Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
I didn’t bring the key my father gave to me, but it’s fine. I’ll simply knock.
What’s tonight going to be like?
Awkward after our last interaction? Maybe he’ll be nice. He’ll have to be, to a certain degree, in front of my father.
The sky has become dark, and the air feels heavy. It almost has an ominous feeling.
Great, that doesn’t bode well for the evening.
I’m about to knock on the door when I hear the sound of a car over the gravel driveway and then footsteps a few seconds later.
I don’t need to turn around to know who it is, not just because it makes sense but also because I can smell his delicious cologne.
The scent is crisp and decadent. All male perfection.
The door flings open, and my father stands there looking out at us with a strange expression.
His gaze darts back and forth between us, but he doesn’t seem disturbed. More along the lines of . . . happy? Why would he be happy? If only he knew the truth. Things would be very different for Dane and me.
I’d probably be shipped right back home, no job and no experience, never to see him again.
“Did you guys come together?” he asks, a bit of uncertainty in his voice.
“What? No.” Dane steps to the side and points. “See both cars.”
Jeez, can he sound any more sus?
This man is basically holding a sign that says, I banged your daughter, and I don’t know how to keep a lid on it.
If I weren’t worried about how tonight was going to go, I’d find this whole thing funny.
But I’m actually worried.
The more I think about the ramifications of being found out, the more nervous I become. I’m bringing on even more anxiety, and if I don’t reel it in quickly, I’ll have a panic attack.
I don’t want to go back to my mom’s.
I need this job.
You want to know your father.
Ugh . . . I’m not going there right now.
I try my hardest not to spend time with Sherry or Robert, but no matter what I tell myself, I have to face the facts. It’s out of self-preservation. If I don’t let them in, they can’t hurt me.
We all walk into the house together, and my father leads the way to the dining room.
The table is already set. The last time we were here, I sat next to Dane. It appears I’ll be doing the same tonight.
Fun for me.
Most likely hell for him.
The idea of torturing him brings me a little joy today, and I’m happy about it because it means I’m not thinking of the big elephant in the room, and I’m not talking about the fact we had sex. I’m talking about the fact that I’ve been living here for over a month and have yet to speak with my father about the things Sherry told me I should talk to him about.
I guess I’m scared. No matter how strained my relationship is with Mom, what he says could cause an even bigger rift. Then who would I have?
Nobody.
I’d be completely alone.
Sherry walks over to the table and lifts a bottle in the air. “Who’s drinking?”
“Me,” I say, lifting my hand like an idiot.
“I’ll have a glass, please.” This comes from Dane, and it’s said with an edge that annoys me.
As if the only way to get through this night is with alcohol.
You’re not any better.
She pours each of us a glass. Once mine is filled, I take a sip. The taste hits my tongue, and I welcome it.
This is what I need to get through tonight.
Or maybe another distraction. Maybe I should stick to my original plan and make Dane pay attention to me.
A distraction named Dane Sinclair seems like what the doctor ordered.
Not a good idea, Josie.
But the train has already left the station. I’m all in, even if it’s going to crash and burn.
20
DANE
For the life of me, I have no idea why I keep torturing myself by seeking Josephine out.
Last night, for example, going to dinner, yeah, that wasn’t my smartest idea. I need to put distance between us, but I find myself doing the opposite instead.
The whole damn meal, she watched me, and I’m pretty sure Coach saw her doing it. Now I have to hope he didn’t notice anything because fuck. I couldn’t handle that shit right now.
“Dane.” Coach’s voice echoes through the practice facility the moment I walk in. He sounds pissed. Yep. I’m screwed. He noticed.
Here it comes, the inevitable. I’m about to get my ass handed to me.
“What?” I ask him as I move closer to where he’s standing.
“You missed the interview you had scheduled.”
Oh, thank fuck. This has nothing to do with Josephine.
I lift a brow at him. “What are you talking about?”
“This morning. You were supposed to talk to the local paper about the charity event the team is throwing.”