Surprisingly, I’m enjoying this as much as the chocolate chip pancakes. I can’t get enough of him. Luckily for us, we have hours to explore before heading back to school.
As I lean down, ready to take him in my mouth, there’s a noise from downstairs. I poker up and twist around toward the open bedroom door. “Did you hear that?”
Before Beck can answer, a voice calls from downstairs—
“Mia? Are you up yet?”
Dad.
Oh, God.
Beck meets my wild-eyed stare with a version of his own. “Dad?” I squeak, heart pounding harshly against my chest.
“Of course,” he laughs, his voice getting closer as he climbs the staircase. “Who else would it be?”
I leap from the bed and stumble, all but crashing against the door to slam it shut. Beck rolls off the edge and jumps to his feet. He grabs his boxers before staggering sideways as he yanks them up his legs.
“Get in the closet!” I whisper-yell, grabbing my robe from the chaise and tugging it on so I’m no longer naked.
I can’t believe this is happening.
What the hell is he doing here?
There’s a rap of knuckles against my bedroom door.
I run my fingers through the tangled length of my hair before forcing myself to walk to the door and pull it open. I paste a smile on my face when I find Dad on the other side.
“I thought you were out of town until tomorrow.” The lie leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but it’s the best I can come up with under the circumstances. Resentment and anger swallow the nerves that had been rushing through my body only moments ago.
“Change of plans,” he says with a shrug. “The conference ended early, so I thought we could grab breakfast before you leave for school. Sound good?”
Images from the restaurant last night roll through my head. A million questions sit poised on the tip of my tongue. It’s all I can do to keep them trapped inside.
Unable to look him in the eyes without exploding, I glance away. “Um, yeah. Give me a few minutes to get ready.”
“Great, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
I watch him retreat before turning toward the staircase. When he disappears from sight, I close the door and lean against it before squeezing my eyes tight.
How am I supposed to sit across from him and act like everything is normal? As if he hasn’t blown my world apart?
“Hey, are you all right?”
I open my eyes and find Beck standing in front of me. He cups my cheeks before tilting my face toward his.
“Not at all,” I whisper.
“Then don’t say anything. Give it some time.”
“I’m not sure I can do that.” I glance away before shrugging. It feels like the weight of the world is resting on my shoulders. “I guess we’ll see how it goes.”
His thumb strokes over my bottom lip.
“Do you want me to come with?” He searches my eyes. “Because I will.”
Warmth spreads through my chest that he would consider tagging along. Even though the offer is tempting, I shake my head.
“Are you sure?” His lips lower to mine before he brushes them softly with his own. The movement is sexy and comforting all at the same time.
“It’ll be better if I go by myself.”
“If that’s what you want.” He presses a kiss to my mouth before murmuring, “Let me know when you return from breakfast and we’ll head back to school.”
“You don’t need to wait if you have things to do.”
“I’m not leaving without you.” He smacks one last kiss against my forehead before his hands fall away from my face. “You better get dressed.”
Dread settles at the bottom of my belly as I grab panties and a bra from the dresser and pull them on before heading to the walk-in closet and picking out jeans and a sweater. Not bothering with my hair, I grab an elastic band and pull it into a simple ponytail.
As I walk toward the door, I glance at Beck as he lounges on my bed. “You’ll sneak out after we take off?”
“Yup.”
“All right.” I have to force myself to leave the room. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
As I descend the staircase, I spot Dad sitting on the antique bench in the entryway. His face, as usual, is buried in his phone. My feet grind to a halt as I’m slammed with a thought.
Is he texting the woman I saw him with last night?
All the calls and texts he’s received before shuttering himself away in his office for hours on end whirl through my head. Work was always the excuse he gave for the countless trips he took.
Was it all a lie?
The realization makes me nauseous.
I don’t want to view my father as anything other than the man I’ve loved with all my heart since I was a little girl. But how can I do that with everything I know and suspect?