I had lunch with my Dad on Friday because our schedules finally synched up and we had the time.
“You look good, Rory girl. Happy. I haven’t seen you smiling so much in a long time. Any particular reason?” This was going to require more evasive maneuvers on my part.
“Not really. I’ve just been feeling really good lately. Maybe it’s all the cake Sloane’s been making.” Sure. Blame it on cake. Cake was responsible for the fact that I looked like I was on mood enhancers all the time.
“She does make a good cake. I haven’t seen Sloane in a while. You should bring her to dinner.” My parents adored Sloane. Mostly because Sloane could charm anyone.
“I’ll ask her and see if she’ll make some coconut cake for you.” That was Dad’s favorite. I changed the subject and we talked about a trip my parents were taking for their anniversary and the difficulties of me planning the girls’ trip to Jamaica.
“You could always bring them up to Maine. The house is yours to use whenever you want. Or you could go camping.”
He’d offered a bunch of times before, but I just couldn’t see my friends roughing it, not to mention camping. That would be a hell no. Especially not Sloane. She would die without access to a shower, hot water, and her extensive makeup collection. Marisol or Chloe weren’t that much better.
“Thanks, Dad, but we’ll work it out.”
I finished my soup and salad and we split a piece of double chocolate cake, but I could tell he wasn’t done with me.
“Are you sure there isn’t someone special in your life?” I swore he could smell the sex on me, but that was gross and ridiculous.
“No, Dad. I don’t need a man to be happy, do I?”
“Absolutely not. I just feel like there’s something you’re not telling me. But if you say there isn’t, then I believe you.” Ugh. That was the worst.
“Maybe I’m just finally glad I got rid of one,” I said with a wink. Dad had never liked Royce, but since he came from a good family and had money, he couldn’t really say anything or else risk alienating a few of his friends. Rich people were complicated. Yes, I knew I was technically part of that group, but I never really felt like I was a member of it.
“Yes, I think we’re all a little happy about that, to tell the truth.” He gave me the last bite of cake and sat back in his seat. The waiter came back with our check and he ordered both of us tea. I thought we should get back to the office, but I wasn’t complaining.
We sat and sipped and enjoyed the hum of the restaurant around us. Or rather, he did and I chewed my lip and felt like crap about lying to him, but there was absolutely zero way of explaining this to him in a way he would understand, or a way that wouldn’t make him ashamed of me.
Yes, my parents knew I wasn’t a virgin, but having them know that and have them know that I was engaging in an almost purely sexual relationship with someone I worked with was something else entirely. They’d probably call in a priest and break out the holy water. Or at least have some sort of intervention.
And Lucah would be out on his ass before you could say “Daddy’s little girl.” I didn’t mind taking the heat for this, but I didn’t want it to go on him. If it were only about me, I could take it.
I cared way too much about him. I wished it would be possible to freeze a relationship and keep it the way it was. Because right now, things were great. I just didn’t know how long it was going to last.
“Ready to get back to work?” he said, bringing me out of my own head and back into the restaurant. He looked at his phone and then sighed. “It seems Mr. Craig has a new car that I simply must see when we get back.” I rolled my eyes.
“Well, take a ride and tell me how it is,” I said, as he gave me his arm and we walked toward his car.
“Love you, Rory.”
“Love you, too, Dad.” He gave me a big hug before we put our professional faces on and went back to the office. My phone rang as soon as I sat down at my desk.
“How did it go?” He knew I’d been worried about lying to my dad. It was actually kind of sweet.
“It was fine, thank you for your concern, Mr. Blaine. If I’m not mistaken, it’s time for your lunch break.”
“Why thank you Miss Clarke. It seems that it is. Am I going to see you tonight?” As much as I wanted to see him, I really needed a girls’ night, sans penis.
“Um, so how would you feel if I went out with the girls?” I braced myself for him to be pissed.
“I’ll be honest and say that I would rather have you to myself, but I’m not one of those guys who doesn’t know how to share. Middle child, remember?” He kept his voice low because there were a lot of people walking back and forth. I also kept my eyes on my computer.
“Good. I was hoping you weren’t going to be one of those possessive guys who doesn’t want his woman out of his sight.”
“You’re not my woman,” he reminded me.
“True enough. But I swear, I will more than make it up to you. Saturday night? I’ll text you with details.”