He stared at me for a few heartbeats before finally answering. “All right, but like I said, this discussion isnotover.”
I didn’t bother responding. I simply allowed Jason to pull me into a hug. He held on for longer than our usual parting hugs. I squeezed him around the waist before he finally withdrew. I gave him a half-smile before turning to leave. Just as my hand touched the doorknob, he stated, “You know he’d never do that to you, right? Dad, I mean.”
I paused, remembering my dream from this morning, then looked over my shoulder. “He wasn’t the same father to me that he was to you, Jay.”
Jason nodded, running his hand over his closely shaved head. “I know, Nel.”
I finally exited my brother’s office. In the hallway, I paused, looking down to my father’s office. A piece of me wanted to go back and speak with my father. To apologize for the way I stormed into his office, but pride is a bitch. Instead, I turned and walked out the main door.
Chapter Two
Chanel
I hurried into the sushi restaurant Gabby chose for us to have an early dinner. I was running about fifteen minutes late. At the entrance, I greeted the young hostess.
“Hi, I’m meeting—oh, there she is, right there. Thank you,” I added, a bit out of breath from speed-walking from my car. Gabby was waving. I gave her a smile as I took in the big curly mane she was rocking that day, and her black body suit.
“Decided to go natural today, huh?” I greeted as she stood from the table. I pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Yeah, letting the curls breathe a little,” she answered, fluffing her already sizable hair. “Anyway, it’s about time your ass showed up. Thought I was going to have to send out a search party.”
I shook my head, grinning. Gabby could be so dramatic. “I’m only fifteen minutes late.AndI sent you a text telling you I was on the way. I had a phone meeting with a new client and it ran over.” I’d tried to get out of work a little early to meet Gabby for our five-thirty dinner date, but duty called.
“That’s because you’re a workaholic and can’t even leave work ten minutes early to meet your best friend for dinner.”
I tilted my head. “Seriously? You’re starting in on me before we’ve even ordered our—” Just as I was finishing my retort, a handsome young waiter came over to our table.
“A gin and tonic for you, and the amaretto sour is for you, I presume.” He smiled at me with his hazel eyes gleaming as he placed my drink in front of me.
“My name is Jonathan; I’ll be your server for the evening. I’ll let you two lovely ladies settle in and take a look at the menu for a minute before I come to take your order.” He nodded and left us to peruse the menus on the table.
“You were saying?”
“Thank you. I needed this.” I sighed before I pulled the straw between my lips and took a sip of my drink.
“I bet you did. You’re still not sleeping, I see.” Her pink tinted lips turned into a frown as she stared at me, observing the bags under my eyes, which I’d tried to cover with makeup.
“Damn, I don’t look that bad, do I?” I asked, pulling a compact out of my purse.
“Nah, not to someone who doesn’t know you. But Idoknow you, and even your forty dollar MAC foundation and concealer aren't enough to cover everything I see just by looking at you.”
I pulled another sip of my drink as my stomach dropped. “Can we at least order our dinner before you start in on me again?”
She had the audacity to grin at me. “Sure thing.”
I picked up my menu and quickly decided on the spicy tuna roll and seaweed salad for my meal. Gabby opted for the uchi salad, pumpkin tempura, and cauliflower tempura. Jonathan returned a minute later to take our orders, and promised to return shortly to refill our drinks.
“He’s cute. I wonder what time he gets off.” Gabby eyed our waiter as he walked away from us.
“Gabby.”
“What? It was just a question.” She shrugged, laughing.
We began a light banter after I asked her about her day. She’d taken a half a day from the doctor’s office she worked at as an esthetician and massage therapist to volunteer at the women’s shelter she and I both volunteered at, and to look at some spaces to consider renting for the salon she planned on opening.
“You know the women there are usually so hesitant to see me, but afterward I can see how grateful they are,” she stated, discussing her time at the shelter.
I nodded. “Yeah, many haven’t felt a friendly touch in God knows how long. I’m glad you can give that to them. Speaking of, did you check out the spaces you were supposed to look at?”
