Chapter 16 JOE\'S FATHER

KATRINA'S P O V

‘‘Joe, take it easy... Why are you eating your food so quickly?’’ I warned him as I continuing to eat, but I couldn't help but feel anxious because his father who was most likely on his way here to pick up his son.

As Joe chewed the last of his cheeseburger, he shook his head and said, ‘‘I can't. Dad is coming over, and once he sees me eating these kinds of food, he will surely scold and get mad at me…’’

He reached for his cup to take a drink, but his face contorted into a frown when he saw that it was empty.

‘‘What's going on?’’ I asked him when he looked at me again with those puppy eyes. ‘‘What?’’

‘‘Can I have another cup of coke?’’ he demanded, and when I just stared him, and didn’t move, he clasped his hands together, and batted his lashes at me. ‘‘Please, Miss Kat… Please…’’

I sighed. The cuteness of this young boy was too much for me to ignore. ‘‘Just stay here, okay? I’ll get you another one…’’

‘‘Thank you, Miss Kat!’’ He exclaimed with delight. ‘‘You really are the best!’’

I gave him a little shake of the head and grinned as I got up from my seat and ruffled his hair. ‘‘Stay here…’’ I reminded him again, and he nodded.

I took a step toward the counter and joined the line of people waiting there. After I had gotten Joe's cola, I walked back to the table, but I stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed a man sitting next to him, who was now occupying my spot.

I stood frozen, feeling my heart raced faster and faster. I could feel the blood pumping in my ears as I watched him talk to Joe with his back facing me. I could tell that he was being serious as he talked since Joe's face was scrunching up. My head seemingly felt dizzy again for a second and my hand holding the cup became sweaty.

I gulped down hard as I raked my eyes over the man who had broad shoulders, and sitting up straight. He was wearing a dark blue suit, and his aura which was authoritative and powerful didn’t seem to fit the atmosphere here in the fast food restaurant.

I approached them in a leisurely manner, and when I finally saw the man's face, my eyes widened. I tightened my hold on the cup, which caused a strange sound. As a result, he turned to face me, and I blushed so intensely when I saw recognition cross his eyes.

He remembers me!

He was the coldest and wealthiest widower in town, according to Tina, Mr. Travis Parker. I had no idea that he was also Joe’s father. Now I know why his voice over the phone sounded so familiar. It was him! I hesitated for a moment to get closer to them, but Joe waved at me, and I shook my head in protest. ‘‘Miss Kat!’’

‘‘Do you need a parade to walk you down here, Miss Katrina?’’ Travis asked in a calm, deep voice while looking at me intently, that feeling of being watched again by ferocious lion came back.

I quickly snapped myself out of my thoughts, and rushed down to where they sat. I stood beside Joe, and set his cola on top of the table with my hand slightly shaking.

‘‘Miss Kat, this is my daddy Travis. Daddy, she’s Miss Kat, my piano teacher…’’ Joe started introducing us, with a wide smile spread across his face.

‘‘Hi…’’ I greeted faintly, unable to recognize my own voice. I hoped he heard me, but the way he furrowed his brows, I guessed he didn’t.

‘‘Thank you for taking care of my son, Miss Katrina…’’ he said with the same tone, staring at me. “But next time, don’t let him eat in a place like this without my permission…’’

‘‘Dad, don’t get mad at Miss Kat, please… I was the one who told her that I want to eat here…’’ Joe whimpered and Travis glared at him, as if telling him to shut up.

‘‘Yes, Sir. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again…’’ I said, avoiding eye contact with him.

‘‘Good!’’ he rose up from his seat, and I was shocked at how tall he was—my eyes had just levelled up to his adam’s apple that looked so sexy as it bobbed up and down. ‘‘Let’s go. We’re taking you home…’’

‘‘Oh, no, no. It’s okay. I’ll just take a taxi to go home…’’

‘‘I insist...,’’ he muttered in a cold tone as he scooped Joe into his arms and carried him like he was nothing more than a piece of cotton, then started to walk towards the exit.

I had no choice but to follow them all the way to the parking lot. He opened the back passenger seat, and settled Joe in there, before he opened the door to the seat near the driver’s and motioned for me to hop in as well. I bit my lip as I climbed inside, watching him walk around the car and sat beside me, in the driver’s seat.

‘‘Address?’’ he demanded, and I gave him the address of my apartment.

He started the engine, and soon roared off, away from the fast food restaurant. I couldn’t help but study Travis’ side profile, and as I did so, I noticed how sharp his jaw was, like it was sculptured and made him look almost perfect, complementing his Greek nose.

My eyes wandered down to his lips, and I found myself absentmindedly licking my own. I thought I saw him smile, so I blinked a few times, convincing myself that I was just imagining things.

Oh my God, I hope he didn't see me examining him.

I turned away from him and focused my attention on the scene outside the window, but I found myself looking back at him as I recalled the night at the bar when I passed out, resulted him in bringing me to his room.

There was an awkward silence for about a second before I decided to break it.

‘‘Sir, I want to apologize for what happened that night at the bar. I was really upset at that time, and I'm sorry, I didn’t intend to cause trouble to other people, especially to you...'' I explained, and waited for his reply, but he gave me none, so I leaned back at my seat, flushing, and thought it would be better to remain silent.

After a minute of waiting, he finally spoke up. ‘‘It’s okay…’’

My lips curved up in a smile but I tried to hide it from him as I looked out the window, the uninterested view, became interesting for me.

The car came to a halt directly in front of the apartment, and as soon as it did, I clicked the seatbelt open, shifted in my seat, and turned to face Travis. ‘‘Thank you for driving me home. Joe…’’ I turned to face him at the back, but I noticed that he was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. ‘‘Joe, are you okay?’’

‘‘I think… I need to use the restroom…’’ Joe gave me an uneasy smile, and I responded with a soft laughter while motioning for him to follow me as I opened the door, but Travis’ voice just stopped me from moving out.

‘‘You have to keep it under control until we get back home...’’ I was stunned as I glanced at Travis in astonishment as he icily stated his opinion. Was he trying to get his son sick? After quickly adjusting the gear into drive, he waited for me to exit the vehicle with a frown on his face.

Joe looked down at his fiddling fingers on his lap, his eyelashes fluttered as if he was going to cry.

‘‘Joe can use the restroom inside...’’ I suggested, in the hopes that Travis would take my advice to heart. ‘‘You don't want him to make a mess in your car, right?’’

I waited for a few moments before I heard Travis let out a deep sigh. ‘‘Fine…’’

The look of pure relief that spread across the young boy's face warmed the cockles of my heart.

‘‘Appreciate it...'' I expressed my gratitude and was about to get out of the car to offer Joe some assistance when he returned the gear shifter to its neutral position and exited the vehicle. ‘‘It's okay, Sir, I can manage...’’

‘‘No, I'll do it...’’ he said, and I watched him lift Joe and then lead the way inside the house.

I wasn’t expecting this, I thought he would let me help his son, and he was just going to wait inside the car.

Pressing my lips against each other, I let them in and Travis followed me inside. Embarrassment washed over me as I watched his eyes roam my place.

‘‘Let’s go to my room, Joe. The bathroom is in there…’’ I reached for his hand for Travis to put him down, but to my surprise, he stepped back, before he walked towards the area where the rooms were located. ‘‘Which one?’’ he asked, keeping his gaze at Tina’s room to the right.

I bit my lip as I opened the door to my room and let them in while I held my breath. Travis marched past me, heading straight to my bathroom. Any attempt at protesting I did was completely ignored as he ventured in, leaving me to scramble after them.