Sweet Little Lies (Dirty Little Lies Duet 2)

Hazel

One week later…A thick envelope stares up at me as I sit perched at the kitchen island. My incoming freshman welcome packet, along with a long checklist of things I still have to get before I leave. I can’t believe I’ll be a college student in one week. My pink highlighter hovers over my notepad, trying to think of any last-minute stuff I’ll need for the room when the door to the garage opens and Dad walks in.

“Hey, baby girl. What are you up to?”

I smile back. He’s going to miss me so much. It’s been just us the past couple years, I feel bad leaving him alone. I worry about him. Without me to harp on him for working too much, who will be around to make sure he takes a break to eat and sleep? “Just making sure I’ve got everything. I still need to get some bedding stuff.”

He walks up to me, giving me a kiss on my forehead. “Whatever you need. Hungry? Want to grab pizza for dinner?”

I nod, and my stomach instantly growls for Savino’s, our favorite place. I open my mouth to reply when his phone rings. He sticks out his finger and answers.

“Gabe…”

My skin flushes at the sound of his name. It’s been a week since I’ve seen him. Heard his voice. There hasn’t even been a glimpse of him with my dad. He dropped me off and disappeared. I wondered if he’s been ignoring me, realizing what he did was a mistake. He and my dad have been friends their whole life. If he found out, it would devastate their relationship.

I wanted more than anything to play this game, but what game were we actually playing? The one where I signed on that imaginary dotted line the second I offered myself to him. The night at the club, I crossed a line following him into the lion’s den, but so did he. He opened up this secret world and showed me what it could be like to submit to a man. To leave my will at the door. Each night that passed, I became angry that he gave me a taste just to leave me high and dry. I dared myself to disobey him and touch myself. A quick session with my vibrator to relieve this built-up tension inside me. But his words were too strong in my mind, and I fell asleep each night frustrated, horny, and angry.

Maybe he doesn’t actually want me, and this is his way of teaching me a lesson. Stay in my own lane. I’m young and nowhere near ready to play with the adults. He’s a man—a strong, dominant businessman who thrives on control. I’ve always known that about him. It’s what’s always attracted me to him. But now I fantasize about kneeling at his feet. Spreading myself for him. Falling apart in his arms as he kisses away the marks left by his pleasurable pain. I wonder if he’s back. Where he’s been. I hate that my mind takes a dark turn, wondering if he has a woman with him. For a week now, I’ve been patient. Compliant. And I don’t even know why. He left me with nothing to hold on to, except that now, he owns me. But what the hell does that even mean?

I bite the inside of my cheek.

“Sorry, I have a date with my daughter tonight,” my dad says, and I wave my hands, getting his attention.

“No. It’s fine. He can join us if he wants. The more the merrier.”

Dad gives me a curious look. “Are you sure? He can find his own company tonight. No need to—”

“Yes! It’s fine. I’m leaving next week. I’d like to say bye to Gabriel too.”

Dad, oblivious to my intentions, nods, smiling at me. “Great. See you then. Bring that fancy bourbon you promised me too.” He hangs up, giving me another kiss on my forehead. “I have some work to catch up on. Be ready around six?”

“Sure, Dad.”

He walks away, leaving me and my roller coaster of emotions at the kitchen island. What will he do when he sees me? What will I do? Will we act normal? Will my dad sense anything is off?

The mere thought of getting to see him creates a thrill of excitement inside my belly. I hop up and run to my room to get ready for dinner—for him. By the time I make it back downstairs, looking enticing in a short, red summer dress and my hair set in large waves down my back, I find my dad in his office wearing a scowl I know all too well.

“Hey, you ready? Don’t we have to go?”

He doesn’t have to say anything for me to know what he’s about to say. My smile disappears as his eyes lock on mine, the guilt replying for him.