Page 19 of Protecting Addison
“Everything okay inside?” he asked with a furrow of his brow.
“It’s fine. Homework is done and everyone is watchingThe Magic School Bus. Everyone except for my daughter, who just came into the house looking happier than she has all day. What happened?”
As he worked on putting the tire back on her car, he asked, “Did you know one of the girls at school is named Chrysanthemum? Who names their kid that?”
Addison chuckled. “That’s what I thought the first time I heard it. Interesting names are all the rage. Apparently they were twelve years ago, as well.”
“Well, the flower bitch has been bullying Ellory. And getting her bitch followers to do the same. Flashing her boobs and making fun of Ellory for not having any yet. And worse, picking on her for things she can’t control. She and her posse are making farting noises as Ellory walks by them in the hall.”
“I don’t think you can call twelve-year-olds bitches,” Addison said.
“I can when that’s what they are,” MacGyver told her. He tightened the lug nuts, making sure they were snug and secure before standing to face Addison.
“I knew she was being bullied, but I have no idea how to help or what to do to stop it.”
“I’m not sure anythingcanstop it. Kids normally learn from their parents, and Chrysanthemum’s parents are obviously twatwaffles of the highest order. They’re probably stingy with tips, and the type who yell at clerks in stores and blame all their problems on others,” MacGyver said.
“Right. So why was Ellory smiling so huge when she came in?”
“Because her big bad stepdad and his Navy SEAL friends are going to come in and talk to her classmates next week for Career Day.”
Addison blinked. “You are?”
“Yup. And I’m going to have Ellory point out this Chrysanthemum bitch, and I’ll make sure she knows that if she continues to bully my daughter, she’s going to have to deal with seven pissed-off SEALs…and their girlfriends. Oh, maybe I can have Wolf and his crew join us. If there are a dozen of us glaring at her and making it clear we aren’t impressed by anything she says or does, while gushing over Ellory and her friends, maybe she’ll get a damn clue.”
Addison laughed.
“What? I’m not kidding.”
She stepped into his space, and MacGyver held out his grease-covered hands so as not to get her dirty. Addison put her hands on his shoulders and leaned into him. “I know you aren’t. And I can’t think of anything I would’ve liked more when I was Ellory’s age than to have you and your friends stand up for me and flex in front of my entire school.”
“I’m not going to flex…much,” MacGyver said.
Addison laughed again. “So you aren’t going to give a sample of the PT you and the others do? Burpees, sit-ups, pushups?”
MacGyver grinned. “Good idea. I do have a question though.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“What’s a DILF?”
Addison’s eyes widened, and she almost choked on a laugh. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. Ellory said everyone was going to be jealous that she had a DILF. I know a lot of military acronyms, but that one I’ve never heard of.”
“Right. Um, well…there’s no good way to say it, so I’ll just tell you straight up. It means ‘Dad I’d like to fuck’.”
MacGyver blinked. Then he smiled. Huge.
“I can’t believe you aren’t freaking out,” Addison said. “Why aren’t you freaking out? I thinkI’mfreaking out a little.”
“Dad,” he said reverently. “I mean, I know we entered this marriage thing as a business relationship, and I’m notreallyher dad, but?—”
“You’re more of a dad than she’s ever had. Even when her bio-father was around for the short time after she was born, he wasn’t ever much of a dad. In the month we’ve been married, you’ve more than earned that moniker.”
“What happened with her dad?”
Addison sighed. “I loved him. Thought he loved me. Thought that we would end up getting married after Ellory was born. But he pulled away, couldn’t be bothered with dirty diapers and crying. He left, and when I tried to find him, I couldn’t.”
