nothing you can do.”
“I really am sorry about this,” I apologized again. “If you find someone to cover for me tonight, let
them know I'll make it up to them.”
“That's a given,” he responded curtly. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I need to see what I can work
out with this bartender situation.”
“Thanks, William. Do you want me to make some calls as well?”
“No, you take care of whatever family emergency came up.” From the tone of his voice, I
wondered if he believed that there was any sort of emergency at all. I completely understood if he
didn't; the excuse I had used was one I had often questioned when others offered it as their reason for
not working.
“Give me a call when you know if this is going to cause you to miss any other shifts,” William
instructed me.
“It won't,” I assured him. Even though William wasn't actually an employee at The Lodge, I
vaguely remembered Jack saying something about William keeping an eye on things whenever he was
gone. Being shitty to him was no different than throwing Jack attitude.
William disconnected the call and I tossed my phone onto the couch. I buried my face in my hands
to muffle the string of curses I couldn't hold back any longer.
“Is everything okay, Daddy?” Willow’s small hand patted my thigh. I was the adult here; she
shouldn't have to comfort me.
“Yeah, baby girl. Everything's good,” I lied. She climbed into my lap and kissed my cheek. I
hugged her tightly, reminding myself how lucky I was to get this time with her. Yes, the lost money
was going to suck but years from now, I wouldn’t miss the money. “Now, what do you say we figure
out something for dinner?”
“Can we have pizza?” She bounced up and down on my lap. I cringed when she kneed me in a
sensitive area. Seriously, it was like kids were programmed to inflict maximum pain. She stilled, her
mouth turning into an adorable pout. “Oops, sorry.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I reassured her. Any other night, I would have suggested we cook together
instead of ordering in, but tonight I had zero motivation to do anything other than start my weekend
with her early. “And pizza sounds like a great idea. Why don’t you pick out a movie for us to watch
while I order?”
