Please read parts one and two, and come on back!
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The three of us stood in my living room, looking at one another. Thankfully, Jenny had done up the buttons on her dress, and there was really no evidence at all that we'd been fooling around. Her father went to give her a hug, but she moved aside and walked to the kitchen, giving me a worried look. I didn't know exactly what she was feeling, but I would be there if she needed me.
I stood in front of Jim, Jenny's biological father. "How's it going, Jim?" I said, in a not particularly friendly manner. I'd only met him a few times before, thought he was an idiot then, and he still looked like one.
He looked at me, then tried to step around me, but I wouldn't let him. I put my hand on his chest. "Woah, Johnny boy, easy there," he said, and I hated him even more than I had two minutes before.
"What do you want, Jim?" I said, locking eyes with him. He looked me in the eye as well, but I had a steely determination, and he stepped back, losing his nerve.
He looked past me, and through to the kitchen where Jenny was standing, watching us. "Hi honey," he called to her. I looked at her as well, to gauge her reaction, and she shook her head at me and went to sit down, out of sight. It had been something like seven or eight years since he'd shown his face and she clearly didn't want to know.
"OK, Jim. It's been great seeing you. Now it's time for you to go," I said.
"Who the hell do you..." he started to say, but I cut him off by putting my hand up in front of his stupid face. I wasn't a tough guy, but I was tall and athletic enough and I could take him, especially with a fire in my belly and a girl to protect.
"She doesn't seem too thrilled to see you, Jim," I suggested. "Maybe think about that for a little while."
"I don't think..." he started to say, and again, I stopped him.
"Clearly," I said. "When you have had a little time to consider your actions, give Jenny's mother a call."
Jim started to speak, but I stepped forward and he backed off towards the door, then left, cursing. I went outside, and watched him as he drove away, in some asshole sportscar. He gave me a death glare but I didn't care. It was obvious that Jenny didn't want him there, so I had done what I needed to do.
I went back inside the house, and Jenny ran to me, in tears. She hugged me, and I held her close to my chest, comforting her. It was the first time in a long time that I'd been an emotional support for her, because her entire identity now was all about strength, self-control and independence. I held her for as long as she wanted to be held, and let her pull away when she was ready.
"Are you OK?" I asked her softly.
"I don't know. All I know is that I suddenly felt very fearful, and needed to be away from him," she said, tearfully. "Thank you."
"Anything for you, Jenny," I replied.
"No, John, I mean it. You really came through there. I didn't ask you to help or protect me, but you somehow just knew. Thank you, thank you," she said sweetly and moved in to hug me again.
"You called me John," I said to her, as I continued to comfort her.
"I know," she answered, then paused, and pulled away from my hug. She gave me a genuine smile. "I only called you Daddy to flirt with you."
"And now?"
"I still like flirting with you, so we'll see," she said, gave me a sweet smile, and walked back to the kitchen, seemingly feeling better. I sat back down on the couch and turned on the TV, and tried to relax after that episode. I wasn't a confrontational person, so was a little surprised at myself for doing what I did, and I was now shaking a little.
"Want something to eat?" Jenny called from the kitchen. "I'll make us something."
"Great, thank you, Jenny," I replied. This was a rare occurrence, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. "Want help?"
"No, I've got it, you just relax," she replied sweetly and pottered around in the kitchen. I just sat back and watched a movie for a while. I must have dozed off a little, because I was woken up by Jenny calling. "Dinner's ready," she said, and I quickly jumped up, keen to see what she had made for us.
On the dining table, she had laid out everything: bowls of pasta with cream sauce and mushrooms, salad, bread and wine. I couldn't believe it. I was so thankful, and truly felt as if this was the first selfless thing I'd ever seen her do for me, at least since becoming this kind of evil sex queen. Or perhaps the first time in a while where I didn't wonder if I was being manipulated somehow.
"Jenny, this is wonderful," I said.
"Sit," she said, and I did. Jenny poured us out some wine and sat next me. We fed each other bites, and as it always was with Jenny and I, the chemistry was easy and natural. She seemed happy, so I didn't want to push it about her father's unpleasant visit. Soon enough, she brought it up.
"Thanks again for what you did," she said.
"I could tell you were scared," I replied.
"I was. He's no father to me. You've been that for me, and more," she said, eating. "At this point, I really couldn't give a fuck about either of my parents."
I was a little shocked to hear this, but it made sense. She'd basically been abandoned by both of them. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what," I told her.
Jenny stopped eating and looked at me. "You've been here when no one else has, and just because I can be this crazy little bitch, I know exactly what you've done for me and what you've sacrificed," she said.
"It has been a pleasure and an honor," I said.
"Mostly a pleasure lately," she muttered with a sly smile and resumed her meal. After a minute, she put down her fork again. "But now, and maybe Sigmund would say differently, you're not a father figure to me. You're... something else."
We ate a little more, drank some wine and just looked at each other now and again. Jenny's eyes sparkled, and I simply couldn't believe how gorgeous she was.
"Why all the games, Jenny?" I asked her, sincerely.
"You didn't enjoy them?"
"Well, sometimes. Sometimes it was just hell," I said, and Jenny giggled.
"I know. But let me tell you, I am very impressed with you."
"Impressed, why?"
"For holding out so long. I've been at this for over a year now, and you only gave in last week or so. And that was only because I tricked you," she said, while eating her salad. I wasn't sure what to say.
"Jenny sweetheart, I still think what's happened between us is wrong and that we ought to stop. Your father coming here only made that clearer," I told her. His little visit seemed to have had a real effect on us both.
"You are a good, kind, noble and strong man, John. I love you and I trust you. I guess that's why I went after you," she said, looking me in the eye, and holding my hand.
"Not strong enough," I replied, ashamed.
"Listen. Every guy in my high school wants to fuck me. A lot of the girls too. Some of the teachers. Everywhere I go, all I get is guys staring at me, giving me their phone number, touching me, following me. Then there's you."
