Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Hey, Daddy.” I fall into his embrace, and his arms wrap around me tightly.
“Are you okay?” he asks, just loud enough for me to hear.
“Yeah.”
“You sure?” He pulls back to look me in the eye.
“Yes.”
“All right,” he says softly, his eyes scanning my face. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I roll my eyes, and he smiles before looking at the man at my side.
“Dayton.” He holds out his hand after he lets me go. “I see you’ve met my daughter.”
“We ran into each other inside.”
“I hope you’re not corrupting her.”
“Not yet,” Dayton replies, and Dad studies him for a long moment before he shakes his head and smiles.
“No, I’m more inclined to worry about my Franny corrupting you, Calloway.”
“Who is Francisca corrupting?” Matthew asks, and my spine straightens while Dad’s smile slides away and his jaw goes hard.
His reaction to Matthew isn’t a surprise. Where my mother has been dead set on the idea of Matthew and me getting back together, my dad told me the minute I brought up asking for a divorce that if I wasn’t happy, I shouldn’t waste my time and I should never look back.
Then again, when Matthew and I got together, he wasn’t happy about it. He thought I could do better from the get-go, and each and every time we broke up and got back together, he’d pray—out loud for everyone to hear—that the breakup would stick.
Even on my wedding day, he offered to help me run if I had cold feet. I should have taken him up on that offer, but at that time, I was so sure about my future with Matthew, so sure I was doing the right thing.
“No one,” Dad tells him, then looks around. “What happened to your date?”
“She had to use the restroom,” Matthew says, not phased in the slightest by my father’s tone or demeanor. Turning his attention to me, my ex wraps his hand around my hip and leans forward, touching his lips to my cheek. “Francisca, you look beautiful as always.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, shifting on my heels, uncomfortable with the intimate way he greeted me when we haven’t been intimate in a very long time.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Dayton says quietly, placing his hand against my lower back. His touch seems to burn through the material of my dress, and I catch Matthew’s eyes narrow on where Dayton’s hand is. “I promised Franny a drink.”
“Of course.” Dad leans down to kiss my cheek. “Go on. I’ll come find you in a bit.”
“Sure.” I let Dayton lead me away toward the bar, leaving Matthew without another glance.
“So that’s the ex-husband?” Dayton asks quietly as we stand in line with everyone else, waiting to get a drink.
“That’s him.”
“I’m guessing he didn’t want the divorce.”
“I don’t know about that,” I mumble, feeling uncomfortable with this conversation while I can feel everyone watching us and even listening in to hear what we are talking about. I’m sure they’re trying to figure out who Dayton is or making assumptions about the two of us after that interaction with Matthew. They don’t know he was a total stranger to me less than an hour ago.
“Hmmm.”
“You seem to know my dad well,” I change the subject.
“We met when I started working for the district attorney and have played golf together a few times since then.”
“That’s why he seems to like you so much.”
“Golf?”
“Yes, that’s his favorite hobby, and anyone who golfs gets extra brownie points. Though…” I look up at him. “My dad is pretty good at reading people since there are constantly men and women vying for his attention because of his position. He might also find you refreshing since you haven’t gotten the robotic personality download all of these other ‘Stepfords’ have.”
“I’m assuming that’s a compliment.”
“It is.” We step up to the bar, and he orders a beer after I ask for a glass of red wine. With our drinks in hand, I walk over to the table set up with lots of finger foods and a whole section that is just dips, cheeses, crackers, fruits, and nuts. I start to make myself a plate, and Dayton does the same. I’m starving, but even normally, I could live off charcuterie, so I fill my plate until it’s almost overflowing.
“Where do you want to sit?” he asks, looking around.
“You don’t have to stay with me. I won’t feel offended if you want to go mingle,” I tell him quietly, but not because I’m not enjoying his company. Actually, I feel at ease in his presence. I just know that he didn’t come here for me.
“Where do you want to sit?” he repeats, like I haven’t spoken, and I look around the covered patio that has filled with even more people since we came outside.
“I know a place.” I lead him down the steps. It’s a beautiful night, and with the moon just a sliver, you can see every star that is out once we get far enough away from the brightly lit patio. For being April, the weather is nice. It’s been this way for the last few days, so there is still a touch of warmth in the air left over after the sun has set.