Kate
You have got to be kidding me. There’s no way this is a coincidence. What are the odds the day Kai tries to get Xander into meeting my parents that my dad walks through the door? And why the hell didn’t the bell above the door ring?
“D-dad, what are you doing here?” Turning, I extricate myself from Xander’s hold and face him. I hate that my voice breaks when I speak to him. It makes me feel weak.
“I came to get flowers for your mother. Tomorrow is her birthday, remember?” Of course, I remember. Despite what they may think of me, I’m not a total screw up. “I didn’t expect to walk in and find you with your tongue down this young man’s throat.” he pauses for a beat, “how old are you, anyway?”
Xander stiffens behind me, and I know he’s about to say something. But I stop him before he can. “Xan, you should probably go.”
“I ca?—”
He doesn’t get to finish. “I said go, Xander.”
I turn just enough to see the hurt flash across his face. I didn’t mean to raise my voice at him, but he doesn’t need to be here to witness whatever is about to go down with me and my dad. He glances at me one more time before heading down the hallway and out of sight.
Moving around the counter, I hurry to the door and turn off the sign. It’s not quite closing time, yet, but nobody needs to be a witness to this.
“Why are you here, Dad?”
“Getting flowers for your mother.” His tone is matter of fact and brooks no room for argument.
“I would believe that if it was something you did on a constant basis. I’ve had this shop for a decade, and not once have you come in here to get flowers for her,” I put my hands on my hips, “so, I’ll ask you again why you’re really here.”
“I don’t feel the need to explain myself to you.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“Then you can leave.” I open the shop door and hold it for him.
“You can’t kick me out.” His face is turning red, and I know I’m hitting all his buttons.
“Actually, I can. I have the right to refuse business,” I tap my foot up and down on the tile floor, “I don’t need yours.”
“Fine,” he sputters, “Kai mentioned you were dating someone, and that it was a coworker. Since you don’t tell us what is going on in your life, I wanted to come see for myself if he was telling the truth. Imagine my surprise to see you making out with someone considerably younger than you.”
Of course, my brother let that slip. I wonder if that was before or after he cornered me about Xander meeting them. Most likely before, and he was trying to cover his ass when he made the proposal.
“Does it matter? Last time I checked I’m a grown woman, and able to do what I want. Besides, you and Mom don’t make it easy to talk to y’all.”
“That’s beside the point.”
“No, it really is,” I pause for a second, “you know what, I can’t do this.” I grab one of the biggest bouquets we have out here right now and shove it in my dad’s hands. “Here are the flowers for Mom. Please leave.”
He acts like he wants to stay, but he must be able to sense my mood. With the flowers still in his hands, he marches out the door and into the fading light. I close the door behind him and lock it. I’m going to murder my brother.
I don’t bother picking up the cleaning supplies on my way to the back of the shop. I’ll come early in the morning and finish up. The audacity my father has to come up here to check on me. What the actual hell?
My entire body goes rigid when I look around the warehouse and don’t see Xander anywhere. It looks like everyone left as soon as they could. Except one person, and it’s not the person I thought it would be.
“So, that went well.” Samantha is cleaning up the work tables and putting things where they go.
“You heard?” I should not have yelled like that while here.
“Yep,” she nods, “Xander left right before the yelling began, but he looked like someone took his favorite toy away. Both sad and furious. Would you know anything about that?”
Ugh, I’m absolutely awful. “I made him leave before I got into with my dad. I didn’t think he’d actually leave the whole shop, though.”
If I’m being honest, I’m hurt he left. I thought what we have is bigger than this. Maybe it’s best I learn this lesson with him now. When I let people in, they have the power to hurt me.
“My guess is it was for the best. He looked like he wanted to punch something, or someone, even though he was upset.”
