Page 103 of Guardian
“I love you too, kid.Whatever you want.”Then he turns back to finish what he started.
And I settle in to watch.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Ravi
One month later.
It’s Liam’s first time coming to the gym with me, and I can see now why he’s been going by himself.
“You’re overdoing it, Daddy.”
He gives me his usual pissed-off glare, but he ruins it by sticking his tongue out at me.
It’s fine.I’m not afraid of him anymore, anyway.
Liam’s gotten sillier lately.I’d like to think that’s because of me.Or maybe it’s because he finally stopped fighting against himself.
“Stop treating me like an old man.”
“Stop pushing the weight too high.”
The bullet graze in his leg and the stab wound are healed, but he still has some pain.Especially where he got stabbed.His doctor keeps telling him to take it easy, and he keeps swearing he is.I can tell you from the way he fucked me over the sofa last night that he definitely is not.
“Wait, how did this geezer even get in here?”Troy and Adam elbow each other.They’re supposed to be lifting weights, but it always seems more like this is some kind of social hour for them.They both work out for about thirty minutes, and then they sit around and talk.My mother would have said in a past life they were gossipy aunties.
Liam opens his mouth to answer, but then he sort of freezes in the middle of his rep on the leg press, grimacing in pain.Very manly, stoic pain, but clearly still pain.
As he eases the weight back down, I explain to the guys.“Liam’s company consults for campus security, so he has a pass to come in whenever he wants.He’s also allowed to get free food at the dining hall.All the watermelon sorbet we want on Tuesdays.”
Adam and Troy look dubious, but that stuff is delicious.
Then I reach over to the weight stack on the leg press and pull the pin out, dropping the amount Liam’s been pushing by twenty pounds.“Told you.Stop overdoing it,” I murmur into his ear.
“And I told you, if you keep giving me lip, you’re going to get a spanking.”
“Spanking.Really?”I bend down to pick up the water bottle sitting by my feet.On the way back up, I whisper in his ear, “Bring it on, Daddy.”
It’s fun when I can make his face turn red.
“Wait, how do you two get in here?”Liam asks Adam and Troy.“You’re not even students.”
“Oh, we get in anywhere,” Adam says.Troy responds with a fist bump.They do seem to be… I don’t know.Popular?I feel like everywhere we go they’re flirting with someone.
Mr.Monroe comes wandering in, setting up on a nearby treadmill.
“Hey, Mr.Monroe.Where’s PJ?”
“He’s with his foster brother, Evans, working on their new ice cream shop.I’m here to work out with my brother, though he seems to be running late today.And, Ravi, I told you?—”
“Nope.”I say unapologetically.“Maybe eventually I’ll get used to it, but you were still my teacher practically five minutes ago.”
Mr.Monroe smiles.“Okay, Ravi.I can respect that.”
Liam gets this look on his face.I’ve seen it plenty before.The kind of look where if people are unkind to me, then he’s going to hurt them, which is sweet, but… I mean, really?Mr.Monroe is the nicest guy.
So nice he probably wouldn’t ever even murder someone.Smiling, I give Liam’s hand a squeeze.I’ll stick with my killer daddy.
