I waited for the feeling of panic to overtake me, for reality to set in. But there was nothing. Instead, there was just a calm peace and acceptance.
I should’ve been panicking. I was forty-two years old and a teacher at her former school. Ethically, it would raise more than a few eyebrows, even if I had developed feelings and started sleeping with her after she’d turned eighteen. Christ, there was also the fact that I was her best friend’s father.
Shit, Lucy!
I gently extracted myself from Dina, placing a soft kiss on her head. I reached for my phone with a shaking hand. I couldn’t believe that I’d forgotten about my daughter. My lust for Dina had completely taken over, and I forgot to double-check our cameras. Nothing would’ve happened, though. We lived in a safe neighborhood, and my daughter was a very mature, reliable and trustworthy eighteen-year-old.
But when I powered my phone on, my brow furrowed as a slew of notifications from my Ring camera app poured through. I opened them and my blood turned cold.
Dina
Something lured me out of my sleep. The bed was shaking a little before I heard rustling and the sound of Michael cursing. I rubbed my eyes and glanced around. It was still dark outside, so I knew it was very early. Through bleary eyes, I could make out Michael’s figure. He was pulling on his shirt as he swore at something on his phone.
“What’s going on?” I croaked.
His back tensed before he continued pulling on his socks. “There’s an emergency at home.” His voice was flat, his back still turned to me.
I sat up, fear for Lucy drumming through me. “What happened? Is Luce okay?”
“She won’t be by the time I get through with her.”
I frowned at him. “What? What do you mean? What’s happened?”
He turned to me, and my stomach dropped when he wouldn’t look me in the eye. “I’m sorry, Dina. This–this was a mistake.”
“What?”I was wide awake now.
“I have to go. I'm sorry, Dina. I-I’ll leave money on the dresser for you to get home.”
My mouth dropped. Surely he was joking? Leaving money for me like I was a whore? I sat up fully, swung my legs out, and stood to confront him. Michael’s eyes swept my naked form, his eyes flashing before he gulped and glanced away.
“Michael, what are you saying?”
His jaw pulsed as he shook his head. “I don’t have time for this. I need to get to my daughter. Yourbestfriend.” I flinched at his accusatory tone.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck! What was I thinking?”
My head reared back and tears clogged my throat. “Why are you acting like this?”
He glanced at his phone, his face turning red again. “I gotta go. I’m so sorry, Dina.”
With an open mouth, I watched him drop a few notes on the dresser before he walked out.
I still couldn’t believe it. Not when I heard his footsteps pounding down the stairs. Not when I heard the front door open and slam shut. Not even when I heard his car start and peel out of the driveway.
Only when I saw the twenty-dollar note did I burst into tears.
Chapter 9
Dina
Ididn’t stay long at Michael’s. As soon as the sunlight touched the ground, I hurriedly showered and dressed, not wanting to be in his bedroom a minute longer. I winced when I saw my red and swollen face in the mirror.
Even after he left and the bed turned cold, I still stupidly tried to message and call him, unable to believe that he would be so cruel. He never picked up. He didn’t even read my texts. I even tried calling Lucy in case she was hurt, but got no response.
Why had Michael suddenly run out on me? One minute he was telling me that I was the one for him, and the next he was leaving me money on the dresser and telling me that we were a mistake.
His whiplash hurt. I was done. Fuck him. He’d humiliated me for the last time.
