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So, I paid our bill and pulled out his chair. I rested my hand on his lower back and guided him towards the exit, but when we were several feet away, Tatum stopped in his tracks. I could smell fear rolling off of him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, stepping in front of him to protect him from whatever had him spooked.
Instead of answering, Tatum sprinted out from behind me, down a long hallway. I stayed right on his heels, and followed him into the empty men’s room. He looked as if he’d seen a ghost; his face was pale and his eyes were watery.
“Tatum, what is it? What happened?” I took him into my arms, feeling him trembling against me.
“I saw my dad come in,” he answered quietly. “He was with a group of men he works with. I’m just…I’m not ready to see him. I’m sorry I ran; I didn’t want him to see me either.”
“It’s okay,” I soothed, rubbing circles over his back. “It’s just me and you. You don’t have to see him. You never have to be anywhere you feel unsafe. I’ve got you.”
His body sagged in relief against me. “Thank you, Daddy Bear.”
The door to the bathroom opened behind me, and when an unfamiliar voice asked, “Tatum?” my boy stiffened in my hold again. “What in hell are you doing? I taught you better than to be doing that shit in public.”
A small, shaky, “Daddy,” sounded against my chest, and I hugged my boy tighter, offering what comfort I could.
“For fuck’s sake,” Tatum’s father grumbled. “You’re too old to be calling me that. What’s wrong with you?”
I kissed Tatum’s head before turning around, keeping my boy tucked behind my back. I could see the family resemblance; his father was also lean and had a head full of curls, though he wore his slicked back with gel. And I’d never seen the scowl he wore on Tatum’s handsome face.
“He wasn’t talking to you,” I replied calmly, not wanting to frighten Tatum with another raised voice.
“You’ve got to be joking.” His scowl deepened. “This is disgusting.” He kept his eyes on me, though he addressed his son. “I knew you were too lazy and pathetic to support yourself, but I never thought you’d stoop so low as to become someone’s whore to get your bills paid.”
My restraint snapped, and I admittedly lost my shit. A low growl tore through me as I lunged at the man, pushing him against the wall, and pinning him there with a hand on his chest.
“Don’t you dare speak to him like that! The only pathetic one here is you. A father is supposed to love and nurture their child; you threw yours away. Tatum is sweet and kind - obviously nothing like you. You don’t deserve to be in his life. I give him what he needs. I am here for him now, and I always will be. If you ever try to hurt him, or even come near him, you’ll be dealing with me.”
Unfortunately, my threat didn’t sink into his thick skull. He only looked disgusted that I’d dared to speak to him. “Get your hands off me. You’ll be sorry for talking to me like that; I’m calling the cops.” Typical; he was taking no responsibility for his actions, and only blaming everyone else.
“That’s fine,” I shrugged. “Make sure to tell them about this, too.” I allowed only my head to shift. He cried out in terror as I bared my teeth and growled, spraying saliva in his face. I sniffed the air, catching a strong scent of ammonia. I looked down and saw a wet spot on the crotch of his trousers.
My skull shifted back and I laughed at the thought of him having to face his colleagues with piss in his pants, and a story they wouldn’t believe. That disbelief was why I didn’t fear exposing my identity. “Now, now, you’re much too old for that,” I scoffed.
Just as I turned back towards Tatum, the bathroom door flew open. Stone and Wren both burst in, wielding knives. They weren’t knives from the restaurant, meaning the men had had them hidden somewhere on themselves.
“I heard growling,” Stone explained. “Is everything okay?”
“No!” Tatum’s father yelled. “This man…he isn’t a man! You’ve got a knife, use it on him!”
“Oh, shut the fuck up,” Stone said with an eye roll.
“Are you okay?” Wren asked Tatum, who had plastered himself to my side. He nodded and Wren turned his attention to me as he pointed towards the dad. “Are you sure he doesn’t need a little…” He made a stabbing motion, and the ammonia smell intensified. Stone gave his scrappy mate an adoring grin.
“It’s okay, but thank you. I just need to get my mate home now.”
Stone nodded his understanding. “Just call if you need us.” I bowed my head in thanks and he opened the door for his mate. Before it shut behind them, I heard him tell Wren, “You look so fucking hot with that knife. Let’s blow off dessert and I’ll eat you instead.”
“Oh, hell yes.”
I gave one last look to Tatum’s father, finding him still gripping the wall, covered in piss, and looking like he was going to pass out. Good. He’d taken up enough of our time, and now my sweet boy needed all my attention.
“Come on, baby bear,” I told Tatum quietly.
I led him to the door, but just before we left, he turned towards his dad. “I know you don’t understand or approve of me, but I don’t care anymore. I’ve found someone who loves me exactly as I am, and he’s all I need. I don’t want hate in my life. Goodbye, Dad.”
With that, Tatum took my hand and we left the room. He made a beeline for the exit, and then to my truck. Sure his father wasn’t following us, I stopped by the passenger door and pulled him into a tight embrace. “I am so proud of you, Tatum.” He’d stood up for himself, and didn’t allow negativity to bring him down.
