much as he spend with me. The both of them were close, but sometimes, Dad drops a hint or two about my friendship with Austin. He doesn't have to say it but I know he thinks I'm too dependent on our friendship, that it won't do me any harm to let him be for a while. Sometimes I think he only think that because he knows I love him. Which was the only reason I always decide to let his hints go.
Instead I almost always resort to changing the subject. " what happened with the software problem?" somehow my tone didn't come out accusing. Real achievement, right there.
He looked at me then, raising both eyebrows " what gives? You never ask about my job. "
I could have gone along with that, could have said that I do ask and pressed farther, but aside from the fact that I was not a 'beat around the push kind of person' my patience was running thin in here, the scene from yesterday kept flashing in the back of my mind and I was suddenly more bothered than I thought I was.
So I just blurted it out. "you should have just told me, you were going to the beach house." being sneaky and subtle was really not my thing.
He studied me for a while, His expression gave away nothing but a Little smile graced his face and he reached inside his bag and grabbed a water bottle.
" there was an actual software problem, but thank for the faith you have in me. " he raised the water bottle up causing most of the water to spell on the front of his shirt. He was going for offended, but the slight tilt of his lips gave him away.
I frowned. " so you finished early? "
" yes, I went home after, but you weren't there, someone else was. By the way, we seriously need to talk about you going to parties without at least informing me. " He started out serious and tense. It obviously made him uncomfortable. Cue the subject change. I squinted at him, noting how he had finished his water bottle in a remarkable time, and how his left hand was clinching and unclinching. He was pissed at something, and he obviously wasn't gonna share that part. When he noticed I was staring at his hand he stopped clenching it and my curiosity now was higher than a drug addict.
" uh-huh." I muttered, not even bothering to comment on the last part, and watched in amusement as he walked faster than before. His shoulder was tense and he was avoiding any eye contact. It was really amusing seeing him like that.
Finally, after 2 minutes staring him down he cracked. " Quit looking at me like that! "
I grinned in triumph. " Alright."
Translation: yeah, I am not dropping it.
" seriously, stop looking, it's unsettling. She was just one of my lady friends "
translation: she was the only one who got to me in a long while and it's unsettling.
" of course."
translation: sure, and I spend my time hanging out with the avengers, and my favorite is the hulk.
Man, am I good.
Dad went silent for the next three minutes then he suddenly sighed, slowing his pace down once again. " it was just a woman I spent time with . It was just not suppose to happen. Shouldn't have happened. Definitely won't happen again. " spent time with. pfft.
I took in what he said, surprised that he actually told me. Dad rarely talked to me about any of his 'conquests' which was completely understandable and completely fine by me. So to speak about it to me is a big deal. What he said struck me too. His face practically spelled 'forbidden love' and I was trying to figure out why it could possibly be that.
I gasped. " she's married?"
His reply was instant "Jesus, no!"
Immediately I relaxed, thankful it was not the case. I don't know if I would HAVE been able to tolerate that. " oh, is she your boss?"
" lil' one, I own the company." he stated as if talking to a Little child. For freak's sake I was getting impatient.
" is she young? is she my age? Is she younger?"
" for the love of god, just stop guessing." he Exclaimed looking like he wanted to throw up, and Thinking about what I just said, made me kind of sick too. " None of the above but it's nice to know I've raised a very disturbing child. I'm so proud. " Yeah, I took my sarcasm from him.
I smiled, " you dragged me out of the bed at five, dad. Could you be a Little more cooperative?"
He sighed running his hand threw his neat hair messing it all up," No, I'm never gonna see her again anyway."
I felt the finality in his voice, he truly did mean that. So I didn't press any further or point out that whenever someone said that, the exact opposite happens, and I didn't mention the nagging feeling that this won't be the last time I saw that stupidly beautiful woman.
The mere thought of sharing my dad with someone was so bizarre. He had always been just dad. No girl friend. No wife. No love interests at all. The word love itself was so rare to hear him say to his own daughter let alone a lover. I could probably count the times he had told me he loved me. He was more of an action speaks louder than the cheesy, sappy I love you's, and I could never judge since I turned out to be exactly the same.
I toyed with my lip piercing for a while, completely Lost in thought when suddenly I felt myself step on something. Which was followed by a weird sound that was a mix between a child screaming his head out and a person being tortured in the deepest bit of hell.
I didn't get to make sense of what was happening before Dad's hand wrapped around my arm and pushed me from where I was standing. Where a small kitten sat on the pavement Looking at me with wide scared eyes, Looking like it wanted to flee any moment but won't just turn her back on me where I can.. Step on it again?
" Jesus, Erielle. Watch where you're going! " Dad said leaning down to pick the tiny creature from the ground. It fit his palm perfectly and snuggled its head against his hand wanting him to pat her.. or him.
I frowned " it was on the middle of the road. What kind of stupid animal does that? "
Dad sent me a glare petting the furry little grey ball's head, and I swear the little furry beast looked at me with a smug expression. " You just stepped on the poor thing. A Little remorse on your part would be great. "
I glared at the piece of shit snuggling against Dad's palm like it had never seen a human before. " fine." then as a sign of truce I reached over to pat her head twice a little harder than necessary then pulled my hands back.
Dad looked amused." feeling guilty aren't we? "
Now he was just pushing it. I wan not amused. So I just left him and marched ahead already seeing our Neighborhood. My legs ached, my whole body ached and the idea of a bath couldn't have sounded more appealing at the moment.
I didn't notice dad catching up to me until we reached the front door and I waited for him to open it since I had forgotten my keys.
that's when I noticed he still had the cat in his hands.
I sighed, knowing where this was going. " please tell me you're joking."
He raise his eyebrows at me. " you don't seriously expect me to leave her in the street do you?"
I contemplated replying with a flat yes, but the look on his face flat out said that he's welling to argue his heart out, and quite frankly my tiredness outweighed my hatred for cats at the moment and I'm pretty sure if I stayed here and argued, I would have just passed out from sheer exhaustion and defeated the whole purpose . so I took the annoying high road for now. " Okay, fine. but I want to talk about it later. " I pointed a finger at him.
he smiled leaning in to give me a kiss on the cheek. " wouldn't expect anything less. Go to sleep, you look like you're gonna drop dead on me. " the smug father of a me knew that this was an argument he was going to win.
I nodded begrudgingly watching him as he finally opened the door and headed to the kitchen to see if we had anything to feed the cat. I closed the door behind me, watching with a smile as he coed at the little creature muttering stuff to it in a baby's voice.
Huh. guess I'm gonna have to share him far earlier than I thought.
I shook my head heading to the staircase. Only two steps up, dad called after me. " Hey, Eri? "
I turned around not feeling like going all the way to the kitchen and just popped my head so he'll be able to see me "yeah?"
" I was taking a walk yesterday in the back garden at the beach house and that letter just flew out of that old mail box you used to play with."
MY heart fell to my knees and my tiredness suddenly disappeared under a huge wave of adrenaline. I rushed down to the kitchen where he was kneeling in front of the little thing feeding it and I didn't wait a second before starting to fire my questions
" do you HAVE it? Did you read it? When did you find it?" I remember he was there when I left. The possibilty of someone sneaking in was pretty low, which made me all the more nervous about him seeing it. He'd probably put me in a mental hospital if he did
" Woah there, Sherlock. Calm down. Course I didn't read it. It's on my desk, I forgot to give it to you earlier."
I didn't wait for him to answer the third question, I ran up the stairs stumpling on the last few turns and all but barged in his office.
I stood by the door taking a breath and scanning his desk. It wasn't really hard to find. Dad was pretty organized, and beside the few papers stacked at one side of the desk the only other thing was the letter.
I walked to the desk and slowly picked it up, turning it in my hand to study it. It was different than the first one. No envelope. No printing. Just a paper folded Into four and had these word on the top.
To the 18 years old me,
Had to admit, the handwriting did seem like it was mine. A few years in between, give or take. I took a deep breath running my hands over those written words and frowned. The paper wasn't even. Like the person who wrote it digged the pencil too hard, it was a miracle the paper didn't have holes.
I sighed. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe the one really writing these letters is my future self. Or maybe I was just denying it all along because I was scared of going crazy, when I knew that something deep down in my guts told me that this was no prank.
But then why were the two different? Why bother with all the formality the first time when she'll rid of it intirely the second time? Why is my heart beating so hard at that letter when I had felt nothing but freaked out at the first?
I quickly made it out of dad's office and to my room jumping on the bed and wasting no time to unfold the single paper in my hand.
I was hit with the differences immediately. It wasn't long, like the last one, it was hasty and to the point, each word was written with pressure and I was sure if I turned it around I would feel every single letter. And as I read it, I noticed something.
There were several dried up blotches in many different spots on the paper causing some of the ink to smudge. It wasn't that much harder to read but it striked me odd.
Because Either my future me was setting in the rain when she wrote it, or she was crying while she did.