deeper.
She searched his face for signs of guilt and found none.
Could he really, truly not regret what he’d done? How he’d
hurt someone who trusted him, his business partner, his
friend? Haley’s belly roiled and she regretted the water she’d
just downed. Her mouth was still so dry. She was hollow
inside. Just pain and bone and too much water.
Her dad set his hands on the island and leaned heavily on
them. “Tell me, then.” He was wearing a gray t-shirt with the
name of his restaurant on it and black sweats. He looked so
normal. Like he hadn’t stressed or aged at all while she was
gone, even if she knew that wasn’t fair. He was worried about
her.
Haley gulped. How could she start? Where could she start? I
know everything. She told me after she made love to me the
way no one has ever made love to me before. The way she
kissed me wasn’t like anyone has ever kissed me. She knew I
wanted it, and I did. I wanted her more than anything.
“She told me that I should leave. She changed her mind
about the collateral. Decided it wasn’t right.” Claire hadn’t
told her what to say. She’d given Haley her freedom and she’d
given her free will over this. She could choose to tell the truth,
or versions of the truth. Shame burned, acrid on the back of
her tongue as she watched her dad’s triumphant grin. He was
relieved that she was back. “I hope you’re going to keep your
word still. Just because she let me go out of the goodness of
her heart doesn’t mean you can double cross her again.” She
hadn’t meant to say that. Not the again part. And now he knew
that she knew.
Her dad did a crazy transformation right in front of her eyes.