“Deal,” I mumble.
“Love you, Georgie.” Before I can even answer, he hangs up the phone.
I roll my eyes and pull my phone away from my ear, seeing that Daisy is still waiting for me on the other line. “You there?” I ask, taking her off hold. “You didn’t have to wait.”
“Well, you know, I have no drama like your drama. I live for it. What did your dad say? Is he disowning you?”
I laugh. “Not yet. He wants to meet for dinner and talk everything out. He even apologized for overreacting.”
“That sounds dangerous, Georgia. Your dadneverapologizes and means it.”
My stomach knots up. “I know, but maybe this time is different since it involves Brody.”
Daisy’s voice falters. “I hope so.”
Me, too.
I stare at the black dress in the mirror in Brody’s room, taking in the way it hugs my curves in all the right ways—but maybe it’s not the best choice for this occasion. “Do you think this is too sexy for tonight?” I meet Brody’s eyes in the mirror.
His gaze rakes over the mid-thigh-length dress. “I think it’s sexy, for sure. But too sexy? Nah.” He gestures to my covered chest. “You look modestly sexy. It works. If your father is gonna be pissed over that, he’ll be pissed over anything.”
“Well,” I spin around to face him, taking in his charcoal suit. “That’s the problem. Hedoesget pissed over everything.”
“Then it really doesn’t matter what you wear.”
I nod. “This could be really awful.”
“That’s why I’m your buffer guy.” He gives me a reluctant smile, and I know he didn’treallywant to do this. I saw it on his face last night when I asked him about it.
But he’s doing it anyway. Because that’s just who Brody is.
He shows up. Always.
Brody offers his arm to me and threads mine through his, letting him lead me out onto the main deck. Emmett and Miles both perk up, their eyebrows raising sky high.
“You sure you don’t want us to come with you?” Emmett throws it out there. “I haven’t seen Robert in a while, and I’d love to talk to him about?—”
“Shut up,” Miles cuts him off, shooting him a dirty look. “Don’t make the situation worse. It’s our job to hold the fort down.”
Brody chuckles. “And then be ready for damage control.”
“Yes, damage control,” Miles grumbles, flipping his case file shut. “That seems to be what I always do.”
“It’s basically what you get paid to do,” Emmett jokes, sinking deeper into his chair. He tips his beer back and gulps it down. “You two have fun. Try not to piss Robert off too badly.”
“That’s the plan,” I manage to say, though mostly under my breath. I give Emmett and Miles each a kiss on the cheek and then follow Brody off the ship. My heart is racing, and it continues to as we climb into the back of the SUV waiting for us.
“He said he wants to talk it out.” Brody’s words hardly work as reassurance as he settles in beside me. “That’s a good sign.”
“Yeah,” I keep Daisy’s suspicions to myself. I don’t want to be the one who introduces worry into a situation that maybe doesn’t warrant it. I mean, for all I know, my dad really cares. He might be okay with all of this—or at least hear us out.
But will we tell him about Emmett and Miles?
My stomach churns at the thought. His reaction to Brody was horrific. I can only imagine what he’d do if he found out about the other two.
He’d have my head.
I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “It’s going to be fine. My dad loves me.” I don’t know why I say those words out loud, but Brody reaches over and grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze.
