In My Father's Shadow by Jl Paul

tour scheduled so Stacy and I figured
that’s as good a time as any. It’s going to be a simple ceremony –
that’s what we both want.” Nate’s smile warmed as he placed a hand
on his son’s shoulder. “And I’d like it if you’d be the best
man.”
    Cole’s eyes grew. “What about Jay?”
    Nate squeezed Cole’s shoulder. “Jay understands – he
was the best man for my first marriage, anyway. He thinks it should
be this way. And Stacy’s going to have her daughter Stephanie,
stand up with her.”
    Cole nodded. “Ah, the elusive daughter I’ve never
met.”
    “That’s because you’re always away at school and she
was with her dad over the summer.” Nate finished off his water and
crushed the bottle in his hands. “Stacy wants to transfer her to
Woodsedge Academy after the holidays.”
    Cole rolled his eyes and fell back into the sofa.
“Maybe Stephanie can hang out with Ally and take some of the heat
off my back.”
    Nate’s brows dipped as he studied his son. “You two
seemed a little off tonight. What’s going on?”
    Cole sighed and ran his hands through his hair, the
confusion starting the carousel in his brain. “I really don’t know
anymore.” He got up and crossed the room to study the memorabilia
on the walls. “Honestly.”
    “Did you two argue?” Nate prodded.
    Cole shrugged and bent his head over the water bottle
in his hands. “I have feelings for her, Dad, and it’s killing me,”
he whispered, breathing much easier now that all the weight was
lifting off his chest and shoulders. He’d admitted what was
bothering him – confided in someone. He turned to see his father’s
reaction
    But Nate was smiling. “Yeah, I sort of thought
so.”
    Cole gawked at his dad. “Really?”
    Nate moved before Cole and took his shoulders. “Yeah.
So what’s the story?”
    Cole dropped his head and took a deep breath. He
lifted his eyes and met his father’s gaze. “I kissed her over the
summer, before she left for camp, and it’s kind of gone downhill
from there,” he said. “It was an accident – I shouldn’t have done
it, but it happened, you know? We talked about what happened
earlier this year and I thought that would be the end of it.”
    “But it wasn’t,” Nate prodded.
    Cole shook his head. “She kissed me last weekend
after one of our shows. I let her but I stopped it before things
could go…you know…too far. She got very upset with me because I
told her we couldn’t be together. Now she’s hardly speaking to
me.”
    “Why?” Nate asked, utter confusion washing over his
face. “Why can’t you two be together?”
    Cole looked up at his dad in surprise. “You should
know why!”
    “Well I don’t.”
    Cole sighed. “She’s my best friend. You and her dad
are best friends. We’re still in school. The list goes on.”
    Nate smiled again. “Jay and Liz were the best of
friends before they got together and now look at them. I swear they
act like they did when they first started dating. And as far as Jay
and I are concerned, neither one of us would have a problem with
you two dating.” He sat down on the sofa, yanking Cole down beside
him. “Liz’s dad told her once that he didn’t believe love knew any
age.”
    “I didn’t say I loved her,” Cole quickly butted in –
leaning back and holding up his hands as if in surrender.
    Nate laughed. “I’m just saying.”
    Cole released a loud breath. “I’m terrible with
girlfriends. I forget their birthdays. I forget about stuff I’m
supposed to do with them. I get so wrapped up in the band that
nothing else matters.”
    Nate’s face turned solemn. “When’s Ally’s
birthday?”
    Cole wrinkled his brow. “February 27th.”
    “What’s her favorite color?”
    “Blue.”
    “When’s her next volleyball game?”
    “Thursday in our gym.” Cole regarded his father
curiously. “What’s your point?”
    “You never forget anything to do with her.” Nate sat
back with a smug grin on his face.
    Cole