God, it was hard to look away. Until I remembered it was highly inappropriate to be staring at someone while they slept. Especially when I’d already rejected that someone four times within the past year.
Keeley had every right to wake up and punch me. Or worse, cut me from her life.
Instead, I wasted all of my worrying because she snuck out as soon as she woke up. At least, she tried to sneak out. I’m guessing she didn’t think I was home considering how loud she shut the front door.
Now I’m here, trying to prepare myself for every possible reaction when I see her again.
Is she going to be embarrassed?She shouldn’t be. She didn’t do anything to be embarrassed about.
Is she going to be mad?I wouldn’t blame her if she was. Hence, the reason I was planning breakfast.
Those two options were fairly easy to prepare for. It’s indifference I’m most worried about.
Is she going to walk in here like nothing happened, leaving us to continue on with this weird relationship we have? With both of us pretending there isn’t a strange energy floating between us.
Sure, that sounds easier than having to talk it out. But we’re adults. It’s about time we grew the fuck up and got it all off our chests.
Someone knocks on my door and I freeze, wondering if I’m going to have to face that conversation right now, until Paige pokes her head in.
“Hey, Dad. Have you got a minute?”
“Of course. Come in. What’s up?”
“I wanted to drop this off.” She closes the door and hands me a drawing from Isaac, warming my heart.
“He made this for me?”
“He sure did.”
“I love it. I’m going to put it up somewhere in the office. Thanks, Paige.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiles cheerily and I can sense more.
“You know I always love seeing you, but when do you ever visit just to drop off some of Isaac’s artwork? Is there something else?”
“Yeah, so… question. Are you aware that you’re famous?”
“What? No, I’m not.” I shake off her crazy idea. Paige can have her fame and I’m proud of everything she’s done, but I’m more than happy to stay out of the headlines, unless it’s in relation to my business or the Storm…and it’s positive.
Paige bites back a smile and I frown. “You’re not?”
“No. What is this about?”
She pulls her phone from her bag and I panic. The book? God, don’t tell me more came out from that fucking book. I almost wish there had been something in there about me personally so I could sue his ass too. It’s much easier to sue as an individually named person than as a team, when he was smart enough not to get too specific. It’s just enough to bring us back into the negative spotlight but not enough to get him in trouble. If only he’d thought about that when mentioning the other team.
Paige spins her phone to face me, and I hold my breath, ready to unleash my rage. Until I see the image.
Fuuuck.Who the hell cares about photos of me?
“Okay.” I play it straight, pretending I’m not fazed that she’s holding an image of me outside The Satin Rose, after she told me she was there Saturday night. “That doesn’t really make me famous.”
“It means you’re sellable.”
“Yay for me.”
Paige laughs before her smile turns mischievous. “I didn’t know you’d been to The Satin Rose.”
“I haven’t. You can see my car in the image. I’d just parked there.”
