Her friend’s words of advice came back to her. She wanted to be brave and ask him what she needed to know. Get some clarity on what this thing was between them. But the fear was alive and kicking in her bones.
Come on, Tilly. You can do it. One question, and whatever he answers with, you can take it.
It took another ten minutes of swaying in his arms before she finally took her head off his chest and looked at him. “Can I ask you a question?”
There was the slightest pinching of his brows before he answered. “Sure.”
“Where do you see this thing between us leading?” Her heart thumped the second the words were out.
“This thing?”
Shit. Had she worded it wrong? “You know what I mean. Are we dating? Are we friends with benefits? Do you see us as long-term or short-term?”
At his hesitation, the thumping of her heart turned into a full-blown gallop. It was so loud she swore she could hear it over the beat of the music in the bar.
Kayden’s hold on her loosened, and the smallest bit of space appeared between them.
That was bad, right? The hesitation, the physical distance, it was all in preparation to give her an answer she wouldn’t like.
“I’m not sure.”
His softly spoken words pricked at the bubble of her carefully held composure.
He wasn’t sure. That was his answer. He wasn’t sure what they were doing, what he wanted out of this, or whether they were long-term.
She’d been scared she wouldn’t like his answer. But maybe she should have feared this more. That he wouldn’t actuallyhavean answer. That even after spending every night together for over a week, he wouldn’t know what he wanted…or whether he wanted her for anything lasting.
The silence was so thick it almost got stuck in her throat. It was only the ringing of her phone that finally allowed her to step away as she tugged her cell from her back pocket.
Her throat tightened at the private number.
“Who’s that?”
Her gaze shot up at Kayden’s question. And suddenly she wondered if his inability to commit to her had something to do with who her father was…and his old distrust of her.
And if it was, and she told him that her father was in contact with her again, what would he do?
The fear was like a bolt of lightning down her spine.
Ignoring his question, she took a step toward the hallway. “I’m just going to take the call. I’ll be back.”
She waited until she stood in the hall near the bathrooms and checked to make sure it was clear before pressing the cell to her ear.
“Dad?”
At the sound of something behind her, she turned her head, only to see the women’s bathroom door closing. She frowned. Had someone been about to step out?
“Matilda…baby, I’m so glad you answered my call.”
Just like when she’d listened to her father’s voice message, a chill swept over her skin. “What do you want?”
“I want to see you. I miss you.”
Bullshit. She didn’t believe that for a second. “It’s been five years since you robbed half of Misty Peak and deserted me and Mom, and now you want to talk? I can’t imagine what you could possibly want to talk about.”
“Baby—”
“Stop calling me that! I’m not your baby. I’m yournothing. As far as I’m concerned, you’re dead to me. So leave me the hell alone.”
