A/N: just a warning, if you have seen ‘ten years’ in the past few chapters referring to how long James was gone, mentally change that to ‘twelve’. I forgot I made Zach sixteen when the divorce occurred. Whoops.
*Zach POV*
“It was good to see you today James,” Brian said as he and the others walked towards the door. Everyone had been here to hang out with my dad for about five hours, and now it was seven and people decided to give me and my dad alone time. Even Kid was leaving, even though I wish she’d stay.
Although it was good to see my dad again, I didn’t really want to be alone with him for the fear of trying to talk to me about the divorce and remarriage and stuff. I mean, Kid is going to be his daughter-in-law; she should be obligated to stay. I tried begging her over text but she refused, telling me that I needed to have daddy time. So now I had all night with him and tomorrow until about noon, which is when he heads back to South Dakota since he can’t waste any time. He’s got a wedding to plan.
“Yeah, we haven’t seen you in a long time.” Jimmy commented as he leaned against the wall. I rolled my eyes, wanting to hit Jimmy.
“It was good seeing you boys, too.” My dad replied, each giving them a half hug. Kid stood behind me, and as the guys started leaving, she began following them.
“Kid, wait.” I called. She turned around and gave me a look, already knowing I was going to try to keep her here.
“Zach, Jimmy’s my ride home.” Kid complained, pointing towards my driveway, where Jimmy was waiting. I gave her a sad look and glanced at my dad.
“You barely got to talk to dad all day,” I whined, shifting my weight. She gave me a glare and I made my face sadder. “Didn’t your mom say he was coming down to see me and bond with you?”
“Yes, but you guys have twelve years to make up,” Kid retorted, putting her hands on her hips. “We only have a few days. It won’t kill James to wait a few months until the wedding to learn about me.”
“She’s right, Zach,” my dad spoke up, looking at me. I gave him a shocked look and he chuckled. “I’ve talked to her enough today. I want to catch up with you.”
“Kid if you don’t get out here in 32.7 seconds I’m leaving without you,” Jimmy yelled from outside. Kid laughed and smiled widely.
“That’s my cue. Goodbye James, it was nice meeting you,” Kid said, giving my dad a small hug. She came over to me and hugged me tightly. “Good luck,” with that she left my house, shutting the door after her. It was quiet for a few moments as me and my dad stood there, staying silent. After a minute my stomach rumbled and I looked down.
“I guess your stomach clock says it’s time for dinner,” my dad chuckled, breaking the silence. I laughed awkwardly and nodded, the tension in the room becoming thick. Or, at least to me it was. I walked into the kitchen and took out an oven pizza, too lazy to cook anything really special for my dad. But that was the good thing about my dad; he thought special was overrated.
“You still like pizza, right?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer. My dad loved pizza. He’d probably marry pizza if he could. Well, he would have.
“Now what kind of question is that?” My dad asked, making a shocked face. I laughed and stuck my tongue out at him before preheating the oven.
“A good one. Things can change within a span of twelve years,” I commented, taking out the pizza. I immediately regretted bringing up his disappearance of twelve years, because now he was probably going to talk to me about it. I heard him sigh and I turned around to look at him. He had a sullen look on his face and I licked my lips. “I didn’t mean to make it seem like I’m still upset.”
“I know.” My dad replied simply. I stared at him and he gave me a small smile. “You’re right though. Things change in time.”
“You haven’t answered my question yet, dad.” I chuckled, silently celebrating that I didn’t start a huge conversation. That is the one thing I want to stay away from tonight, although I had a feeling it was going to happen whether or not I wanted to.
“One thing that will never change, son, is my love for pizza.” My dad answered defiantly. I laughed and nodded as I pushed the pizza into the oven. “Another thing that will never change is my love for you, Zach.”
“I… I love you too, dad.” I said, trying not to stutter. Even though he’s told me he loved me over the phone, it had been twelve years since I’d heard him tell me he loved me in person. My dad noticed my cautiousness and he smiled a little.
“I know it’s kind of weird since I haven’t seen you for twelve years, and I’m sorry about that.” My dad apologized. I looked at him and shook my head.
“There’s no need to apologize. I’m the one that told you to leave and never come back.” I muttered, looking down at the floor.
I was sixteen when it happened. After my parents had dropped the ball that they were getting divorced, I went complete ape-shit. My mom left immediately, calling me an ungrateful brat for being selfish and told us she was going to live with her parents for a while. That completely shocked me, because my mom was always such a sweet woman and suddenly she became the devil’s spawn. My mom’s leaving infuriated me more, and I ended up taking it out on my dad. He tried to stay calm the whole time, but a few times he slipped up and yelled back at me. He tried to calm me down so he could explain why it was happening, and he tried apologizing and telling me he’d make it up to me somehow, but I wouldn’t have it. I told my dad that I never wanted to see him again and that I was going to live either on my own or with Matt, since his family loved me. My dad respected my wishes and told me that he was going out to the Midwest and if I wanted to see him again just to call him, but of course that didn’t happen. I caved pretty easily about not talking to him though, and called him before the year was up. Since then we’d call every few months, but neither of us mentioned him visiting until now.
“I understand why you did it, though,” My dad said quietly. I looked up at him and pursed my lips.
“Did you tell mom?” I asked, the question suddenly coming up. I haven’t even talked to my mom since she left, which I was okay with. My dad shook his head and I nodded in understanding.
“Have you gotten a hold of her ever?” My dad wondered. I shook my head.
“Haven’t seen her since she left. Thank God.” I replied. My dad laughed a little and leaned against my counter. The oven beeped, indicating that the pizza was done. I grabbed out oven mitts and took the pizza out and set it on my stove top. I let it cool for a few minutes before pulling out my pizza cutter and cutting it into six pieces. I took out two plates and grabbed my three pieces, leaving the other three for dad. He put them onto his plate and smiled at me. I smiled back and opened the fridge to get a drink. “Do you want a beer or Coke?”
“What kind of beer do you have?” My dad asked. I scoffed and widened my fridge door so he could see the extensive collection of every beer in my fridge.
“Please dad, what kind of beer don’t I have?” I retorted, laughing as his eyes widened at the sight of my fridge. He gave me a weird look and shook his head, laughing a little.
“If you weren’t twenty-eight and a rock star I would accuse you of being an alcoholic.” My dad laughed, punching me a little bit. I smiled and raised my eyebrows, looking back at my fridge. “Give me a Heinekens.”
“So if I was thirty and a rock star you’d say I was an alcoholic?” I questioned, handing him his beer. I grabbed myself a Coke, feeling a little beer’d out at the moment, and walked over to my couch. My dad followed me, letting out a small laugh at my choice of drink.
“No need to be a sarcastic shit, Zach.” My dad stated, shoving me a little. I smiled proudly and he shook his head before biting into his pizza. I turned the TV on and we ate in silence, watching Family Guy. Once we were done I took his plate on top of my own and brought them to the kitchen and put them in the sink before returning. I smiled at my dad and he returned it. “I have to say, you’re doing pretty well, Zach. I’m really proud of you.”
“Thank you dad. That was my goal.” I replied, smiling a little at the fact he told me he was proud at me. Wonder crossed his face and he stared at me, his eyes bright.
“It was?” My dad asked. I bit my lip and nodded.
“Even after everything, my goal was still to make you proud.” I admitted, looking down a little.
“I’ve always been proud of you, Zach.” My dad whispered, putting his arm around my shoulder. I looked at him and he gave me a small smile. I returned it and put my hands together.
“Thanks, dad.” I said. He nodded and smiled a little bit before it slowly disappeared and was replaced by a sad look.
“What do you think about me getting married? And please be honest.” Dad asked. I sighed; well fuck. I was silent for a few minutes, trying to find a way to word my thoughts. I considered lying, but my dad could read me like an open book.
“Honestly, I’m not really happy about it.” I finally said, not being able to look at my dad. “But Kid said we have to respect your decision because you guys are adults and you can do what you want, and as your kids we have to respect it, whether or not we’re okay with it.”
“Well Jessica is a smart girl,” My dad commented, rubbing my back. I looked up at him and nodded.
“I’m sorry I’m not happy about you getting remarried.” I began, licking my lips. “I know that Kid’s mom probably makes you very happy, and believe me when I say it’s not because I don’t want you to be happy. It’s just… it’s been twelve years and I’m still not even close to being over the divorce. I don’t want to ruin this for you, and I’m sorry I can’t quite accept it yet.”
“It’s fine, Zach, really.” My dad said quietly. I sighed and looked down, biting at my lip. “I completely understand. My relationship with your mom didn’t end well, so I can’t blame you for being upset by it. I know it will take time, and I’m not going to rush you. Thank you for letting me be happy, that makes me feel so much better.”
“I wouldn’t want to be the person that makes you unable to be happy.” I added. He nodded and it was quiet for a few minutes while it all sunk in. After a while my dad leaned back into my couch and followed after him. I looked at him and he smiled before giving me a questioning look.
“So how do you feel about you and Jessica being related now?” My dad asked. I smiled widely, liking the idea that Kid and I will be brother and sister.
“I love it.” I said, smiling at him. “The first time we talked alone together, she talked to me about her family, and I told her about mine. We vowed that day that we would be each other’s brother and sister and always be there for each other.”
“Well, how about that.” My dad laughed. I nodded and he raised an eyebrow. “Did you and Jessica ever have anything going on?”
“What do you mean?” I questioned, giving him a look.
“I mean, were you and Jessica ever together as more than sibling-like-friends?” My dad restated.
“No. We were not.” I said, trying not to get a little angry at the fact that my dad asked about it. I knew that Emma thought we were together, and I really just want to tell them all so they leave us alone.
“Well that’s good. It’d be awkward if you did.” My dad commented. I nodded and pursed my lips. My dad glanced at me and I raised an eyebrow. “What was with earlier today with not telling the guys about the marriage?”
“Kid and I decided we didn’t want to tell them just yet about the marriage.” I explained. My dad nodded in understanding before looking back at the TV. We watched TV for an hour before my dad shifted his weight, making me look at him.
“Would you happen to have a pool table here?”
“Yeah.” I said, smiling widely. He looked at me and gave me a devilish smile.
“Wanna see how you really play pool?” My dad asked.
“You’re on, old man.” I challenged, standing up and walking towards my basement, where my pool table was. It was good to have my dad back.