Free Baggage & Buttons by C. J. Fallowfield

you’d
dealt with her death and it took me by surprise that’s all, I didn’t say
anything. I just thought you’d have shared this with him.’
    ‘No, I told you I hadn’t,’ he said in a sharp tone as
he ran his hand through his hair. ‘He had enough to deal with, he didn’t need
me offloading on him as well.’
    ‘But Gabe, you were only eight and he’s your dad.’
    ‘So you share everything with your parents do you?’ he
snapped. I winced at the tone of his voice and saw his jaw had tensed and one
of his hands was curled up in a tight fist.
    ‘No, but I think you need to talk Gabe, you’ve bottled
it up for so many years.’
    ‘I’m not talking to him Mia, why are you bringing this
all up? It’s done and dusted.’
    ‘It’s not Gabe, you were so upset on Monday and if
your own dad thinks you’re fine … I just … I can’t bear it. The thought of you
hurting for so long and not having anyone to share it with … it’s awful.’
    ‘Mia,’ he sighed. I bit my lip and tucked my hair
behind my ear and felt my eyes filling up and willed myself not to cry. I
seemed to be upsetting him more by talking about it and I’d only wanted to make
him feel better. He quickly stepped to me and pulled me to him and stroked my
hair. ‘Don’t, please don’t get upset, I’m sorry I just snapped. I’m fine ok? I
usually deal with it, I just had a moment on Monday, because I feel so strongly
about you and I didn’t want to hold in how I felt anymore.’
    ‘I don’t think you’re fine Gabe, it affects you more
than you realise. I just want you to know that I’m here, if you need to talk to
anyone, anytime, I’m here. I’m really sorry I didn’t mean to upset you bringing
it up.’ I heard and felt him sigh as he planted a kiss on the top of my head
and I bit my lip to stop me saying any more. It was up to him to talk to me as
and when he was ready, after all I hadn’t shared much of my life or any of my issues
with him, it would be hypocritical to expect him to do the same, after all we’d
only actually been dating for a week, even though it felt like I’d known him
forever.
    ‘That means a lot baby, but I promise you I’m fine. It
was a long time ago. I’m more worried about you. I hope it wasn’t too much
meeting him tonight? I’m still worried I’ve fucked this up after last night and
to spring him on you like that, even though it wasn’t planned, I just …’ he
stopped talking and huffed out and tightened his grip on me, like he was scared
I was going to run again.
    ‘Gabe it’s fine. We’ve dealt with last night, you just
have to promise to talk to me in future if you’re worried about something and
yes, it was a shock meeting your dad so soon, but it wasn’t like you arranged
it and ambushed me.’ I pulled my head back to look up at him.
    ‘You’re really ok?’
    ‘Yes, I liked him. He’s an older, slightly scarier
version of you, but he was very nice to me, especially after the incident.’
    ‘Well you’ve made quite an impression on him,’ Gabe said
and finally smiled.
    ‘I’ll say, turning up on the doorstep like a burlesque
stripper.’
    ‘He really liked you Mia and he’s not an easy man to
please. You obviously have a way with Austin men. So would you like dessert, or
can I finally see the fabulously sexy outfit you put on to seduce me Mrs
Robinson?’
    ‘ Hey, ’ I protested. ‘I’m younger than you.’
    ‘Lift your arms up,’ he ordered as he smiled down at
me. I did as I was told and he grabbed the hem of the t-shirt and pulled it
over my head, letting out a moan as he saw my breasts wobble in their tight
casing. He planted a kiss on each one and I held my breath, gazing up at his
handsome face as he started undoing the knotted cords at my waist. He’d just
pulled my horny lever and ratcheted it up to full speed and I let out a sigh as
he crouched in front of me, pulled the sweats down and made me step out of
them.
    ‘Christ you look amazing. I love