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All I know is that right now, I can’t tell my dad the truth. I need to let Asher finish out the season as he finds his footing with my dad.
My dad, the man who was always the most important man in my life.
My dad…the man who quietly sets down his full glass of eggnog and brandy and walks out of the room without another word as he processes the announcement I just dropped on him.
Chapter 49: Desiree Dixon
We’ll Know a Year From Now
I head out to my car and sit in the driver’s seat for a minute knowing full well it's too dangerous to make this call inside the house. While I know they respect me and my privacy, I also know they want answers that I'm not ready to give them yet.
I dial his number, and he's quick to answer.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” I blow out a breath.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Did you have a good Christmas?”
“I did. But I also kept thinking how different next year's Christmas will look. And I kept wishing you were with me today.”
“So did I, and I have to tell you something.” I pause and wait for him to ask me what before I continue. “My dad and I always share eggnog with brandy the night of Christmas. It's been a tradition since before my twenty-first birthday. Anyway, tonight when he pushed the glass over to me, I couldn't take it, and, well, my mom put two and two together.”
“You told them?” He sounds surprised, but there’s a hint of excitement there, as if he’s ready for the world to know we’re together—including my parents.
“I admitted to what but not to who. I couldn't blindside you like that, not when we agreed it's not the right time.”
He’s quiet, and then he says, “I gotta admit, Des, I think we should tell them. We're going to have to tell him eventually, so let's get it over with instead of having it hanging over us.”
“No.” My voice is firm. “I get it, Asher, and I would've loved to have spent today with you too. But it's just another month and a half until the season is over.”
“I guess,” he says quietly, and I get the sense he's holding something back.
He’ll say it when the time is right.
I hope.
He has practice and an away game, so our conversations over the next few days are brief. I can’t seem to find a house I want to buy, but I look at a few with my mom and her realtor.
The Aces lose to the Eagles in Philadelphia the next weekend, and I can’t help but think it’s because my dad is off his game. I know I can’t blame myself for a team effort, but the last game of the regular season is at home next weekend, and the Aces have already secured their spot in the playoffs, so Asher is taking it easy since he won’t have as much playing time to make sure he’s ready for the upcoming games that matter.
New Year’s Eve is on a Tuesday night, and since neither one of us is able to be with the other at home, Asher gets a hotel room for the two of us.
I don’t tell my parents where I’m going, but I do tell them I won’t be home until morning. They shoot each other a look that tells me they have an idea of who I might be meeting up with, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they sent someone after me to snoop and figure out who the father is.
My mom has asked me a couple times who he is, and I’ve remained silent—but it’s been hard.
Before our night together, he sends me a text.
Asher:First food that comes to mind when you read this text.
Me:Mac and cheese and pizza. Sorry, can't pick one.
He texts me where to meet him along with the digital room key and room number, and I head to the hotel with my overnight bag.
This is the first time I've ever been in Vegas and gotten to spend the night with him. We only had a few nights together at my apartment in San Diego, and I’m excited that I get the whole night without having to leave early to get home so my parents won't question where I was.
