“Oh, God.” I shook my head, wishing I could melt into a puddle and pour myself out of the situation. “That contract was ona beer-stained napkin. Even if it counted, these aren’t the dark ages where women are property to be given away.”
“Hey, honey,” my dad said, pulling me in for a quick hug as he joined us.
“I asked you not to tell Dakota I was in town,” I reminded him.
He didn’t even have the decency to look ashamed. “You know how Lakeview is. There’s no way someone wasn’t gonna tell him, and I figured youtwo needed to talk this thing out.”
“There is no ‘thing’ between us,” I said. Then, because I could feel Addison glaring daggers into my back, I turned and repeated myself to her. “No ‘thing.’ Nothing. Our parents were friends and one night after far too many beers, they lost their minds and wrote up some stupid contract stating that Dakota and I would get hitched someday. It’s just a wild fantasyand it’s not going to happen.”
“You’re breakin’ my heart, Dyl,” Dakota said with a mock frown, but he didn’t look all that upset. “Damn, you look good. I missed the hell out of you. Knew you’d be back.”
“Thanks,” I replied, once again torn between not wanting to sound like a bitch yet needing to be firm with him. Dakota was one of the sweetest guys I’d ever met. He was handsome, a hard worker,and a fun guy. But there was nothing between us. Never had been. I loved him like a brother. Attempting to deflect his attention, I pointed to my friend. “This is Addison.”
Dakota eyed her. “She’s not the one you’re shacked up with, is she?”
“What?” I looked to Addison and legitimately considered lying and saying we were a Lebanese couple. Why the hell not? It might get everyone off my backabout Dakota for a minute.
“I can assure you Dylan and I are not shacked up,” Addison said, stepping forward. “We’re roommates, but we have separate bedrooms. She’s my friend, but that’s all.”
“Whew, that’s a relief,” Dakota replied. “Your grandma must have been messing with me.”
Before I could respond, Dad kissed my cheek. “It’s good to see you, sweetie. I missed you.”
The familiar scentof whisky wrapped around me like an old blanket, and I was once again torn between guilt for staying away and a desire to leave and never come back. Dad looked rough. The bags under his eyes had looked permanent , his nose and cheeks were ruddy, and his hands trembled slightly. It broke my heart to see his drinking problem take on physical characteristics, but I knew there wasn’t a damn thing I coulddo about it.
“I missed you too, Dad. You remember Addie, don’t you?”
Addison gave him a little wave. “Hello, Mr. James.”
He grunted. “Yep, I remember her.”
“Be nice,” I chided, releasing him.
“You wanna grab some lunch with me and Dak?” he asked, obviously not including Addison.
“Can’t. Addie and I need to go over our case notes and put our heads together...see if we can’t get these ladiesback their jewelry.”
He frowned. “Will I get to spend any time with you at all while you’re here?”
And the worst daughter ever award goes to yours truly.
“I don’t know. Time’s gonna be tight, but I’ll call you.” I kissed his cheek and gestured for Addison to follow me.
We made it all the way to her car before Addison turned on me. “That’s Dakota?” she asked.
“In the flesh.”
She lookedfrom me to the door where Dad and Dakota were emerging. “Are you sure you’re not Lebanese, Dylan?”
I rolled my eyes. “Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, buddy. Always yours.” As we climbed into her car she added, “But I still don’t understand how you could walk away from that fine piece of—”
“Nice guy,” I interrupted, not even wanting to know where she was going with that one. “He’s great, butthere was never anything between us. Dak knows it too, but he’s worried about letting our parents down.”
“Whereas you don’t care,” she said.
“I do care, but I’m not gonna get with some guy I don’t like just to make my dad happy. He couldn’t even put down a bottle long enough to raise me. Where does he get off expecting me to sacrifice my life to fulfill his wishes?”
