The Guy on the Left (The Underdogs, #2)(45)

“We just want him to be able to experience the best of everything.”

“You’re a good dad, Troy.”

She smiles as Dante speaks up behind me. “Troy’s not my Daddy, duh.”

“Oh,” Harper says, giving me wide eyes.

Clarissa walks outside. “Apologize right now, young man.”

“Why? He’s not!”

“Because duh is rude, and I never want to hear it come out of your mouth again.”

“I was just bringing her sweater,” Dante mumbles, holding it out to Harper.

“Thank you,” she takes it as her eyes ping pong between Clarissa and me. “I’m sorry. I guess I just assumed he was your daddy.” She’s mortified.

“It’s okay,” I assure her.

“It’s fine,” Clarissa says softly. “Really, it’s okay.”

Harper mouths one last apology to Clarissa before getting into her SUV and driving away with a wave.

“She’s gonna teachme to dance to “Old Town Road,” and all the Fortnite dances too,” Dante proclaims proudly.

Clarissa gapes down at him “Is that why you love that song so much? Fortnite?”

Dante opens his mouth, and Clarissa gives him the stink eye. “Say duh one more time. One more time.”

“I wasn’t going to,” he huffs.

“Uh huh. Go finish your homework.”

“Fine. I try to be nice and bring her sweater, and I’m in trouble.”

“Don’t you backtalk me!”

“I’m not!”

“Don’t you raise your voice to me!” Clarissa says, doing the same.

“Just making sure you can hear me with your old ears!”

“That’s it,” Clarissa snaps. “No video games tonight.”

“Fine!” Dante shouts. “You’re old. You’re old. You’re old! You’re an old, old, Mommy!”

“That’s enough,” I snap at Dante, who looks over to me in shock. “Apologize to your mother. Get inside and finish your homework with no backtalk, or you’ll deal with me. Got it?”

Dante’s eyes are wide as saucers having never heard that tone from me. Clarissa allows it, watching Dante expectantly. Dante’s face falls as he climbs up the steps. “Sorry,” he mumbles.

“Don’t you dare slam that door,” I bark just as he gets ready to make his dramatic exit. Clarissa raises surprised eyes to mine, her mouth parting as I keep mine trained on Dante. “Put your snack plate in the sink. And your homework better be done in thirty minutes.”

“Okay,” Dante mumbles.

“Nope,” I correct.

“Yes, sir.”

“Better. Now go.”

Clarissa joins me at the foot of the steps as Dante heads to the kitchen. “Wow. Well done, neighbor.”

“That’s Dad,” I say, giving her a pointed look. “Not neighbor. Dad.”

“I know, but—”

“The longer we don’t tell him, the more the omission becomes a lie. And from what I’ve gathered, you’re not a fan of liars.”

“I know, Troy, I do.”

“Do you? Because you seem to be holding onto the one I told you like a lifeline, and that hasn’t done any one of us any good. I’m his father, he needs to know.”

“Just give it a little more time. Please. Just be patient, that’s all I’m asking. It’s only been a few months.”

“Three. Three months, and just so you know, you’re making liars out of us both,” I say before heading to my own front door.





Troy



Sitting on the couch, I check my phone for any text from Clarissa. Dante is having his first sleepover, and it’s not sitting well with me. I could sense his nervousness this morning when we talked about it over breakfast. He’s trying to be strong for his mother. He kept glancing her way, feigning excitement. I used to play strong for my own mother, so it was easy to see the truth. And the truth is he’s terrified. I would give anything to be a fly on the wall at that sleepover. Trying to push it out of my mind, I glance up as Theo appears in the entryway pulling on a sports coat. We’ve barely spoken to each other since he blew up, despite my apologies.

“Where are you going all dressed up?”

“Rehearsal dinner.”

I toss my football up in the air as he scours his appearance.

“Who’s getting married?”

“A friend of a friend. What’s it to you?”

I groan in frustration. “Jesus. How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?”

“You don’t,” he says, brushing his lapel, “I’m over it.”

“You serious?” He seems just as surprised as I am that the words left his mouth.

“I mean, I don’t want to hug it out with you, but yeah, I’m completely over her. I’ve got something much better going on.”

“That so?”

“It’s so. Just do me a favor and start vetting before you bring anyone else here. Not that I have any more exes. But let me make one thing clear, I don’t want yours, and I don’t want you ever taking a second look at mine.”