19. Dom

"Hey Dom, don't forget you're coming to dinner tonight."

I stop walking when I hear my dad's voice. I turn slowly. Luckily, the club is mostly empty today. Otherwise, this would be even harder for me. I can admit I've been trying to avoid my father since all the shit with Thomas and King…

I've actually not come to face to face with him for a month. That's not easily done. Shit, I'm only stuck today because I've been dragging ass waiting until I could pick up Thea later. Breaker helped me clear my schedule today so I could spend it with her. She's skittish as a foal around me, but she hasn't run either. It may be only twenty-four hours, but I'm still taking it as a win.

"I can't tonight, Dad. Got plans."

"That seems to be your answer whenever your mother invites you over lately," he says, his hard gaze boring into me.

"I'm a busy man."

"Funny, Raze said Breaker had Rebel fill in for you today."

"Is there a reason you are asking Raze anything about me?" I ask, unable to keep the anger out of my voice. Leave it to Raze to try and piss off my old man. That motherfucker still has a beat-down coming his way, brother or not. What he did to Thea may have worked out for me, but she deserved better, and I was respecting how he felt about her up to that point, because I thought he'd do right by her. Asshole.

"I went out to the garage to find you this morning before you left for the patrols. Imagine my surprise when you weren't there. Last I checked, I was the president of this fucking thing. There's a reason I make sure you're on the frontline with Breaker."

"I got shit I need to do. I cleared it with Breaker. I've been where I'm supposed to be for the club every other time. It's not like I ask for time off constantly," I counter, irritation thick in my voice. The problem is, Dad's. pissed, and he's not bothering to hide it either.

"You can drag your ass to dinner with your mother tonight."

"I already have plans and they can't be changed."

"If you're fucking around with Skull's?—"

"I wouldn't touch the bitch with a ten-foot pole."

"Good—"

"But if I wanted to, it wouldn't be any of your business. You're my Prez, you're my dad, but you don't have any say in where I stick my dick."

"Someone needs to. Maybe if I had sooner, you and your brother would still be talking."

"Thomas and I talk," I respond. It's the truth, but even I know there's a difference between sharing a text here or there and having a relationship. We'll get there, but yeah, I got a lot of shit to make up for.

Dad snorts, giving me a derisive look that pretty much tells me he knows I'm full of shit. I just stare back at him blankly, refusing to defend myself. I know I fucked up with Thomas. At least I'm trying to own up to it. In my book, my father fucked up more. I may not have complete proof, but there's enough smoke around King to announce a blazing forest fire. Other people might stick their head in the sand, but I refuse.

Dad rakes four of his fingers across the stubble on his jawline while his thumb massages against the underside of his chin.

"What are you doing?—"

Just as he starts to ask a question that I'm pretty sure I don't want to answer, my phone rings. I pick it up and answer it without even looking. I need something to concentrate on other than my old man.

"Yo," I answer as I click the button to accept the call.

"Dom? What's wrong?"

Thea's voice moves through me. The warmth in it takes over the coldness that I've felt since talking with my father.

"Gorgeous, I've said one word. Why would you automatically think something is wrong?"

"Cut the bullshit. Are you okay? Is Mattie or Raze giving you shit? I can?—"

"You worried I can't take care of myself, Thea?" I respond with a smirk on my lips and my laughter—though not verbal—evident in my words.

"I don't want them…upsetting you."

"It's fine. I told you to stop worrying. Breaker helped me get the day off. I was actually just heading over to pick you up at the college."

"You bringing your bike?" she murmurs, and I fucking love the way her voice goes soft.

"You want the SUV? I don't want your leg hurting, and it's kind of a long ride."

"I'd rather be on your bike. It won't bother me since you were so sweet and installed the rests for me."

I do laugh then. "Not sure I've been described as sweet before."

"I've been telling you that you've been hanging out with the wrong people for years," she giggles.

"Yeah, yeah. I will say I prefer sweet to being called a dick."

"Oh, you can still be a dick, too," she practically sing-songs.

"Good thing you're prepared for both sides of me, babe."

"Looking forward to uncovering more," she practically whispers.

"Now who is being sweet? I'll see you in a bit."

"You got it. Later, Dom."

"Later."

I click the phone off and stare at it in my hand for a minute until I hear my father clearing his throat.

"That our Thea?"

"Yeah," I respond.

"She's the reason you took the day off?"

"I have to get going," I respond instead of answering him.

"Bring her with you to dinner tonight," Dad says, studying my face.

"Not happening. She's had a rough couple of days, and I want her to relax, not deal with family bullshit."

"Thea is family. She's not going to get anything but love from us, you know that."

"Yeah, but she'll pick up on the tension with us and that's the last thing she needs."

"If you'd talk to me, maybe some of that tension would leave."

"Of the two of us, I'm thinking you should be the one talking."

"Hard to do when I have not one fucking idea what is going on in your head, son."

"Listen, I'm working through shit. I'll talk to you about it when I'm ready. In the meantime, maybe you should think about if you need to talk to me about anything."

"Dom, you got shit you want to know, man-up and ask. I'm not a fucking mind reader."

"I don't have time for this, right now. I'm still getting my head together. I'm not ready for this conversation, which is exactly why I've been trying to avoid you."

I see the surprise flash over my old man's face. Maybe he didn't think I'd admit to dodging him. I'm done hiding from shit. If I hadn't been trying to do that and spare Thomas, things would be different today. At the very fucking least, I would have discovered what a whore I had attached my dick to.

"You and Thea…"

"We aren't having this conversation."

"Son, Thea's not just any girl?—"

"Trust me, I know that. I know that down to the marrow in my bones. She's everything good. I don't know what she wants with me. I don't care if it's a brother, a friend, a shoulder to cry on, or a man by her side. I know I'm not good enough, but I know whatever it is I'm going to be that for her and that is all you need to hear from me. I'm not fucking around. I wouldn't do that because she is family, but more importantly, I wouldn't do that because it would hurt her. Now, if we're done, I have somewhere to be."

"Dinner next Friday. Bring Thea if she wants to come. No forced discussions unless you have shit to ask me. Your mother wants time with you. I'll even warn her not to grill you over Thea."

I want to tell him no. It's on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I grunt, give him a nod, and walk away. I'm not sure I'm ready to confront him.

Then again… I'm not sure I ever will be.