Thankfully, the bill is paid and we’re filing out of the restaurant a few minutes later. On the sidewalk, my father throws an arm around my shoulders and brings me in for a side hug. I swear I feel his lips briefly press against my hair with a kiss.
“Don’t work too hard, Scarlett. Your mother would tell you the same thing.”
The gruffly whispered words wrap around my heart, and it squeezes until it might burst.
Thisis why I put up with Chadwick.Thisis what I’m always hoping to get from my father.
And you’re fucking pathetic,my inner voice says.Who stays with a guy just to get attention from her own father? That’s fucked up.
Immediately, I fire back.He’s not getting any younger. What if this is all I get with him? I only have one parent left. Is it so wrong to want to see him and have his approval? Even if it’s based on something that I don’t like?
Smiling through the contradictory thoughts, I press a kiss to his lined cheek. I open my mouth to tell my dad I love him, but he’s already walking away to slap Chadwick on the back.
My entire body deflates like an untied balloon. I must make a noise, because both Chadwick and my father look at me.
“Something wrong, Scarlett?” Dad asks.
Honesty is out of the running, for obvious reasons, so I paste that fake smile on my face once more. “Just tired. I stayed up too late doing numbers. I should get home and make it an early night.”
Chadwick shakes his head. “You work too hard, like your dad said. Come over, and I’ll spoil you. You’ll sleep great.” He holds out his hand with a phony smile as my father watches us. I have no choice but to go to Chadwick.
Wrong. I always have a choice,I remind myself, but it doesn’t change the outcome.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Chadwick. Make sure our girl gets home safe.”
“’Bye, Dad,” I say, hating the punishing grip Chadwick has on my fingers.
“See you tomorrow, Lawrence.”
With that, my father slides into the back of a black town car, leaving Chadwick and me alone.
“You’re fucking tired again? Really?” His polite smile is gone, and in its place is a sneer.
“Sorry. It’s been a long week. Why don’t we plan to meet up—”
Before I can finish, he drops my fingers and cuts me off. “I’m getting tired of this shit, Scarlett. I have needs too, you know. And you’re my fucking girlfriend who I don’t see often enough to have those needs met, and that’s before we consider all your damn excuses. I’d like to get laid on a regular basis, but you might as well be a fucking block of ice.”
The attack comes so quickly, I have no time to armor up before his words slice through me.
“Chadwick—” I try to get a word in, but he yanks something out of his pocket. It’s a business card.
“I made you an appointment with someone Friday morning. Nine a.m. If you want a chance in hell of going on that Christmas ski trip with your dad, you’ll be there. Got it?”
I want to protest. Friday is the only day we’re open to the public, and I already have self-defense class taking up a chunk of the afternoon. Plus, I don’t think there’s any way I can stand to be around Chadwick for the months between now and Christmas.
But I don’t put up a fight. I’m not the kind of woman who has arguments and breakups on a public sidewalk. Too much exposure, and the chance of a photographer catching it is far too high.
“Do you understand what I’m saying, Scarlett?”
“You’re giving me an ultimatum,” I reply, my voice devoid of emotion.
“Smart girl. We’ll talk tomorrow. Don’t forget dinner Saturday. Amy put it on your calendar. At least that’s one way I can get some time with you. Maybe I should start having her add in the nights I need some ass too.”
My skin feels blistered from his acerbic tone, and I remind myself that I’m not doing this in public.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Chadwick. Have a nice night.” I turn and take a step down the sidewalk, intent on finding a cab since I told my driver I wouldn’t need him, but Chadwick grabs my arm.
“Your dad said to see you home safe, so that’s what I’m doing. Come on.”