She looks up at me, dumbfounded. “I... uh... yeah. Totally. I’m right behind you.” I take her hand and lead her past my mother. “That was...”
I chuckle. “Yeah. It was. And I’m sorry, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better. My father won’t fold so easily. Do you believe me now when I tell you I’m not engaged to Annabelle?”
She nods, her eyes wide and her steps quick as she struggles to keep up with me. “I can’t wait to tell Charlie about your mother bringing the alcohol to that party. That’s crazy.”
Hot guilt slices through my gut. “Is that guy really suspended? The cop?”
“Kaden? Umm, yeah. He really is. It’s partly his fault, though. He started getting into the dancing and one of the party guests got too close. He should have been paying better attention. He’s just lucky it wasn’t a criminal who lifted his gun, or he’d probably be dead by now.”
I shake my head, sure I heard wrong. “Wait. Did you say he was getting into the dancing? Like, he started stripping of his own volition?”
Phoebe laughs. From what I saw in the video, he wasn’t stripping, but he was shaking his ass and getting hisMagic Mikegroove on. Apparently the two of them, the cop and the security guy, used to work at a men’s dance revue when they were in college. He must’ve missed the feeling of being objectified by women so much that he couldn’t resist a little rolling of his hips for old time’s sake.”
I try to imagine what it would sound like to have a bunch of women screaming at me to take my clothes off, and all I get is a sense of dread. That’s not for me. On the other hand, Phoebe demanding I take my clothes off? That’s something I can get behind. And under. And on top of. Actually, any position will do. I’m not picky.
But first, we need to get this situation with my father cleared up. I grab her hand, lacing our fingers together, and continue down the hall. “Come on. Let’s get this over with so we can get back to Lincoln. And if you believe me after all this, maybe you can convince Charlie not to castrate me? She was pretty adamant that if I didn’t present you with irrefutable evidence, she would take kitchen shears to my junk.”
Phoebe snickers, then fixes me with a sorry excuse for an angry glare. “Your mom had some interesting things to say, but let’s wait to see what your dad says before I to step in on your behalf. There’s a chance you’ll still need castrating at the end of this.”
I stifle the sigh of relief that threatens to make its way out of my lungs. I’m not out of the woods yet, but I can tell Phoebe is doubting her initial assessment of the situation. Hopefully, after talking to my father, she’ll realize I’m not involved with anyone else, and that I didn’t lie to her. Because after spending all this time with her these last few weeks, I know she’s the only one I want to be involved with.
“ARCHER!” My father’s voice carries down the long hallway, a testament to his anger. He doesn’t normally yell, preferring to intimidate others with a calm voice, something he always told me was the best way to put fear into people. It’s hard to defend yourself against someone who comes across as a robot, after all. “Where is that boy?”
My father comes storming out of his office, his face red, his shirt askew, as though he’s been tugging on his tie, looking unusually disheveled. His face grows angrier when he spots me, his fists clenching and unclenching with barely contained rage. Satisfaction floods my system. He’s angrier than I’ve ever seen him, and I know this has something to do with what my lawyer cooked up for him.
“Archer,” he says as he comes to a stop in front of me and Phoebe. Instinctively, I block Phoebe with my body, not wanting to risk my father lashing out at her. “Do you care to tell me what this is all about?”
I shrug, and his face contorts with a snarl at my nonchalance. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Father. Can you elaborate for me?”
“Your bitch of a lawyer is pressing charges against me. She can’t get away with this. Does she have any idea who I am?”
I barely suppress a chuckle. “I think she does, Dad. At least, I’m sure she needed your name in order to press charges.” Phoebe snickers beside me and my father’s head snaps in her direction. “But that’s good, right? At least she’s not taking you to court for impersonating an officer of the court.”
“What do you mean? I’ve done nothing to her.”
I let the chuckle loose this time, which only enrages him further. “Oh, come on, Dad. You know you can’t go around falsifying contracts and forging signatures and expect there to be no consequences, especially not when there are lawyers involved. I’m surprised she’s not suing you for everything you have.”
The mask of anger drops from his face, and he folds his hands together. “Well, yes. I suppose there is that.” Huh, that’s weird. “I’m sure you can get that all cleared up after the wedding, though.”
And there it is. My eyes drift skyward. Not him, too. “That’s why I’m here, actually. To clear this up once and for all.”
“Clear what up?”
“Dad, this is Phoebe.” I step aside while pulling out my phone. “And this is Lincoln.” I show him the same picture I showed my mother moments ago. “He’s my son with Phoebe. I’m not marrying Annabelle.”
Dad barely looks at the picture before laughing. “That doesn’t matter, son. You can keep your little tart if you want after you’re married. It’s what all men with money do. I can’t tell you how many mistresses I’ve had over the years. Your mother turns a blind eye because she enjoys the life I’ve afforded her.” He shrugs. “I’m sure Annabelle won’t care if you keep banging Phyllis here, as long as you’re making enough money to keep her in the lifestyle she’s become accustomed. Believe me, you don’t want to be stuck borrowing from friends because the things they want in return are more trouble than they’re worth.”
Dread settles heavily in my belly. This is my chance to get him to admit to what he’s done. “Her name is Phoebe, Dad. But what do you mean? Who did you borrow from? And what do they want in return?”
My father laughs heartily, as though his panic from moments ago has completely dissipated. “Come on, Archer. I thought you would have figured that out by now. Peter Meyers got me out of the hole I found myself in, and in exchange, you will marry Annabelle.”
“Oh shit,” Phoebe whispers, and I nod along.
“Oh shit, is right.”
Chapter 41
Not Such A Ho Ho Ho After All
