“Yeah, that makes sense.” Sam eyed the pile of toys, then took a step back. “You’ll lock up when
you leave?”
“You know I will,” I promised him.
“Cool. Well, good luck then.”
I blew out a deep breath. Luck was definitely something I needed on my side.
6
COREY
I WAS HYPERAWARE OF WILLIAM’S PRESENCE DURING WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY QUIET TIME. I
jumped every time he dumped another load of toys into the totes Sam had brought out before he
disappeared into the office. If William’s footsteps grew louder, I stopped what I was doing to see if
he was approaching me. And then, inexplicably, I got upset when he kept pretending I wasn’t even
there.
I could have gone up to talk to him. I could be the one to take the first step, since I knew things
were even more stilted between us because I was the one who had been avoiding him for the past
week. But I couldn’t. If I did, he’d offer to help me again, and the only help I needed was keeping the
lid on this damned box.
Someday, when Willow was older, I could unpack all these crates I’d carefully
compartmentalized my life into, but for now, everything I did had to be in her best interests. Having a
father who wanted things that would be perceived as depraved by some, definitely wasn’t on that list.
Knowing my luck, Lisa would find out about anything I did, and I had no doubt she’d use that against
me to keep me from seeing my daughter.
I finished mopping behind the bar, gave my area one last look, and considered it good enough for
tonight. I ignored the feeling of William watching me as I rolled the bucket of dirty water back to the
cleaning closet, rushing through dumping and rinsing it before he could corner me.
All I had to do was grab my backpack, and I’d be free. Once I stepped onto the sidewalk, I could
finally suck in a deep breath and let go of the tension that followed me whenever William was
around. Which was always. Over the past month, he’d gone from being at The Lodge a couple of
nights per week to practically living there. I swung the bag over my shoulder as I made my way to the
door. Just a few more—
“Corey, could I speak to you for a minute?”
