Page 43 of Who’s Your Daddy (Dadcoms #1)

Cal

I storm into Brian’s office, interrupting some phone conference, and nod toward Sully’s. “Partner’s meeting, now.”

I think Brian must sense my pending breakdown because he quickly gets off the phone and slides his chair back. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head not wanting to say anything until we’re behind closed doors. Only once we’re in Sully’s office and the door is shut do I speak freely. “Lola’s parents are here.”

Brian’s eyes dart from me to the door. “And you’re hiding because?”

“For fuck’s sake I was on with Langfield,” my brother mutters, glancing down at the phone he’s just hung up.

I press my hands into my knees and try to suck in a breath. I think I might actually be hyperventilating.

“Woah, what’s happening?” I hear Brian say. Though the words sound far away as this buzzing sounds loudly in my ears.

“Water,” I mumble, grasping at my throat.

“ Shit .” My brother jumps up and shoves a bottle in my face. I glance at it but finally grab it when I realize it’s a fresh one. My hands shake as I tip it back and guzzle it down .

“Shit what?” Brian asks. “Oh fuck, did you already do something to hurt her. I warned you.”

Sully chuckles and holds up a hand. “Back off man, this is not that.”

“Would someone please tell me what it is then?”

With my tongue in my cheek, I drop my head back and try to relax.

“He’s never met a girl’s parents before,” Sully says, sounding amused.

“Really?” Brian glances at me like this is unbelievable.

“I don’t date. I don’t—” I fling my arms out wildly. “Do this.”

“Okay.” The word comes out of Brian’s mouth slowly and completely full of judgment.

“It isn’t a girl,” I tell them both. “It’s Lola. She’s the girl and she invited my son and me to have dinner with her parents.”

Brian’s eyes widen. “Wait, really? That doesn’t seem like Lola. She—” He shakes his head realizing exactly what I did. “Holy shit, you’re the guy.”

I nod pathetically because yes, I’m the guy.

Somehow, some fucking way, I got this girl, the one who pushes everyone away, the one who pushed me away, to not only agree to be my girlfriend but to turn to me for comfort even when her parents are around.

To invite us to dinner. It’s not something to be taken lightly.

Sure, some people might do those things willy-nilly, but not Lola.

“So, what do I do?”

Sully shrugs, his hands falling to his pockets, as he leans against his desk and studies me. “What do you do about what? You go to dinner. You charm them just like you charm everyone. If anyone can do this, it’s you.”

Brian nods. “I gotta be honest, this does seem like your forte. I’m not sure what you’re worried about. Besides, her parents are easygoing. They’ve always liked you.”

I grind my teeth. That doesn’t seem good enough. I want everything to go perfectly .

Sully pushes off his desk and pats me on the back. “You’ve got this. Hey, even Sloane’s parents loved me. You’ve got this in the bag.”

“Too bad Sloane hates her parents. Lot of good that did you.”

Sully slumps back against his desk. “I’ve got no idea what will help anymore. She’s shut me out completely it seems.”

My swallow is heavy. I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all.

But I can only deal with one family disaster at a time.

And right now, my only focus is on making sure Lola has a good time tonight, making sure her family treats her well, and somehow keeping my cool as I do it.

I can figure out Sully’s problems later.

—

“I really appreciate you doing this,” Lola says to Murphy. We’re seated at dinner, waiting for her parents to arrive because, of course, they’re late.

Murphy shrugs. “Cal said I can order whatever I want and since you haven’t stopped talking about the steak in this place, I think I’m going with the big one.

” He nods toward the platter of steak in the glass case which is right by our table.

I made reservations at Berns since Lola and I never did make it back here in person, and because I figured she could use some gluten-free yeast as she likes to call it.

My girlfriend’s a weird one sometimes. Also, I think this place is appropriate to meet the parents—if they ever actually show up.

“Not even a big steak is worth what my parents put me through,” Lola mutters under her breath. Then she looks at Murphy trying to explain herself. “They just aren’t exactly like me. They’re kind of a lot.”

Murphy, the devil he is, smirks and God does he make me proud in the way he looks just like me in this moment. Then he points toward me. “Mine too.”

The loud, surprised laugh that comes out of Lola’s mouth is the sweetest sound.

As is this feeling in my chest over the way the two of them banter back and forth.

The way they both tease me. And the way he just referred to me as his parent again.

Sure, I’m still Cal, but we’re getting there. One day at a time.

Tonight, Lola’s hair is down. She’s been wearing it more and more like that and I just love it so much. Not because she needed to change, but she just seems happier now. And those damn freckles are dazzling me under the perfectly dim brightness provided by the lamp above us.

Fuck, I’m just obsessed with her.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry we’re late,” I hear her mother say from behind us.

I glance at Lola and mouth you’ve got this and wait for her to smile before I stand up. Then I turn and offer my most charming smile to her mother. “You are perfectly on time, June.”

Lola’s mother, who looks strikingly similar to Lola, but aged from both the sun and lots of laughter it would seem, beams the moment she sees me. “Cal, I didn’t know you’d be joining us.”

I reach out and greet both her and her husband—who’s about two heads shorter than me and currently wearing a leather jacket and the same dark jeans he had on earlier.

Lola comes around to greet her parents as well and then she motions for Murphy to join her. “And this is Cal’s son, Murphy.”

Murphy holds out his hand like he’s a little adult and I almost have to glance away because the pride in my chest is bursting.

He’s so damn impressive this son of mine.

I still don’t like that he even knows to act this way, that he’s so grown up at the ripe age of six, but I’ve come to realize that’s just who he is and I’m going to embrace it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says.

June nudges her husband’s arm as she takes Murphy’s hand. “You hear that, it’s a pleasure to meet us.” She looks at Lola and then turns to me, her smile growing. “Wait, are the two of you dating?”

I’m not sure what Lola will say so I allow her to handle this.

When she slips her arm around my waist and settles her head on my chest, I just about die on the spot.

“Yes. Why don’t we order dinner and you can tell us about the tour today,” Lola says, reaching for Murphy now.

He takes her hand and they return to their spots at the table.

Not a single one of us can take our eyes off them.

Her parents and I all seem enamored by that simple moment.

“You’re good for her,” June says out the side of her mouth as she continues to watch Lola.

I pull out June’s chair and wait for her to sit, then take the spot between Lola and her mother.

Murphy is next to Dezi. We’re like her little protectors, keeping Lola sane for the evening.

“She’s even wearing her hair down. She looks so relaxed.

” She shakes her head and sighs. “We never quite could get her to loosen up but it looks like you were just what she needed.”

Lola is going over the menu with Murphy so she doesn’t hear her mother’s comments but I feel it’s important to address them just the same. “She’s good for me. I think she’s what we all need. A little way to balance all our chaos, no?”

Dezi chuckles as he leans across his wife. “I wouldn’t know, we don’t balance one another at all, we just go where the wind blows us. But you may be right. You do also look happy. Keep our baby girl smiling and relaxed like that and we’ll all be a little more balanced, yeah?”

Lola huffs. “What are you guys talking about over there? Don’t go bartering me for a cow or something, Dad.”

Murphy giggles and I wink at her. “Certainly not, you’re definitely worth more than a cow, Lola. Perhaps a tiger and some fish.”

She rolls her eyes but she’s smiling. And fuck does she look pretty when she does that. Her parents aren’t wrong. I think I am good for Lola. I think the three of us, Murphy, Lola, and I, are good for one another.