Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Daimon?” my father said in a hushed voice.
“Yes, Daimon. He was so caring and attentive while you were in the hospital,” I managed to say in a believable tone.
“Is he the one who paid for my private room? Because, Addie, I don’t want to be a hand out to him, especially not him,” my father said earnestly.
“He did pay for the room but only because he loves me. It was for me as much as for you.” I shrugged not knowing exactly what to say to him.
“Damn it,” my father said angrily.
“Dad, he wanted to help so I let him. It’s not like I was in a position to tell him no. Daimon sort of does what he wants when he wants and then deals with the consequences later.” My father slowly found his way to his armchair and sat down, looking beyond the television and out into space. “Daddy?”
“What do I do now, Addie? Who am I to be now that I have failed all of you and myself? At least with the business I managed to keep mine and your mother’s dream alive, but now…now what?” he said so quietly that it brought tears to my eyes.
“You didn’t fail us, Dad. I did. I should have kept the diner afloat. I should have done more, but I didn’t. Now I even took away the one thing that made you feel whole. I'm sorry,” I whispered, swallowing the hard lump that was forming in my throat. My father was about to say something, but I heard the familiar sound of a Skype call, probably from Sofia. He nodded at me knowing I wanted to see her.
“Go,” he said, nudging his head upstairs to my room.
***
“School is great!” Sofia said excitingly over Skype.
“Tell me about your classes,” I asked.
“Well I have this humanities teacher, he’s crazy. This one kid kept receiving texts in class, the idiot didn’t put it to vibrate and the teacher started losing it. Addie it’s… it’s really awesome being here,” she smiled.
“I’m so jealous,” I laughed.
“Tell me about Dad and the diner, is everything okay there?” She leaned into her desk and fixed her hair as she spoke to me. I had missed the little shit. I hadn’t seen her in a while and she already looked so grown up and different.
“The diner is great and Dad is taking it easy.”
I didn’t want to tell her everything that had happened over a video call. I wanted her to have a great first semester and when she came for the holidays then I would tell her what had happened. I didn’t see how telling her would help, and if anything it might even make it worse for her. I knew her and she would worry until she saw it for herself. My Sofia needed to make sure of things with her own two eyes. I think it was partly my fault since I tried to keep her in the dark as much as I could about everything. The girl wasn’t stupid, but she played the part well enough that at times I was left wondering if she should become an actress. I hated how Sofia had to constantly play the go-between with my father and me, and how most of the time she would put blinders on and act like nothing was happening. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had done something to scar her somehow. The doorbell rang and I didn’t want my father getting up to answer it.
“Got to go, kiddo, someone’s at the door. Skype me later on in the week okay?” I waved and hung up.
I ran down the stairs and opened the door. There stood Daimon. The moment he saw me, he smiled his sexy smile. He stood in the doorway waiting for me to let him in.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“I'm here to get you,” Daimon winked.
“Daimon, I'm not in the mood,” I hissed.
“You said tomorrow you were mine. I'm here to collect, my sweet, sweet Addie.” He pushed by me and took off his shoes as he headed to the living room, leaving me at the door affronted.
“Mr. Sakis, how are you feeling today?” Daimon asked as he sat down.
“Fine, I'm actually feeling perfectly good,” my father said happily, but I knew he was lying. Daimon couldn’t have known my father had just found out about the business. “So what brings you here? Are you here to take out Addie?” my father asked.
“Not exactly,” Daimon said looking at my father. “I'm here to ask for Addie’s hand in marriage,” he said bluntly. I nearly fell over, thank God for the wall next to me.
“Excuse me?” my father said softly.
“Well, Mr. Sakis, I want to marry Addie and I know how important you are to her, so I'm here asking you for her hand,” Daimon said directly.