So something had to be said.
He pushed forward to sit on the edge of the couch.
He then rested his elbows to his knees and called Don’s attention from the TV, saying, “Listen, Don, I gotta admit something to you.”
Don looked to him, eyes wary, head tipped to the side in query.
“See, it’s come to my attention you’re not a big fan of where Hattie works, and you weren’t real nice to her recently in how you shared that, callin’ her a name.”
There was surprise.
Then Don’s face closed down.
Axl ignored both and kept going.
“Now, I get I’m very new on your scene, but I’m not on Hattie’s.” Another semi-lie. “And I hope you get where I’m comin’ from, and even feel relief she’s got a man in her life who would step up for her in this way. But it upset her and I’m not big on her bein’ upset. Now, this isn’t about comin’ between a father and his daughter. This is about me looking after my woman. So I really gotta ask you to adjust the way you communicate with her so you don’t do her any harm.”
“I’m not sure I know what you’re—”
“You called her a whore, Don.”
His face got red.
“She’s not a whore, Don,” Axl kept at him.
He shifted in his chair, and Axl knew the bluster would come before it came.
And it came.
“She’s a classically trained—”
“I know what she is. And what she’s not. And I feel I gotta repeat what she’s not is a whore.”
“Do you have children?” Don asked.
“No,” Axl answered.
“So, you don’t have kids. When you do, you’ll understand. You put effort into something. They put effort in it. And then—”
“This isn’t about her dancing. This isn’t about your hopes and dreams for her. This isn’t about her hopes and dreams for her. You called her a whore, Don. And not only is she not that, you calling her that upset her. And I can’t have that.”
“I was having a bad night,” Don said tightly. “I know my Hattie is no whore.”
“You’ll probably have more bad nights, though I hope you don’t. But if you do, gotta ask you to refrain from taking it out on Hattie that way. We clear?”
Don stared hard at him.
Axl didn’t know if it was about control or the new guy coming in and laying down the law or embarrassment or what it was. He was not a man like Don Yates. He’d never know.
But they went into staredown and it was a good thing.
Because Don had no choice but to take Axl in. Not only that he wasn’t backing down, but everything about him.
He knew he didn’t look like a guy you wanted to fuck with.
So if it ever came down to having to pick, would she choose a father who called her a whore, or a boyfriend like Axl who had her back?
Don knew the answer to that question and shared it with Axl when he said, “We’re clear.”
Axl quickly finished it.
“That was uncomfortable for the both of us. I just hope, when you have time to think on it, you’re pleased your girl has a guy who’s looking out for her.”
Don nodded stiltedly, turned away and sucked down a massive slug of beer.
Axl shifted again into the couch and threw back some of his own, just not that much.
It took a few beats, and the man didn’t look at him when he did it.
But he did it.
“I love her, you know.”
That was currently the fuck of it.
“I know.”
“I want the best for her.”
“I can imagine.”
Don tossed back more beer.
Axl sensed movement in the doorway to the kitchen so he looked that way and saw Hattie joining them again.
He could tell by the expression on her face that she read the room.
He shot her a smile.
It didn’t work, her worry remained.
“Pasta’s in, Dad,” she said. “Colander in the sink. Everything’s measured for you to make the cheese part. Oven timer is for the pigs. Microwave timer is for the pasta. By the time you’ve got the pasta together, the hot dogs should be done.”
“Thanks, honey,” Don muttered. “Now give your old man a buss, and you two go on with your night.”
She did that, bending to kiss his cheek.
Their good-bye was awkward, Don getting up to walk them to the door, make a show all was well, Hattie anxious because she knew it wasn’t.
Unfortunately, at the door she had to make it worse.
“I can’t come tomorrow night again, Dad. Axl and I have, uh … plans that we can’t—”
“That’s okay, darlin’. I’ll order some Chinese,” Don assured. “Don’t you worry about me. Just, uh, well … real glad you got other places to spend your nights.”
Right.
Like she was coming to him because she was lonely and wanted company.
Hattie didn’t call him on that.
She nodded, studying her dad closely, before she got up on her toes to kiss his cheek again, saying under her breath, “You check your sugars today?”