“Where do you want to sit?” Brad asked while I scouted a good place to sit down and chat. The bar was pretty quiet except for the different games on the TV. I pointed to two empty stools at the bar, which had a TV right above it with our favorite basketball team playing.

“What will you be having today, boys,” the bartender asked while she dried off a beer glass.

“I’ll have a Blue Moon and my friend will have a whisky on the rocks.”

“Damn. You still remember my drink,” Brad gave me an exhausted smile.

I nodded, “Yeah, its kind of hard to forget since you had a whisky on the rocks every time you were stressed out from finals or midterms or whichever girl you were dating.”

I looked over at the bartender who was filling my beer all the way to rim, she then turned around to get the whisky. She handed us our drinks and went off to her next customers. Brad immediately grabbed his drink and inhaled it as if he hadn't drunk anything in days.

“Whoa there, are you okay?”

“No,” he slammed the glass on the table and looked at the bartender to signal he wanted another.

“Is this about your raise?”

“More like the lack of a raise,” he let out a disappointed grunt. “I’ve been working for this company for 13 years! Busting my ass, working overtime, pulling all-nighters so they can see how great I would be as a supervisor but nothing! They gave it to the new guy who has only been there for a fucking YEAR!” Brad’s voice was filled with rage.

The bartender brought over Brad’s drink, but before she could even place it on the table he grabbed it out of her hand and swallowed it whole.

“Two more,” he handed the bartender his empty glass.

“Damn. It’s going to be one of those nights. So, why don’t you just try looking for other jobs?”

He let out a faint laugh, “Trust me, I have. I’ve applied all over, but most of the places rejected me because I am too qualified. I can’t waste my whole life at this shit company if they don’t even respect me. It’s not worth it.”

The bartender came over and handed him two more drinks. She looked over at me then back at Brad. I knew she was trying to tell me he needed to slow down.

“Hey, you need to slow down on those Brad,” I patted his back. I know how it felt to be in a dead-end job, especially when you know you can do better.

“Yeah. I know,” he swirled his drink in his glass and watched the ice cubes spin.

The alcohol was already getting to him. He was in his tipsy stage right now.

“I am so happy you’re here. I don’t know what I would have done this week if I didn’t have you to talk to. Penny’s been studying nonstop, so it’s not like I can talk to her.”

God. I miss Penny.

She’s been studying all week, locked inside of her room. Every time I try to come in she pushed me out. I guess it’s not too bad, I got to spend more time with Brad and I’ve perfected my grilled cheese sandwich along the way.

I took a sip of my beer and tried to keep my excitement to myself. This time tomorrow I’ll be in Miami with Penny.

“Well, she does get her work ethic from you,” I chuckled.

“True, but sometimes I wish she had more fun. She always seems to be doing things to make me happy, like getting straight A’s and obeying the rules, but I don’t give a shit about that. Did you know we don't even fight? Well, we’ve had only one big fight. None of that teenage rebellion everyone warned me about.”

“Really? She doesn’t go out past curfew or get drunk or —”

“No, NEVER!” Brad chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice not worry about her, but I don't know how to react when she does something out of character. I let my emotions get the best of me and I just snap. I still want to treat her like my little girl, even though she isn't anymore.”

“I think she’ll always be your little girl, but you do need to ease up a little bit.”

“But it’s hard. I mean you agreed with me with the whole ‘I want to go on vacation alone with Kendall’ bullshit,” Brad laughed while he finished his third drink of the night.

“In my defense, no one told me he was a he. I thought your rules were crazy strict until I saw him.”

“Right! There’s just something about him I don’t like . . .”

“It’s because he’s the younger version of you,” I pointed out.

Brad picked up his next drink, looked into the ice cubes and then up at me. He let out a heavy sigh, “Shit. You’re right.”

“I mean if Penny trusts him, maybe you should too,” I chuckled to myself. I should probably listen to my own advice.

“Yeah, you’re right. These past few years have been tough on Kendall and I know that Penny was the only one to help him out,” Brad let out a faint sigh, “I’m just so afraid she’ll end up like me.”

Brad was officially drunk. I should know because whenever he had too much he starts to get really honest about everything.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t want her to end up like me. Working to the bone and people taking advantage of her, either at work or whatever. I want a better life for Penny.”

I wanted to ask him something, but I don’t want to offend him.

“What? There’s something on your mind. Your eyebrow is doing that thing,” he pointed at my face.

“It’s not my place to ask. It’s nothing.”

“Come on, you can ask me anything?”

“Are you afraid she’ll end up a single parent like —”

“Yes,” Brad interrupted me with a cold voice. “Don’t get me wrong I love Penny to death and I would never change her, but it would be so much easier if I had someone with me. If I had someone to help me with everything, maybe if I was older and if I was married.”

He took a sip of the melted ice in his glass.

“She’s so young. She has too much to live for. I don’t want her to throw it all away for any guy, especially not someone that doesn’t give a shit about her. I don't want her to end up like me.”

There was a silence between us as I thought of what he said. I started to feel the guilt rip my stomach apart. Maybe this vacation was a bad idea. But —

I took a deep breath and finished off my beer.

But I’m too selfish. I want Penny. I really do care about her, more than I’ve ever cared about anyone. I’m not just some guy that wants to fuck her, I want to help her and provide for her. I can help her get a better life like Brad wants her to.

“You know, she turns 19 in two months. I was 19 when she was born.”

“Damn. I forgot you were that young.”

“Yep, and that parasite of her mother didn’t even tell me about her until she was already four. I don’t even have any baby pictures of my sweet baby,” Brad spoke in a baby voice.

I started to chuckle.

Stage one: Honesty.

Stage two: Affection.

“Cedric,” he looked at me with a smile. “I love you, man. I’m sorry I never called you or tried to reach out to you after all these years. I should have done it sooner,” he grabbed my shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze.

I let out a hearty laugh.

I guess somethings never change. I heard Brad tell me he loves me more times than I’ve ever heard my father say it, and I only lived with Brad for two years. He’s like the caring older brother I’ve never had.

“It’s fine. You aren't the only one to blame, I could’ve called too. Love you too man.”

“You know I trust you with my life? Right?” his eyes narrowed down at me.

Stage three: Intimidation.

“What makes you say that?”

“Penny is my life, and if anything, bad happens to her. I will find you and I will think of something bad to do to you. Take care of her and DO NOT let any young man try anything funny.”

“Okay, calm down. You know she will be safe with me,” I reminded him whom he was talking to.

“Yeah, you’re right. You're as loyal as a puppy.”

I slowly looked at him and shook my head. “Really? A puppy. Not even a dog?”

“No. It’s your hair. It makes you look like a fucking Cocker Spaniel puppy.”

“Oh, come on. If I’m any dog I’m a German Shepard.”

“And I am a French Bulldog.”

We both started to laugh.

“Are we are talking about what kind of dogs we would be?”

I nodded.

Stage Four: Acceptance.

“I think I’m drunk.”

“You think?” I shook my head with a smile.

“Okay, I’m drunk,” he looked down at his empty glass.

“Let’s get you some food and water so we can enjoy the game.”

Brad nodded and picked up a menu from the empty seat next to us and started to look at what he wanted.

It was nice to spend time with him. He really was one of my closest friends at one point and hopefully we can get back there again. But . . . I probably should never bring up the fact that I’m fucking his daughter. But how would he ever find out?