Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
My mind goes straight to him out there in the pool—hard strokes taking him from one end to the other while he’s battling his thoughts, trying to forget, and trying to make peace, the water offering comfort, like an embrace around his strong, muscled body.
Great. That really helps.
I need to find my dad instead of sitting here and letting my brain get out of control with out-of-control thoughts that get my out-of-control hormones fired up.
I creep into the hallway and knock on my dad’s door. It’s not that late, so I know he’s not sleeping. “Dad?”
“Come in, honey.”
I open the door and slip inside. This room is all about the tropics, with lush foliage painted all over the wall. Palm trees, blue skies, even bluer waters, and fluffy clouds flow through most of the room, and on the far end, a huge volcano is painted above the bed. It’s a massive thing, carved out with four posts and a soft green canopy that billows around it. The bedding is also tropical-themed, with various sizes of palm trees splashed across it.
“We’re going home tomorrow,” I announce. I don’t want it to be up for debate. I don’t want there to be room to change my mind.
Dad’s always been able to read me. He raised me, and we always work together. We also live in the same house, and we don’t spend time away from each other. It’s why he lifts a brow at that. “Okay,” is all he says in response.
“We’re going back home.”
“Yes. Okay,” he says again.
“I know you’ve been worried about the company, and I know you didn’t want to leave it. Leaving someone else in charge is hard, but you haven’t had days off in years. I’m sorry this wasn’t the best vacation in the world.”
He walks over and hugs me hard. Dad’s hugs have always melted me. He’s never been afraid to give them. “It was perfect because it was with you.”
“It was far from perfect,” I scoff, pulling away. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that John would be here.”
“I’m sorry we’ve acted so immaturely these past few days and for so many years. You and Apollo shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of that.”
“You’re right. We don’t. But I’m sorry I lost my mind this afternoon. I was just exhausted by all this.”
“You’re not staying?” The light fixture in here is every bit as amazing as the ones in the rest of the house. It’s made up of glass fronds layered on top of each other, and it looks so real that if there were a breeze in here, it would probably sway with it. Although, on second thought, no, they wouldn’t. They’re too heavy for a gentle wind. Kind of like my soul at the moment.
“I’m not. I can go home with you,” I tell him.
“But you’re—”
“It’s okay, Dad. That’s over. Apollo is going to do up the papers. We’re officially getting divorced. We never should have gotten married in the first place. We both knew it wasn’t going to be a real marriage, but we hoped if we went through with it, you and John would eventually make peace and come around to being friends again because we were together.”
Dad’s face falls. He walks over to the bed and sits down hard, right on the canopy. There’s enough fabric that it doesn’t tear the top off. He hunches over and puts his head in his hands. I rush over and set a hand on his shoulder.
“This wasn’t your fault.”
“How can you say that?” He looks up at me in pure misery. “I played that stupid card game and put the company in a perilous position. I haven’t run it properly all these years, or we wouldn’t have been in a situation like that in the first place. I was the one who fought with my best friend, the one who kept it up all these years. I’ve been stubborn, and you’re paying the price for it.”
“No. Seriously, just no. I don’t care how we got here. It’s going to be okay. I don’t have to stay here. We’re going home, and I’m coming back to work with you.” I swallow hard and force myself to explain the rest to him.
I expect him to be mad or to fight me when I talk about the shares, but he just seems surprised that Apollo is willing to help us out even after all this. I can’t tell him what Apollo said to me out there. I can’t tell him that he wanted to give me this house. I will never tell him that I kissed him. I can’t tell him I used the business to hide behind because I was terrified. My dad’s life work is my first priority. I have to protect that. We’re not in a position to refuse the help. I just couldn’t accept what Apollo was saying, and I couldn’t accept a house and land. I couldn’t continue a sham marriage. The shares seemed like the least I could offer. It wasn’t just helping my dad and everyone working for him. It wasn’t just because I believed in his work or that losing the company would ruin him. I’m ashamed to say I accepted the offer because making a big deal about it meant I could avoid making a big deal about the rest.