Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102778 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102778 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Dex
As soon as I tell Fi her dad is here, she sits up like a shot, her eyes wide and her hair sticking up at odd angles. She looks heartbreakingly beautiful and completely freaked out.
“Mother fuck.” Hauling her little ass out of bed, she pads to the bathroom and starts washing her face. “Just fuck it all. I do not want to face Dad right now.”
I get up and follow as she starts to put makeup on with a deft hand. I have no idea how she doesn’t poke herself in the eye with that mascara wand thing. Regardless of the situation, watching Fi make herself up is fascinating. It’s such a private thing, and I get to witness it.
“Well, he’s here, and I don’t think he plans on going anywhere,” I say as she dabs some sort of ivory cream under her eyes. “Why are you putting on makeup, anyway? You look perfect.”
She huffs. “I’m a freaking mess. I’m not facing my dad looking like I’ve been crying.”
A heavy weight sits on my heart. “But you have. There’s no shame in that. Fuck, I want to cry too.” And that’s the truth. It took all I had not to sob right along with her. I feel so fucking helpless right now, I want to punch a hole in the wall.
I cross my arms over my chest and clench my fists so I don’t do just that.
Fi flits past me, going to the dresser to pull out a clean shirt. “Well, I am ashamed.” Her face twists. “He probably saw pictures of me naked, Ethan.”
I duck my head and follow her out.
As expected, Sean is waiting in the living room. He bolts up as soon as we enter, his attention solely on his daughter. “Fiona, honey . . .” He takes two steps, as if he wants to hug her, but Fi’s body language is stiff, and she backs up, bumping into me.
I let her rest against my chest, but I don’t put a hand on her either. It’s clear that physical comfort is the last thing she wants right now.
“Hey, Dad.” Her pained gaze goes to Ivy and Gray, who are also standing—baby Leo secured in his sling against Gray’s chest. “Hey.”
Ivy glances around. “I’m going to make some coffee. Gray’s going to help.”
“I made soup for later,” Gray tells us, then clears his throat and abruptly turns to follow Ivy into the kitchen. More like runs out of the room. I can’t blame him.
Fi looks like she wants the floor to swallow her whole, and Sean has turned his attention to me. I’m pretty sure I’d be dead on the floor if he had his way.
“I want to know what the fuck happened, Dexter,” he demands. “Why did some bimbo have your phone?”
From the kitchen I hear Gray say, “Bimbo?” and then grunt. I’m pretty sure Ivy elbowed him. Resisting the urge to run my hand over my beard, I tell Sean what happened.
Even though she’s already heard the story, Fi’s body grows stiffer and stiffer as I speak. I know I’m causing her more embarrassment, and I mentally curse the little gold digger who stole my phone and sold our privacy.
Sean glances as Fi again. “I’m sorry, baby girl. I’ve already sent out a cease-and-desist order.”
“Which is utterly useless,” she says in a dead voice. “The damage is done.”
“Damn right it is,” Sean snaps, glaring at me. “Of all the fucking moronic, idiotic, stupid, fucking, brainless—”
“Dad, stop,” Fi cuts in with a hard tone. “Yelling at Ethan won’t change anything.”
“It’ll make me feel a hell of a lot better.” He doesn’t take his eyes off me. “I trusted you to protect her.”
“I know,” I manage past the lump in my throat. “You aren’t saying anything I’m not saying to myself.”
“It wasn’t his fault,” Fi says. She sounds remote, her gaze lackluster. “It was that opportunistic bimbo’s doing. Let it go.”
Sean runs a hand through his hair. “Look, why don’t you pack a bag? Come back to New York while this blows over.”
At that, my hands grasp Fi’s shoulders. “Like hell.”
“You don’t get a say anymore, Dexter. Not after you fucked up her life.”
The truth of his words is an ugly blow, but not enough to keep me quiet. “I appreciate that you are upset, Sean, but there’s no way I’m letting you take Fi out of here. I’m not letting her face this alone.”
He growls in disgust. “Because you’ve done such a fine job of caring for her so far?”
Fi shrugs out of my grip, stepping away from me. She might as well have ripped my hands off. She doesn’t even look my way as she moves closer to her dad. Away from me. I want to snatch her back, haul her out of this room and back to our bed.