Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
It’s no longer just the tips of his ears that are red, but his entire face. “Fuck you. You don’t know anything.”
“Item number three.” I hold up three fingers. “Your jersey chaser was never a mother to Joey. She manipulated you to get more and more money, but none of it went to Joey. Not a single penny. She had you hook, line, and sinker.” I pause for just a few seconds, letting that tidbit of information sink in. “Ah, I see the shocked look on your face. This takes me back to item number two. If you were any kind of father and had built a relationship with your daughter, this wouldn’t be new information. Instead, all you wanted to do was parade your trophy wives around and toss money at her. You tried to buy her love, Richard, but you didn’t need to. She loved you regardless.”
“I-I didn’t—” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Of course you didn’t. I believe both items one and two both apply here.”
He scoffs but remains quiet.
“Piggybacking on item number three. Your jersey chaser, the one you invited to the dinner that your daughter wanted to have with just the three of us, hit on your son and me.” I drop that little nugget of information into his lap. His eyes grow wide, and for once, he’s not disputing my claim. That’s because he knows that bitch just as well as we do, and nothing is out of her jurisdiction if it gets her what she wants. I go on to give him the gory details of the night we ran into Lucinda in the hotel lobby.
“Bitch,” he mutters under his breath.
“She is. I’d love to tell you that you should never have touched her because you were married and all that, but I can’t find it in me to do so. You never having gotten your dick wet with Lucinda would have led to a world without Joey, and that’s just not something I can even fathom at this point in my life.”
He tilts his head to the side, studying me, but I don’t let it get to me. This man is nothing to me. He’s hurt her too many times, and I won’t stand for it. I know Joey was going to see her mom and that she’s done with her. She wanted to be with me today, but regardless of how this little information session goes, I want her to make her own decision about keeping her father in her life. I’ll deal with him. For her. If that’s what she wants. I don’t want her losing the only parent who obviously cared about her, even if it was in his own fucked-up way.
“And finally, item number four.” I smirk, holding up four fingers. “I love your daughter, Richard. It’s not just a passing fling. I feel as though I can’t breathe when she’s not near me. There is not a single second of the day that I’m not thinking of her. I’ll take our nights curled up in front of the TV at home over a night out with the guys any day. Right here.” I tap my fist over my chest. “She lives right here, and it’s her permanent residence.”
He surprises me when he doesn’t comment, instead letting the silence hang between us. That’s okay because I’ve got more to say, and then I’m out. He can take the information and do whatever the fuck he wants to do with it. I’ll be there for Joey, no matter what the end result may be.
“She’s my future. You can toss out rumors of a trade, you can pull strings to make that trade happen, but it’s not going to tear us apart. No, you see, when you love someone, and I mean really love them from the depths of your soul, you do what you have to do to be with them. Joey can come with me, which she’s offered to do.” I watch as shock registers on his face. “And I’m not above giving it all up for her.”
“Bullshit.”
I shrug. “I don’t need you to believe me. I know in my heart there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. If it means retiring once my contract is up this year, I’ll do it. She’s my entire world. I know you don’t understand that… hopping from woman to woman, and you’re what… on wife number four? It must suck to be you. I can promise you with every breath inside my body that the day that Joey and I say our wedding vows, they’re for life.”
“You’re getting married?” he croaks. Finally showing an ounce of emotion other than anger at my ambush.
“We’re not engaged, but it’s coming. Soon. I can’t imagine a day of my life without her in it. So, we’re at a turning point here. You have the chance to decide what kind of father you want to be going forward. Either way, she’s going to have two men.” I point to my chest. “And her brother to give her all the love and support she could ever need. Besides, that’s how it’s always been, right? Caleb has been the one to show her unconditional love until me. Now there are two of us.” Making a fist, I rap my knuckles against his desk. “I hope you do the right thing.” With that, I turn and walk out of his office. I feel lighter, having had the opportunity to say my piece. There is just one thing nagging at me, and I’m going to fix that now too. I’m marking both of these things off my list, and then it’s forever with my Sunshine.