His daughter as in…
Whatever he reads on my face, he shakes his head and quickly reiterates, “Not my youngest, who seems to think she deserves the world, but my eldest.”
“I’ve never even seen your daughter, Joel,” I quickly state because I haven’t, even in the years him and dad were friends, his daughters never made the trip home with him. That and he knows what I’ve been through, so he most likely doesn’t want me near his family, so of course, I’ll reassure him. His next words shock me, and my stomach tightens.
“You locked eyes with her this afternoon, Cage,” he says softly, and I swallow hard.
Shit, the woman I felt an instant spark with.
He gives me a sad smile. “I’m guessing by your reaction you know who I mean?” he confirms, and I nod once before soothing, “I won’t go near her, I swear,” but even as I say the words, I instantly want to retract them.
Joel tilts his head as I fist my hands at my side, and he sighs.
“I saw the day your parents fell in love,” he mentions, “I saw the way your dad looked at your mother in fifth period English. I saw how his body tightened and how all he wanted to do was sitnear her, how his eyes stayed trained on her,” he gives me a sad smile, “The look you are giving me right now, is a look of wanting to claim my daughter.”
I flinch then grunt, “With all due respect, I don’t know her, and I won’t go near her, I’m a fuck up.”
“You’re not a fuck up, Cage,” he denies and I open my mouth to call him out but he isn’t done, “You have grieved for nearly eight years, you have blamed yourself for something that is most definitely not your fault and I fuck. I cannot believe I’m saying this, but my daughter will probably bring you back, bring back that boy who laughed and enjoyed life.”
I furrow my brows and ask, “Are you trying to set me up with your daughter, Joel?” with complete confusion because seriously, what the fuck?
He knows I’ve been inside, he knows I’ve done drugs.
He huffs, “Apparently so, because as much as she’ll bring that boy back out in you, you’ll bring her out of her shell and out of her focus on ballet.”
Ballet?
He must see the confusion on my face, so he explains, “Since she was three, Drew has been obsessed with ballet. Over the years, she’s progressed to the point where she has won competitions, and even now, she still does ballet shows but more to raise money for the underprivileged kids and teens. She even works with them but outside of that, she has no life, no friends. Her only boyfriend decided to screw her younger sister in high school, and I fucking hate that I’m saying this, but Drew doesn’t need a choir boy. She needs someone like you, and I believe you need someone like her.”
Drew… Fuck, her name makes my stomach tighten.
“Joel…” I say, but stop, not really knowing what to say.
I’m in town for two nights, that is fucking it, yet the thought of not seeing this woman, of not seeing Drew…
Joel sighs and as we lock eyes he says, “All I’m saying is, I’m not telling you to stay away from my daughter, heck, I can guarantee Elizabeth will try and get your attention at some point while you’re in town. I’m just saying, Drew, she’s special and I know the look you both had, a look she has never had with someone before. If you want to get to know her, don’t do it because you want a quick fuck. Only speak to her if you know you will give in to what you really want, to claim her, and I won’t stand in your way.”
Looking over me, he turns and walks to the door leaving me shell shocked but before he opens it he says, “It is real fucking good to see you, Cage, and even better knowing I’m not going home to say goodbye at your gravesite while trying to hold my best friend up,” we lock eyes, mine tearing and he rasps, “Drew’s Ballerinas, that is where she is every single day unless she has a show or a meeting with investors and she lives at the apartment above…” Then demands, “Don’t hurt my daughter,” before he walks out and I swallow hard again.
Taking a shuddering breath, I grab my phone and bring up my dad’s number out of reflex before pressing it and putting the phone to my ear, needing him, needing his advice.
“Your mother is driving me crazy, please tell me you are coming home!” he answers after four rings, and I swallow hard.
“Dad,” I choke, my chest tightening, not able to comprehend the conversation with Joel. My body is pulling me towards the ballet studio I know now she stays at, a woman I haven’t even said one word to, and my fear spikes.
“Son? What is it?” he panics, and I whisper, “I need your advice.”
Do I leave now, continue on my route, and never return home?
Or do I confront this possessive feeling I’ve suddenly got and get to know a woman that could either turn out to be a patch chaser and risk my family, yet a fucking gain, or become mywhole fucking universe. She would be a universe I don’t deserve after getting my little sister killed.
Chapter 6
Drew
I straighten my left leg out in front of me before bending my body forward and grabbing my toes. I stretch as much as I can, not needing to pull or strain any muscles or anything, because yeah, that would not do me any good right now. I take deep breaths before swapping legs and do the exact same with my right leg.
I have four days until the show, and I can’t risk an injury, not now. Not when some of the teens I teach will be a part of it and are counting on me, and especially when an anonymous donation of fifty thousand dollars was made last night. I honestly thought it was a prank until my mom read through it and confirmed it was real.
