Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Right now, they’re plenty wet, but not with sweat.
CHAPTER SIX
Bowdie
Lucy’s meltdown does more than snap me out of my obsession with her best friend, for a while at least. Hearing her say something so hurtful about her mom and knowing it’s about the lowest blow anyone could give me, I should be as upset and angry as she is right now, but it only makes me realize I have neglected her these past few months. Hell, she couldn’t even tell me herself that she has a boyfriend.
Or maybe she tried, and you just never listened. You were always obsessing over Beth and asking about her every time you spoke to Lucy over the phone.
Lucy’s more grown up now than when I left, doubly so for Beth. It’s what I thought she wanted—me working away and reluctantly agreeing for her to stay behind. If it weren’t for Brad’s suggestion for Lucy to stay with Beth, I would never have agreed to Lucy remaining here alone in our house. The distance and not being here has made her see me in a different light. I match her raised voice and have a solid reply for everything she’s having a go at me for, but it’s clear something else has upset her.
I hold back on playing the boyfriend card, not wanting to pour gasoline all over her hostile mood and not wanting to go down that rabbit hole, not yet anyway. I’ll quiz her about her boyfriend when the time’s right, which isn’t today. I can feel that much already.
Lucy would never usually bring up her mom’s death like that, especially as a weapon against me. No, something else has happened, but Lucy isn’t the kind to kiss and tell, so to speak. I have to let whatever it is eating her go for now and let her come to me when she’s ready. If she’s coming out swinging with comments about her mom, then I sense her real problem is bigger than keeping the fact she has a boyfriend from her old man.
She simmers down after a while, and we both grow quiet, not feeling the need to be ashamed or embarrassed about a little shouting match but mindful of the fact it’s Brad’s house. We have kinda made him retreat someplace until our dust settles.
“Lucy, we can go home. I just think it’s only polite to stay for dinner and whatnot, especially seeing as Brad’s looked out for you for so long. It’s the only thing he’s asking. Just a few hours?” I ask, giving her my best puppy dog eyes. I feel a bit more like a rat because all I’m trying to do is buy a few more hours with Beth, living for a moment we can truly be alone so I can… Well, I haven’t decided what to do about it yet, but I’m so close I can sense how badly she needs what I want to give her. I’ll be goddamned if I leave her out of sight longer than needed, in case she gets any stupid idea about running off with some boy like Lucy.
Beth’s a special girl, and she needs the special touch—a real man with the maturity, experience, and security I can offer her. I don’t look at Beth and see an awkward grope or a guilt-laden one-night stand. I see me and her together, always together, from now on. It’s not as if I can explain all that to Lucy. Beth doesn’t even know yet. So it’s crystal clear how much I need to be around Beth more than ever, even if it is over ribs and a board game. It’s better than being thousands of miles away, losing my mind because I can’t stop thinking about where she is, what she’s doing, or even what she’s wearing.
I know it’s nuts, but that’s been my world for six months, and today… tonight feels like I’ve been let out of that prison. If I’m being selfish by putting that need over Lucy’s tantrum, so be it. There’s gonna be a higher price to pay if she ever finds out, anyway. I don’t see Brad taking kindly to the idea, either. As easygoing and even goofy as he can be, Brad’s no slouch when it comes to sticking up for his daughter, especially if his best friend here is trying to stick it up his daughter.
Lucy’s eyes close, and she crimps her mouth. She’s fighting some invisible battle inside herself that would usually make me laugh if she wasn’t so obviously torn up about something. Maybe a night of family and friends will bring her to the point where she wants to let me help.
“Fine,” she murmurs, “but I meant it, Dad. I feel unwell and would really like to go home and curl into a ball for a few days.”