“Mack,” Dad calls out. “We're going. Grab your things.”
Mack comes bounding down from upstairs. He gives me a sympathetic look as he follows Dad out of the house. I sit down on the arm of the chair and laugh. All I wanted was to do something nice for Mack and once again, I just didn’t think.
“Fuck,” I hiss, clasping my hands behind my head.
I love him because he’s my father, but fuck, I hate him sometimes.I head upstairs and jump in the shower, because it’s the best way I know how to relax. Well, I know a few other ways to relax, but after that last time when someone walked in on me, I’ll save the potentially embarrassing situations for another day.
I stand under the hot stream of water and groan, the sensation of the hot water scalding my back is addicting. Eventually, the water begins to run cold, so I reluctantly turn it off and step out. I dry myself off then throw on a pair of boxers, but I’m fucked if I can find a clean shirt or a pair of jeans. I frown. I’m pretty sure I threw some in the wash yesterday. With any luck, Paula will have washed them. I saunter down to the laundry, relieved when I spot them hanging up. I spin around when I hear a noise that sounds a lot like a strangled gasp, but there's no one there.
Huh.
That’s weird, because I know I didn’t imagine that sound.
“Anyone home?” Darcy calls out exactly twenty seconds later.
I smile. She saw me half naked and left, then she came back inside and pretended she just got home. All that to avoid the awkward conversation I’m going to make her have anyway?
On second thought…
I strip out of my boxers too, then I walk out into the living room ass naked, with my clothes casually draped over my shoulder. I smile at her.
“Darcy. You’re home early,” I comment.
Her eyes widen when she sees me, but she recovers fast, giving me a shrug.
“I’m home the same time as every other day,” she murmurs.
Her eyes involuntarily dart downward, then quickly rise as I pull my boxer shorts on. I step into my jeans, and pull them up, winking at her when her eyes meet mine. She shakes her head.
“Why is it, every time I come home, you’re half naked?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.
“Some might say you’re just lucky,” I point out. “And I wasn’t half naked, I was totally naked,” I correct.
“I’d say those people are wrong,” she replies in a sweet voice.
I watch her as she walks upstairs, until she’s disappeared from my view. Then I wander back into to the living room, unable to wipe the smile off my face. I toss my shirt over the back on an armchair, just in case she comes back down again.
I wouldn’t want to disappoint her by being dressed.Chapter SixDarcyMy first hint that Tuesday was going to suck was when there was no hot water, thanks to a burst main a few streets over. Not showering wasn’t an option, so I froze my ass off for the ten seconds it took me to have the fastest shower in the world.
Things didn’t get much better when I got to work. I sat in on assessments all morning and like always, the client was asked if my being there was okay. This woman said yes, the ten minutes later, started freaking out because I was there. She looked at me like she had no idea who I was and then she totally flipped out and demanded that I leave. I did, but she was going right off the deep end, to the point where she had to be sedated. It scared the fuck out of me. I spent the next half hour pacing the hallway out the front of the interview room, asking myself if I’m cut out for this. I still haven’t figured out the answer.
Every day seems to leave me closer to thinking maybe I don’t want this. I’m only on day five, thanks to my weekend shifts, but the problem is, the longer I spend here, the more trapped I feel. Mom, and now Jim have done so much to help me that I don’t want to disappoint them. Especially now, so close to the wedding.
I smile when I find Linton sitting in my spot.
“Do you mind?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Go for it.”
I sigh and sit down next to him, kicking off my shoes so I can dig my toes into the grass. It feels good to be able to relax and not think, because it’s been one of those days where everything has gone wrong.
“Hard day?” he asks.
“You have no idea,” I grumble. “I should’ve listened to my gut and gone with a career that’s boring and straightforward. Like finance. Or stripping.”