I'm sorry I'm not perfect
Eli's POV
I couldn't believe this. The man I hadn't seen in four years was sitting on my couch, staring at me. He got up and walked toward Clare and I. he smiled. I didn't have to make an effort not to.
"Eli!" he was happy. Why?
I nodded at him. His face fell for a moment, then instantly brightened again as the tall woman who had been sitting next to him came to face us. "Eli, this is my fiancé, Gina."
"Pleased to meet you." Gina smiled at me.
I reached back and pulled Clare forward to stand next to me. Her face was a deep scarlet color as I introduced her. "This is my girlfriend, Clare. Clare, this is my father."
I felt terrible willingly introducing her to a man I resented so much. She smiled and shook the hand my father was offering. She and Gina smiled at each other. "We were hoping you and Clare would enjoy our company this weekend."
It didn't sound like a question, though I wished it was. Every moment with my father was one more moment I wanted to dive off a cliff.
Clare caught the look in my eyes and pulled me aside. "Can I talk to you for a second, Eli?" She dragged me around the corner.
"Yes?"
"You can't blow your dad off." She stated.
"And why not?"
"Because, Eli, he's your father."
"Is that supposed to mean something important?"
"What did he do to make you so mad at him?" she asked, clearly exasperated.
"Well, I think I'll shorten the answer to this: he left my two brothers and me alone with my mom, who soon became a drunk who does everything half-ass, including holding a job." I told her bluntly.
Clare stared at me as if I'd slapped her. "I'm, I'm sorry, I didn't know." She looked so small, her cheeks red and her eyes full of remorse.
I sighed and pulled her into my arms. "I didn't say that so you would be sorry, Clare. I said it so you'd understand."
"I know." Her voice was muffled since she was pressing so hard against me.
She stepped back, her face still red. "You've got to get rid of that blush, or they'll think a lot more than a conversation happened between us." I said, smiling as I pressed my hands gently over her red cheeks.
"Your hands are a lot colder than they were a few minutes ago." She said, her smile coy.
I smiled and threw my arm around her shoulders as we went back to join Gina and my father.
"Sorry, we would love to spend the weekend with you." Clare said before I could open my mouth to tell my father to get lost.
"Wonderful!" Gina exclaimed, way too much enthusiasm.
Clare looked up at me, a proud smile on her face. I shot her a look and her smile widened. Great, I thought. A weekend with my dad. But with Clare at my side in this new mood, who knows what it'll turn out to be?
