Ollie gave me a smile. “Maybe you’re right,”he mouthed, and I really hoped it was true.
“Anyway, I’ll just go find the salesperson to get this one. You two keep doing whatever this is.” I slipped away to give them a little privacy, hoping that they could figure things out. I wanted Ollie to be just as happy as I was. Maybe even get married someday. A smile pulled at my lips.
I was going to marry the man of my dreams. Charlie wanted me. He loved me, and we were going to live happily ever after.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Charlie
The sound of the doorbell caught me off guard. Jones was out with Ollie, finding a suit for our wedding, and as temptedas I was to go with them, I wanted to be surprised when we got married. I already had something to wear that I had overnighted from Boston, and it had arrived an hour ago. When I got up to answer the door, I noticed that there was no alarm system or camera. I made a mental note to have one installed immediately. Especiallywhen I opened the door and found my father standingon the porch.
“How did I know I would find you here? Are you not going to invite me inside?” My father raiseda brow at me.
I narrowed my eyes. “No, I’m not. What do you want? If you’re here to tell me to stay away from Jones, you can save your breath. It’s too late for that.”
“Is it?” Dad smirked. “I think once you hear what I have to say, you’ll change your mind.”
When pigs fly. “Leave,” I grunted, then started to shut the door.
“What if I told you that I approve of this so-called relationship?” Dad asked, and that stopped me from slamming the door in his face. “I mean, the whole LGBT-whatever will look good for me. That I have a son who is out, and I am more than supportive of him. Not tomention a stepson. That might be a little taboo, but I can work with that. People will eat that up.”
I wanted to punch that smirk off his face. “You will not use me or Jones for your agenda.”
“It’s either that or you marry Beverly. You decide.”
“How about you go to hell instead?”
Dad chuckled. “I know that you’re going to be with him no matter what happens. You’ll leave behind all your riches because you’re in love, or whatever you think this is. You’ll somehow convince people that I’m the bad guy, that I wouldn’t let you be with Jones because I didn’t believe in your bisexuality. Some people will believe that, but others, well, they won’t be as kind to you. Neither one of you will have a career. Alice will have to go back to working at the diner I found her in and—”
“Say one more word, and I’ll knock your dentures out, old man,” I warned, stepping toward him. “You don’t get to come here, to my house, and threaten me or the man I love. Not his mother or his friends. You’re scared that everyone is going to find out just what a monster you really are.”
That fake smile on my father’s face didn’t even falter. “Your house, huh? Last I checked, this house was in Jones’s name. I can take care of that, too.”
“Get out.” I shoved at his chest and felt pride in watching him stumble back. “Stay the fuck away from me, Jones, or anyone else I know. If you ever threaten them again, I will end you. If you come near Jones, I will make you suffer. Do you understand?”
Dad brushed imaginary lint from his shirt. “Think about what I said before you do something crazy.”
“Eat shit.” I slammed the door in his face before he could spew anything else out of his dirty mouth and then I began to pace the house as I worried about my future. And about Jones.
Into the living room, out onto the deck near the pool, back inside, through the kitchen, and into the living room again. Up the stairs to Jones’s bedroom, and then right back down again. This was bad. Really bad. I didn’t care about the money. I would live in a cardboard box on the side of the road, if that’s what it came down to. But not Jones. Jones deserved everything and anything. I wouldn’t let my father ruin him or his mother. Tears burned my eyes at the thought of what that would do to him. He would never be the same. He was too sweet, my little golden retriever.
“Honey, I’m home!” Jones’s cheerful voice traveled through the air as he entered the house.
I rushed down the stairs and grabbed him in my arms, swinging him around. His laughter was nearly contagious.
“Did you miss me?” He placed his palms on both sides of my face. “What’s wrong, Charlie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I shook my head. “Nothing, Bashful.”
“Don’t lie to me.” He struggled in my grip, and I reluctantly placed him back on his feet. Jones narrowed his eyes as he watched me. “What did your father do now?”
I grabbed his hand and tugged him into the living room. I sat down, and when Jones climbed up into my lap, I couldn’t help but feel more relaxed. “He came by.”
“What!” Jones exclaimed. “He was here, at the house? What did he say? Did he do something? Charlie, did he hurt you?”
I was so lucky that this man had agreed to give me a second chance. “The only way that that asshole could hurt me is by hurting you. And he’d never live to see another day if he did.”
“What did he say this time, Charlie?” Jones leaned his forehead against mine. “I don’t want him to hurt you, baby, because you’re my everything. I’m going to... Well, I don’t know what, but I’m going to do something to stop him.”
