Playing Pretend: A Single Dad Secret Baby Romance

by Katy Kaylee

  Eric

  The office was quiet as I stared levelly at my commander, and he tapped his fingers on the desk just to try to get a rouse out of me; he knew I hated it. Seconds ticked by on pins and needles before McLaren gave up, and I exhaled sharply through flared nostrils when he rocked back in his chair. He was a man of few words, and relief slumped my shoulders as he stood up languidly.

  “I’ll let it slide this time, Eric, but don’t let it happen again.” McLaren’s silvering hair and fading eyes matched the wrinkles around his mouth as they deepened. “Are you going to hang around on base for the rest of the day? I know you’re picking up from the transport arriving this afternoon.”

  “Yes. I’m just waiting to grab Tony, at this point. I need to figure out what I’m going to do. This guy… he’s not going to just go away.” Grumbling more to myself than my commander, I grimaced as McLaren leaned on his desk to cross his arms. “It’s worse because he’s so seemingly normal. No one even noticed he was following Delainne through the store until afterwards. That makes him more dangerous.”

  “So it seems. Well- it’s a good thing Tony got blown up, then. You remember what it’s like coming back, and he’ll have your back.” Nodding as gratefulness warmed my chest, I saluted my commander before heading out of his office. Greg might’ve thought he was slick, trying to scare Delainne with the knowledge that he knew where she lived. He might’ve even thought she’d be so scared and alone that she’d just go back with him.

  But he was fucking wrong, and a disgusted laugh tightened my throat.

  “Daddy! When can I get my medal?” Maggie’s slight body slammed into my legs, and I picked her up with a grunt. What happened at the grocery store hadn’t seemed to phase her; she got a candy and a medal out of it, and that was exciting. Of course, I have to buy a fake one online and convince McLaren to award her with it.

  An issue for another day, surely.

  “I’ll let you know. How’s your leg, honey?” My daughter didn’t even answer me about her leg; instead, she just started complaining about a medal. Smiling as she crossed her arms over her chest indignantly, I glanced over at Delainne’s pensive, pale expression. Striding over, I grabbed her hand to lead her out of the office building, and she squeezed my fingers with every drop of strength she had.

  “I picked you up in a government vehicle, so if he got the plates, it shouldn’t be a problem.” My assurance only earned me a faint hum, and we piled onto the elevator before I wrapped my arm securely around Delainne’s waist. She was cold and sticky from sweat, and her shirt sported a dark column from her tears. “It’s okay, Delainne.”

  “It’s not okay, Eric. He knows where I live. He knows where…” Trailing off, Delainne pursed her lips tightly as her red-rimmed eyes flickered to Maggie. Alone in the elevator, I got a sharp sense of déjà vu when she closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “I should call my dad.”

  “Delainne, just give it a few days, okay? According to the guys at the store, you kicked him pretty damn hard. If that doesn’t burrow through his thick-ass skull, and you feel anything weird, you can call your dad. If you call him now, tell him what happened, and Greg shows up telling him something believable, it’ll just be a shit show.” As much as what I’d said was true, my reason for keeping Delainne’s father out of this was purely selfish. I didn’t want him marching down here and forcing her to go back with him, and I was entirely sure that she would. She grimaced, scrunching up her face, and she jerked her head in a nod before Maggie spoke up from my other side.

  “We didn’t buy anything for Tony’s dinner, though. How are we gunna have enough food for Delainne’s Dad?” Smiling absently at Maggie’s misunderstanding, I adjusted her on my hip as a shrill ping filled the elevator. Casting Delainne a hard glance, I pursed my lips hard, and she frowned before easing out of the suspended, metal box.

  “He’s not coming right now, honey. Just- if he does want to. So, how about we take a trip to go see the ships?” Setting my daughter down on her feet, I inhaled deeply to wash away the rottenness that clung to my innards. Maggie skipped off a few feet, her thick pony-tail too heavy to really sway, and I watched her through narrowed eyes. “Delainne, sweetheart- this is a good time for Greg to think he’s got balls. Tony is the best man I know, and he’s on medical leave… minimum activity. He’s getting paid a lot of money to sit on his ass and heal as best he can, as fast as he can.”

  “I lied to you, Eric.” Mumbling softly, Delainne tightened her arms around herself to sigh heavily. Under tightly knit brows, my gaze flickered to her, but I couldn’t leave Maggie for long. “I lied- Greg does scare me.”

  “You didn’t convince me in the first place.” Her lip twitched, and I pressed my lips to her temple with a sigh. “It’ll be okay. I promise. If this guy seriously thinks he can get to you, he’s wrong- very fucking wrong.”

  “I believe you. I do…” Observing Maggie as she skipped- stopped- skipped- stopped- I frowned as Delainne trailed off to sigh again. “I believe you.”

  We couldn’t make it anywhere near the docks before Maggie found something more interesting, but I couldn’t really care. My suggestion was only to lighten the mood, and it’d worked by the looks of things. Delainne felt safe with Navy personnel always in her line of sight, and she was smiling- even if it was for Maggie’s benefit.

  Maybe I should teach her some defensive moves. The thought came and went in a flash, and I shook my head and stuffed my hands into my pants pockets. Around us, military were just starting to trickle out for lunch. Bases were a town inside a town, and this one was no different. Down the sidewalk, Maggie and Delainne peered through the window of a very popular bakery, and content warmed my chest.

  It was blazing fucking hot, but it was a pleasant sensation none-the-less.

  “How about we go to the store after we pick up Tony, and he can decide what he wants to eat for dinner? I don’t think he’d like cake, Maggie.” Coming up on them as Delainne patted Maggie’s shoulder comfortingly. My daughter pouted to gave me huge, begging eyes, but I only shook my head to draw a scowl. Hoisting her up on my shoulders, I let out a laugh as I tried to find out where this attitude came from.

  “You know, you never had any junk food until Delainne came along, Mags. All of a sudden, it’s just two Oreos after dinner, or one of those tiny cupcakes for a snack instead of a normal snack.”

  “Daddy- one of my friends had a whole package of cookies, and he couldn’t go to school the next day because he was sick. I like healthy food, but I eat it all the time that I don’t like it sometimes.” The slight rambling earned Maggie a squeeze, and I glanced over at Delainne to smirk. She knew that I didn’t mind Maggie’s occasional garbage habit; if anything, I thought her self-imposed moderation was a good thing. “Besides- you always say ‘no’, and now- I can just ask Delainne, and she’ll say ‘yes’.”

  “I will not, you little squeaker.” Laughing at Maggie’s squeal, I held her fragile legs tightly as she wiggled to get away from Delainne’s prodding fingers. “I don’t make the rules, Maggie- it’s your dad’s decision.”

  “Uncle Martin says that the person that has his balls in a jar makes the rules.” Freezing mid-step as my daughter drew attention, I closed my eyes and held my breath as I silently cursed my brother viciously. Uncle Martin says- Uncle Martin says- Uncle fucking Martin says-

  Uncle Martin doesn’t even bother to see Maggie, but when the guilt gets to be too much, he lavishes her with attention. It’s not fucking healthy, and my daughter shouldn’t be exposed to a badmouthing, hypocritical, narcissistic piece of shit like Uncle fucking Martin.

  “Maggie, you know not to talk like that- especially around other people.” Setting my daughter on the pristine, crackles sidewalk, I knelt down as uncertainty brightened her narrowing eyes. “Uncle Martin isn’t a good man, and you shouldn’t repeat what he says.”

  “I’m sorry.” Maggie grumbled, ducking her head as shame stained her cheeks, but I didn’t try to comfort her. As hard as I
tried to explain to her that Martin wasn’t someone to idolize, she just didn’t understand.

  But she was six years old, and there was no fucking way that I was going to let her get away with saying balls. Pushing myself up, I held Maggie’s hand loosely and continued on my way down the sidewalk while she sulked. It took her a few minutes to get over the unfamiliar anxiety of getting scolded. Our of the corner of my eye, I could see the guilt raging across her face as she no doubt recalled all the times she’d said the phrase ‘Uncle Martin says’.

  “He wasn’t at the wedding, was he?” Nudging my shoulder gently, Delainne drew my attention before I shook my head, and she sucked on her lips in that way that I loved. “Is he your brother, or Sasha’s brother?”

  “He’s my little brother.” Checking my watch in a blatant effort to steer the conversation away, I inhaled sharply at how fast two hours had past. “Let’s head for the hanger. Tony’s transport should be arriving in 45 minutes- an hour, tops.”

  Eric

  Cracking open a beer, I passed the chilled bottle to Tony just to watch him scowl nastily at me. A shit-eating grin stretched my lips, and he leaned heavily on one of his crutches to snatch the glass and neck the contents.

  “Fuck you, man. I deserve triple-A rating hookers offering me beers with their cunts after what happened.” His low voice was more felt than heard, and my grin widened at the dangerous spark in his eyes. “You never told me you were dating someone. I was seriously worried your balls would shrivel up and fall off.”

  “We’re not dating.” Leaning on the counter above the dishwasher, I crossed my arms over my chest as Tony snorted roughly. “It’s difficult to explain. Her creep step-brother is after her, and I needed someone to go with me to Teagen’s wedding, so my mom would back off. I wasn’t planning on Maggie getting involved- that’s just a whole other disaster.”

  “Yeah, well, I got time.” Wobbling out of the kitchen, Tony grumbled and growled like a dog while he struggled to use his crutches and hold his beer simultaneously. Grimacing even as I followed, I reached to rub my neck and jaw roughly but made no move to help him. He’d probably bite my hand off- or take a pretty good chunk.

  “Delainne- she’s 19, never been in a relationship, went to an all girl’s private school- was a virgin when we met- the whole shebang.” Tony settled on the sofa gingerly, and I crossed my legs and rubbed my palms against my knees hard. Staring at the floor, I ignored the intensity of his laser focus on the right half of my face. The house was completely silent; for the first time in a long time, Maggie was taking a nap, and Delainne…

  Well, Delainne was having a nap, too- assisted by half a bottle of NyQuil.

  “She just found out her creepy step-brother had followed her here, and I came up with the brilliant idea to ask her to go to Teagen’s wedding for me if I took her virginity for her. It sounds fucked up- but she was totally on board because she thought that was one of the reasons her step-brother is after her. Then, I went home, and Maggie’s babysitter abandoned her overnight. I called the cops, got her arrested, but there wasn’t really anyone else I could think to ask. Maggie likes Delainne a lot- she never likes women, you know, but she took to Delainne fast. Anyway- Delainne’s step-brother knows where she’s living now, I guess, and shit like that.”

  “It’s a good thing I got blown up, then.” Grunting what might’ve been a laugh had I more energy, I glanced over at Tony as he stretched his leg out with a hiss. The thing had almost been torn to shreds- unrecoverable- but he got a new titanium femur and fibula and hadn’t lost his toes. The left side of his body was still held by slings and braces, and it’d taken him five weeks just to be stable enough to travel back home.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to shoot someone as bad as I want to shoot this guy, and I’ve never even met him. I mean- Delainne is the worst liar I’ve ever met, and with everything that happened at the store this morning…” Blowing out a hot breath as anger bubbled up like tar in my chest, I flopped my head back while my best friend just grunted again. “She says we’re not dating, but I don’t know what else she considers fucking, living together, and essentially being a live-in maid and babysitter. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this… we agreed to lie through a proposal at a wedding- not lie to Maggie.”

  “You should point it out to her that people who are unsure about being in a relationship will usually evacuate the premises, Eric.” The bland response wasn’t unexpected, and Tony took a deep swig of his beer before continuing. “If you proposed to her at Teagen’s wedding, then why bother figuring out if you’re dating, anyway? Just fuck her brains out and tell her it wasn’t an act. She’s young- I get that- but there’s no point in skirting the fucking issue, Eric.”

  “I’m not doing that, Tony.” The denial slid out of my mouth venomously, and Tony shot me a duh, I don’t believe you look that tightened my chest.

  “I’m taking Maggie out tomorrow, since I couldn’t get her a gift- and you’re gunna fuck her brains out and confess. I’ve known you for 25 fucking years, Eric. The minute that Maggie isn’t there to stop it, it’ll just come spewing out. That’s how you’ve always been.” Tony drained his beer, and I sat, silent, as he carefully sprawled across the end of the sofa. The U-shaped, leather piece of furniture was probably more comfortable than anything he’d had a in a while, but I shook the thought away.

  He had a point; Tony and I were best friends growing up, and we went to war together.

  “Whatever- don’t take my advice. I don’t care. Close the curtains before you go upstairs.” Sighing heavily, I pushed myself up on sluggish legs to shuffle towards the windows, and I couldn’t resist peeking outside. The sun was still high in the sky, and the day wasn’t even three-quarters the way over, yet. Peering down the street and either sidewalk, I pursed my lips tightly as I searched for anything out of the ordinary.

  For once, I wish I’d made a better effort to get to know my neighbors. Shutting the thick curtains with a jerk, I left Tony to sleep off the 14 hours in the air before heading for the stairs. Maggie’s bedroom door was cracked, emitting a faint glow, and I slipped into her room to find her absolutely knocked out. She hadn’t taken a nap in at least 2 years, and it only impounded the fact that today had been hard on her.

  Heading directly across the hall, to my bedroom, I gently, quietly shut the door behind me before unfastening the buttons on my shirt. On my bed, Delainne sprawled on top of the comforter, and I grabbed the throw blanket off my rocking chair. She was so deeply asleep that she snored lightly, and she didn’t move a single muscle when I covered her up. Conditioned air set a nice temperature, and I pulled off my shirt before climbing in bed next to her.

  Delainne didn’t move, her light snoring tugging at the corners of my mouth as I searched my bedside drawer for the tv remote. The television was on mute, but the picture was bright from how dark and depressing my house had become. Blinking hard, I glanced down at the woman by my side, and her pearly, soft skin glimmered from the flickering lights mounted on the opposite wall.

  She’d dyed her hair dark brown to bleach blonde; she hid her freckles with such perfection that it couldn’t have been something she’d just learned. More often than I cared to admit, it was hard to remember that she was only 19 years old. She looked it, especially right now, and I rested my hand on the flare of her hip and pursed my lips tightly. At some point, someone had taught her to use makeup to make her look older, to hide her physical flaws. At some point, someone had pointed out how mature she was, and how nice it was that she could handle herself at such a young age.

  But everyone had a breaking point, even if they didn’t know where it was.

  Delainne

  “-ainne… Delainne, sweetheart- wake up. You’ve been out for over 16 hours, Delainne.” My eyelids popped open at the soft call and gently shake, and I gasped as my brain kickstarted into action. Flying up to sit, I inhaled sharply as goosebumps pocked my arms and chest. My head throbbed dully, but it was easily ignored when I c
aught sight of Eric looming over me from the side of the bed. “I’m sorry- I wouldn’t have woken you up, but there’s some things we need to talk about. Tony just left with Maggie.”

  “I’m fine.” My voice scraped against the back of my throat, and I gulped down the cotton in my mouth. Strong, iron bands hooked around my back and under my knees, and Eric held me to his chest with a weak grunt. Holding my breath, my heart thundered as he wandered leisurely out of his bedroom, and strong rays of mid-morning sun illuminated the hallway.

  “Tell me about what happened with Greg, sweetheart.” Stiffening at the demand, my widening eyes flew to Eric to find his jaw ticking and his own pupils tight. “Tell me everything since the minute you met him.”

  Sauntering down the stairs as I gathered my thoughts, Eric was blessedly patient and considerate to the unfiltered disgust that roiled my stomach. Pursing my lips tightly, I twiddled my fingers in my lap as my mind went back to that fateful date.

  My father took me out to dinner- which in itself was odd- and it only got worse as the night went on. He introduced me to his girlfriend, and he tried and failed to explain that he still loved my mom. What he ended up saying was that my step-mother was just a stand-in, essentially, and it’d been kind of freaky at the time how okay with that she was.

  “Greg was late because his friends wanted to play video games, and he lost track of time. When he got to the restaurant, it was very obvious that he didn’t bother to shower, hadn’t combed his hair- hadn’t brushed his teeth or anything that day.” My skin crawled at the memories that beat against my eye sockets, and Eric sat me on the counter over the dishwasher quietly. “For me, it was disgusting… he ate his finger-food dinner with his actual fingers, and he talked after chewing but before swallowing. These things were just things that I thought were gross- that I still think are gross… Like- you’re supposed to eat chicken fingers with your fingers, but…”