Page 35 of Controlled Burn

“My car won’t start. I’m at home, so I’m okay, but I was supposed to go to my book club tonight. I think the battery’s dead or something.”

He was quiet for long enough that I checked the call to make sure we were still connected, but then he spoke.

“I wish I could come and help, but I’m actually on a date. Could you call one of the members of the book club to come and get you?”

I could hear the regret in his voice and could tell how much he hated having to tell me he couldn’t come. He probably thought that I assumed he didn’t care. And honestly, a couple of years ago, that’s exactly what I would’ve thought. But we’d spent enough time since I’d moved to Vesper getting to know one another again, and I knew that wasn’t the case.

Not only that, but I knew my dad did a lot of things, but dating wasn’t one of them. If he’d found a woman that he liked enough to actually take her on a date, I wasn’t going to mess that up so I could go to book club with some friends.

“Yeah, that’s no problem. I can find somebody else to come pick me up. It’s no big deal.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, the relief in his voice evident. “I’m on shift tomorrow, but I’ll take a look at your car on Sunday and see if we can get it back on the road.”

“That’s a good idea. I appreciate it. Thanks.”

“No problem, son. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, and we can make a plan.”

I hung up the phone and thought about my options. I could get a ride-share over to Livy’s, I supposed. I was debating whether I wanted to spend the money or just skip this month when I got a text from Keith.

Keith: This is just a friendly reminder to take the books for next month’s book club with you when you go. *insert wink emoji* After all, you did say a good Daddy would remind you to do that. LOL.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. He wasn’t wrong. I did indeed say that was something a good Daddy would do.

Me: I appreciate the reminder, but it looks like I won’t be going to book club tonight after all.

Keith: Why’s that?

Me: My car won’t start. I tried to call my dad, but he was on a date or something. Can you believe it? My dad on a date!

There was a pause before he replied, and I sat there waiting.

Keith: There are a lot of things I can’t believe right now, boy. You sit tight, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. I guess I’d find out when he got here. I thought about going inside, but that felt like too much effort for some reason. So instead, I pulled up an app on my phone and proceeded to watch dog videos while I waited. I barely made it through three videos before his car rumbled in the parking lot and pulled in beside me. I got out and waited for him beside the car. He strode around his car and right up to where I stood. He stopped in front of me and stood there, glowering.

Well, screw that. I didn’t ask him to ride to my rescue, so if he didn’t want to be here, he could just go back home.

I put my hands on my hips and glowered right back. “If you were busy, or it’s a problem, you didn’t have to come.”

“What?” he asked.

“Well, it’s obvious you’re annoyed, so I assume you were busy. If that was the case, you didn’t have to come. As a matter of fact, I didn’t ask you to.”

“Exactly. And that’s the problem.”

“Excuse me?”

He sighed and shook his head. “I’m not mad at you, Caleb. If anything, I’m mad at myself. I know that you’re new to this whole Daddy/boy thing, so some things that, in my mind, should go without saying, don’t go without saying. And that’s my fault, not yours. So, to make it simple… here’s rule number two. I am always, always your first call. Is that clear?”

I nodded and let out a breath. “It’s clear. And you’re right. That probably should’ve gone without saying. I just didn’t want to bother you over something like my car not starting when I’m home and perfectly safe.”

“I understand, but it wouldn’t be bothering me. Now, is it too late for you to go to your book club?”

“No, I was leaving to get there early to help Livy set up.”

“Okay, let’s take a look and see what the problem is.”

He had me pop the hood. I don’t know why I even bothered to get out and go stand beside him. It’s not like I had any idea what I was looking for, but I did. He tinkered around underneath the hood for a few minutes, shaking a few cables and wiggling a few hoses. I had no idea what he was doing, but it was obvious he did.