He came over and kissed me, his hands lingering softly, caressing me. “I’ll call you.”
What was going on with him?I wondered after he left.
You are not attached to Parker, I chanted to myself. I’d met my goal with him; I was no longer a virgin. Now I was just relationship-less and on the road to being a career cat lady. I supposed I should just let this affair with Parker fade. It was not like I could just marry the first guy I had sex with. That would be weird. Except that was what I wanted to do.
My phone rang again; my father was calling. I sent it to voicemail. My phone had been dinging all day with messages from my father, begging me to meet him. If I had even a chance with Parker, I needed to remove my father from Harrogate as soon as possible.
What would Parker say if he found out? He was so protective of his family and his little brothers. Out on the farm, he’d acted like he was above it all, but it was clear he was keeping an eye on Ellis and Billy the whole time to make sure nothing happened to them. He and his brothers had escaped a cult. What would he think if he learned about my father, who was knee-deep in forking over not just his money but mine and what was left of my grandmother’s life savings to a doomsday cult in the middle of the desert? Forget firing me; Parker would have me run out of town. I would be blacklisted! I couldn’t ever have anything to do with him or anyone in his family again!
I needed to deal with my father immediately.
Sadie:Unless you are going to turn yourself in to the police for fraud and theft, I’m not going to meet with you.
Dad:Dear daughter, I’m working on it. I promise I’ll do the right thing. I just need to see you first. Moonbeam wants to see you too.
Sadie:I don’t believe you.
Dad:Just let me see you. I have a plan.
Sadie:Since you aren’t interested in making amends, we’re done. Leave Harrogate.
Dad:But I do have money for you.
I knew I shouldn’t believe him. The smart thing to do would be to walk away and not engage.
He’s lying,I told myself.
My phone beeped with an incoming photo. I stared at it as the SMS app spun, then I almost choked when I saw the picture. It was a bank account, with a balance of one hundred eighty thousand dollars shown.
Dad:This is for you. I told you I’d make it right.
Dad:Please just say you’ll meet me.
Sadie:OK
Crap.
My phone beeped again. I let out a breath when I saw it was not a text from my father.
Jasmine:Drinks at my place? Amelia’s out of town. I’ve been trying a new meat pie recipe for the historic gala.
Erika:Also we’ve been looking at more Tinder profiles. I found a guy with a ferret, but I bet he has a big dick. He would be a good first dick to use.
Holy crap, my friends didn’t know I was now officially an ex-virgin!
Anxiety about my father and Parker was forgotten as I coaxed my car through town to Jasmine’s house. My friend greeted me at the door with a glass of wine.
“I knew you’d need this,” she said, handing me the glass. “I’ve been over at the convention center all day, planning the layout. I found a local craftsman who makes these really nice wooden tables. Also, he’s single!” She waggled her eyebrows. “And he works all day with his hands. Might be a good first time.”
“I found a high-powered lawyer on Tinder,” Erika said when we walked into the living room, “but I think the craftsman is way better.” She air kissed me. “Take a look at the pictures then decide.”
I was practically jumping up and down. “I choose none of the above.”
“You can’t be a crazy cat lady,” Erika said.
“Sadie could be a crazy dog lady,” Jasmine said. “Puff needs a good home.”
The corgi wagged his tail at me.
