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I shrugged. “Says not, but I’m sure she had boys staying over. Specifically, her new boyfriend and Sam’s lad, Liam.”
Marcus’ eyes bugged out. “Maddy and two boys?”
“Fuck off,” I snapped, punching him in the arm. “There were other girls there, too. My Maddy isn’t like that.”
“Well, you clearly think she is, otherwise you wouldn’t have a gob on you.”
“I don’t. I think maybe he’s a bad influence.” I didn’t. Not really, but it was better than thinking him staying over might have been her idea.
Marcus knew me too well. “No, you don’t. You told me that you liked him. Said he was a nice lad.”
Sighing heavily, I pulled out a bar stool and placed my mug on the bar. “He is. I’m just having a hard time accepting that she’s growing up. She told me he didn’t stay over, but I’m not sure I believe her. I want to but I don’t.”
Taking the stool next to me, he shrugged. “And? She’s seventeen.”
“Exactly, Marcus! I don’t doubt that she’s done stuff, but I just hope she’s been careful.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath. “Look, I’m excited for her and all the new things she’s going to start to experience,” I shuddered, “even falling in love for the first time, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry.”
“So trust herandhim.”
“I’ll have to because at thirty-seven, I’m not ready to be a grandad.” I felt the blood drain from my face. “I was fucking lucky that I had Miriam and as much as I would be there for her, I don’t want her to have to make sacrifices. She’s much brighter, more driven and would be giving up much more than I had to. Because let’s be honest Marcus, I gained a hell of a lot when she was born. More than I deserved.”
“I know mate,” he replied, squeezing my shoulder. “But times are different now old man and maybe she could have both; a child and a career.”
My eyes almost popped out of my head as I took a step back from him. “Doesn’t mean she should. Zak’s a great kid but it doesn’t mean I want him impregnating my seventeen year old daughter.”
Marcus laughed loudly. “You dick. You don’t know for sure they’re having sex, although.” He tilted his head to one side and screwed up one eye. “It’s probably a given.”
“Why don’t you fuck off.” I shook my head and groaned. “Thinking it and knowing it are two different things.”
“Listen, Will, if they’ve had sex then Maddy is sensible enough to take precautions. In fact, she’s got the implant.”
I blinked and leaned forward. “How the fuck do you know that?”
“Because you researched it for weeks and then asked me to cover an afternoon shift so you could take her to the doctors. Maddy had it because she had painful periods, and she wanted to have it rather than the pill because she thought she might forget to take it.”
“Christ, you took notice, didn’t you?”
“The point is, she’s already being safe, and if Zak is the sort of boy you seem to think he is, well I’m betting he treated her with respect. Whether they had sex or not.”
“I know, I know, I’m just being over protective. I get it.” I shook my head. “For fuck’s sake, I can’t believe I’m taking advice from you, Norford’s biggest Fuck Boy.”
He winked at me and clinked his mug with mine. “My pleasure.”
Deciding my daughter’s potential sex life was a subject I no longer wanted to discuss, I took a long drink of my tea. Whenthe bar door swung open, I was just finishing it off, enjoying the companiable silence that had fallen.
A tall, dark haired man, dressed in a navy blue suit and white open-necked shirt wandered in. He looked around, his chin had a confident jut, which reminded me of Maddy’s when she was trying to get her own way.
“Shit, I forgot to lock the door after the bread was delivered.” I groaned and put my mug down on the bar and turned to the visitor. “Can I help you?”
The man’s gaze whipped to me, and he smoothed a hand down his shirt. “I’m looking for William Newman.”
I sighed; sales reps were my worst nightmare. They knew I insisted on an appointment. I hadn’t seen him before, though, so I’d cut him some slack.
“That’s me, but if you want to try and sell me your beer or spirits then I operate on appointment only.”
Marcus stood up and grabbed both the mugs. “I’ll leave you to it.” He grinned because he hated sales reps as much as I did.
The man wandered over, and as he got closer, I felt like I knew him. Like I recognised him from somewhere. His eyes were familiar.
