He nods. “Sort of. I was going to come on New Year's Day but she told me to give you space. She said three days. We compromised on two. Then I got your weird ass text and came right after.”
I can’t help but chuckle knowing they were negotiating the approach. I love how well they know me.
“I told her I would bring you home. She still owes us for New Years Eve, you know? She’s probably naked on the bed waiting for us.”
“She has a lot of faith in your negotiating skills.”
“She should.” This time he kisses me, palming my erection behind my black dress pants and I can’t help but groan into this mouth.
He grips onto the front of my shirt, pulling me even closer. “Stop pushing us away.”
“I know, but I already figured it out.”
“Of course you did, you stubborn brute.” He kisses me again. “What’s the plan and do I need my attorney or my shovel?”
I laugh, a deep, hearty laugh as I throw my head back. “You don’t own a fucking shovel.”
“No, but I’ll buy a gold plated one for the occasion if you want.”
“I just quit.” I spit out the words and it feels fucking liberating. His body stills, mid-kiss. “I have no idea what I’m going to do but I can’t work for him anymore and now I have no reason to continue.”
He pulls back, taking me in. His eyes bounce between mine then a slow, sexy smile spreads across his face.
“Need me to be your sugar daddy? Because that’s my kind of investment.”
“Oh, shut up.” I roll my eyes and lean in to kiss him again.
“Fine, but will you tell me the reason why youhadto work for him?”
He finishes just as my office door flies open, banging against the back wall.
“What the fuck is going on?” My fathers voice tears through us as we pull apart, both our necks whiplashing toward the door.
59
ETHAN
“Were you two just kissing?” my father asks incredulously with disgust, as he stands frozen in the doorway of my office.
“Is this the part where I get my shovel?” Dane whispers and somehow I manage to hide my amusement as I side-eye my father.
He’s more frazzled than I expected him to be. His hair is unusually unkempt, his tie is crooked, and there’s a mustard stain on his shirt. He’s got a white knuckle grip on his phone and I imagine it’s my resignation letter on the screen behind it.
I wasn’t prepared to have this conversation face-to-face, especially with Dane here, but I suppose I should have expected it.
Nothing about what has happened since the accident has been in my favor. The healing process, physically and emotionally, losing everything baseball related and relearning how to communicate with Hannah. It was all so debilitating. Working for my father was the only option and, at least, it finally got him off my back.
“Is the only reason you wanted me to work for you purelybecause it made you look better? Like you were some present, stand-up dad and family man?” I ask, ignoring his previous questions.
His lips curl up into a scowl. He’s always hated when anyone talks back to him and my disobedience is skyrocketing him to another level of fury.
“If it weren’t for me you would have nothing. You wouldbenothing. I won’t be the father with the deadbeat, no-good son who does nothing but daydreams about playing a silly game with his useless life. I won’t let you embarrass me and run the image of my name into the dirt.”
“So instead of loving and supporting me through the most difficult time in my life, you lied about the medical expenses so I’d have no choice but to work for you. Just so I wouldn’t make you lookbad.”
“If I didn’t do what I did, you would already be a washed up baseball player with nothing but his memories of the MLB draft and his days in the pros. Baseball is not a career.”
“It wasn’t your fucking decision!” I scream. Never in my life have I yelled at my father.
