“You’re going to your parents. I’m coming with you.”
“I’m not introducing you to my parents, Alfie,” I say.
“Just tell them I’m a friend.” He shrugs.
“So, lie to my father then?”
“We are friends, Molly.” He frowns at me.
“No, we’re not.” I shake my head and pull out my phone. I told my father I’d call when I landed. Pressing the green button next to my dad’s name, I then put the phone to my ear. “Hi,Daddy,” I say and smile a little when I notice Alfie shift in the seat. “I’ve just landed. I’m coming now.”
“Hi, princess. She’s asleep, but she’ll wake up soon,” my dad tells me.
“How are you, Daddy?” I ask him.
“I’m hanging in there,” he says.
“I, uh, I caught a ride on a friend’s plane and he’s accompanying me.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure the guestroom is set up or is this more of a boyfriend kind of friend?”
“Definitely not my boyfriend, Daddy, but I’ve booked a suite in the city. I’m not staying at the house.”
“Oh, okay. Sure. I’ll see you soon, Mol. Thank you for coming home.”
“See you soon.” I hang up and drop my phone into my purse. “You have issues. You can’t seriously get turned on every time I talk to my dad,” I tell Alfie.
“It’s a new kink for me too.” He laughs. “But it’s a good thing we’re staying at a hotel, because tonight, you’re going to be calling meDaddy,” he whispers into my ear before kissing my neck.
Chapter Sixteen
The closer we get to Molly’s parents’ house, the more anxious she becomes. I reach over and pull her fingers out of her mouth, stopping her from biting her nails. I squeeze her hand in mine and then rest our joined palms on my thigh.
I don’t know what to say to her. I try to think about how I would feel, what I would need if it were me, if it were my motherdying of a brain tumor. I quickly stopped that thought process, because there are no words, no actions that can help.
“You know I’ve worked so hard. I’m always one step ahead of anything that I come up against. But this, my mother, it’s the one thing I can’t win. I don’t like feeling so out of control.”
“I understand that,” I tell her, because that’s how I feel right now. I want to throw all the resources at my disposal to help her and there’s nothing that actually will. “How long do you think you’ll stay here?”
“Well, I have a gala to attend in two days, so I’ll stay the night, see my dad again tomorrow, and then head back to Vegas. You, however, do not need to stay.”
“I don’t mind.” My phone rings out and I pull it from my pocket, seeing my dad’s name. “It’s my father. I have to take this,” I tell Molly before pressing answer. “Yeah?”
“What the fuck are you and your brother doing in Portland?” he yells down the line.
“A friend had a family emergency. I’m just helping her out,” I tell him.
“And since when did you become friends with Molly Olive?”
“Since I met her.”
“Alfie, you’re supposed to be running the woman out of town, not keeping her around.”
“Well, considering I’m currently in Portland, I’d say I’ve achieved that goal, Dad.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass. What happened last night? The doc called this morning to tell me to make sure you take your antibiotics.”
“I don’t need antibiotics. I’m fine.” At this, Molly frowns at me. “I was having a chat with Aleksei, his head exploded, and some of his skull got stuck in my cheek. I got stitched up. It’s fine,” I explain to my dad.
