The Best Present Dad Can Give Ch. 07

"It is the same for everything else I said. I understand that you might want to go to your father for guidance on certain things, but as your girlfriend I should be first sometimes."

I didn't say anything.

"And what is with your relationship with Cody? Why is he the only one who can make you smile sometimes? There are times when I would try so hard to cheer you up or make you smile and half the time it doesn't work. Cody can always make you smile. There would be times I would smile at you or tell you a joke and I'd get nothing from you. Two seconds later Cody would smile at you and your whole face would light up. What is with that?"

"My relationship with him is so complicated that I couldn't even begin to describe it to you. For this specific question, Cody's smile is so genuine that I can't help but smile back. When you try cheering me up, you have a goal to fulfill. When Cody smiles at me, there is no motive for it; he does it because that is what he is truly feeling when he sees me. Happiness. How could that not cheer me up?"

"I know that your relationship with Cody is complicated. Heck, everyone knows that he's got an obsessive love for you. He never tried hiding that. Even our teachers know he is head over heels for you."

"Yeah."

"Which brings me to my question that I have for you?"

That took me by surprise. "What question?"

"When we were together, did you ever fool around with Trey?"

I blushed. "What?!?"

"I am being serious. The way he looks at you sometimes is so...longingful. Is that a word? He really loves you and it shows. Now please answer the question."

I figured I owed her that much. "No, it isn't a word, and no, I didn't do anything with Trey until after you broke up with me."

She let her breath out. "That's good to hear. So you never fooled around with anyone while we were dating?"

I knew my whole face turned red. "I..."

"Oh my gosh, who was it? Cody?"

"No, I haven't done anything with Cody except a brief, closed-mouth kiss on the lips. And that was after we broke up."

"Who then?"

"Please don't make me tell you."

"I have a right to know! Tell me who it is right now! I swear I won't tell anyone if you come clean with me right now."

"My father..." I said in a voice that was barely audible, but audible enough to hear nonetheless.

I don't think she could have been anymore shocked. She didn't say anything for about five minutes and I wasn't sure what to think. After several minutes, she asked "How long?"

"Still happening. It started on my birthday."

"I see."

"Please say something, Rachel."

"I'm not sure what to say."

"I understand. Are you mad?"

"Not really. I would be if it was another girl but I don't have guy parts so you obviously can't get anything like that from me."

"So me being with Trey didn't bother you either?"

"No. I don't mind if you are bisexual...you are bisexual now, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a preference?"

I sighed. "Lately I've been with guys but I don't have any preference."

"I see. So if you walked into a party with the intention of hooking up, though I know you wouldn't do a one-night stand with a stranger," she added. "You wouldn't be looking for a specific gender?"

"No. If I were going to look for a sex partner, I wouldn't look for a specific gender. It really just depends on the person."

"Okay...I'm not mad at you, Nicolae. To be honest, hearing you say that you are involved with your father kind of weirded me out at first but now that I think about it, there isn't anything wrong with it."

"Thanks, Rachel. It's good to hear you say that."

"I realized that as long as you are with someone who makes you happy, that is all that matter. I know you love him, and he loves you, so how could that be wrong?"

I sighed with relief. "Again, thanks."

"You need to be with whoever makes you happy, Nick. If it takes several people, then there is nothing wrong with it as long as they know about it and are fine with it." She smiled and added, "You are going to be a great man that will have a great life. I know it."

"I'm not so sure...everything is happening so fast to me...it is a lot to take in. How do you know my life will be great. And that I will be a great man."

"Because you are a great man. Nicolae, even if you lost everyone who is in your life you will still be okay. Me, your father, the twins, Trey, even Rhett. You would be fine and do you know how I know?"

"How?"

"Because you have the gift of love. You could move to a city far away from everyone and everything you have even known and be completely alone but it wouldn't take you long to find new people. You have such a big heart, Nicolae, and it draws people to you. You will always love, and you will always be loved. You will never know what loneliness is. There are so many people in this world who never have love. Some just never find anyone to be their partner. Others just settle down into a relationship that has empty love. You will always have people who love you, and you will always have people to love. Love is your most defining characteristic. It is what draws so many people close to you. You've seen how everyone pays more attention to you than anyone else. That is why. They can see your heart."

What she said brought tears to my eyes. She wasn't the first person to say something like that to me, and hearing it from more than one person must mean that there was some truth behind it.

She leaned in and gave me a hug. Before pulling away from the embrace, she gave me a chaste kiss on the cheek. "You have so many people who love you and you love so many people. Unfortunately, that is why I can't be with you. I am a selfish woman who needs to come first in my man's life, and I can't have you loving other people more than me. I came to this decision when I noticed how strong your relationship with Trey was. It was stronger than our relationship ever was."

I didn't know what to say so I stayed quiet for a few minutes until I saw her get up. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes. Thank you for having this conversation with me. I feel that I have some closure now, as I am sure you have some now too. I know this kind of sounds cliché, but I truly hope we can remain friends."

I smiled at her and gave her one last hug. "We will always be friends."

"You have no idea how good it feels to hear you say that. Take care" and with that she turned on her heel and left my doorstep. I'm not sure how close we will remain, but I know without a doubt that what I said was true: we would always be friends.

To be continued...