Why’d I have to run into what’s her name? Kenzie. Why’d she even introduce herself to me? It didn't help that she looked fucking delicious. That sexy ass and hair the color of snow, which shimmered in the light. She looks like she’d walked right out of a fantasy in that short little gown I wanted nothing more than to loosen. I’m insane. What the hell was up with me? She smelled great too. Sweet, like marshmallows. A woman like that had to be taken.
The chef rings the bell,signalling my order is ready. "Briggs!"
“Here you go, your majesty,” Dan mocks. What a fucking asshole. He is always on my case, but with good reason.
I pick up my order, and when I look at the delivery address, I let out a breath. This could not be happening to me. What are the odds?
I want to dump the entire order in the trash and deal with the consequences. Maybe I should just walk away. But then I remember why I started working here in the first place.
"Thanks, Dan," I say under my breath.
“Make sure you get back here in the next half hour. I am sick and tired of covering for you.”
I glare at him over the counter separating us. If it'd been anyone else, I'd have set his nose straight, but this is Dan, one of the only friends I do have, and I could never do that. He went out on a limb getting me not one but two jobs. I am not about to be ungrateful about it.
I pullup at the double-story house and get out, slamming the door behind me. I stiffen my jaw as I take in the fancy home. I'm surprised that they'd bother with a little pizza joint on the other side of town. The pizzas are pretty famous though. Don't they have cooks to do that shit for them? I take the stairs two at a time and ring the doorbell.
A young girl answers, and she beams when she sees me.
“Kace! What a surprise. How are you?” She jumps up, wrapping her arms around me, almost sending the pizza flying.
"Elaine." I try to keep the smile from my voice as I set her down, and she instantly loosens her grip on me and steps away sheepishly. She's never understood boundaries, not since she was a kid, and now at sixteen years old, she's practically all grown up. I haven't seen her in a couple of years.
“I can’t believe it. You’re really here, and you have my pizza. Did the delivery guy leave already?”
"I am the delivery guy." I motion to my cap.
“Oh,” her voice is small. “I didn’t . . .” She fumbles her words.
"It's all right." I give her a small smile. She couldn’t help who her father is, I suppose.
"I'll be broke at this rate," I hear a familiar voice from behind her. I contemplate leaving without the cash. The last thing I need is a confrontation. The money isn't worth it.
He walks toward me smiling. A smile I rarely receive. He’s greyer, stockier, and I hate him just as much as I did the day I walked out of his house.
He squints his eyes as he comes closer, then his eyes widen. “Kace?”
"Mason," I answer.
“Would it kill you to call me Dad?” His brows crease into a frown.
"You'd have to be one to earn that title," I mumble.
“What are you doing here, son?” The word grates on my nerves. I motion down to the pizza box, handing it to Elaine.
“Good to see you, Kace.” Her voice is small as she walks inside the house.
My father hands me a note, his shoulders sagging. “I expected more from you, Kace.” His voice is laced with disappointment. “I could arrange something—”
“Fuck off,” I hiss as I walk away from him. I don’t need to see the disapproval in his eyes. He doesn’t get to look at me like that. He has never been a father to me. He never taught me anything except to abuse his family and fuck everything on two legs. And the last thing I want is any help from him.
I jump into my car and slam the door. I reverse out of the driveway, and I'm sure I'm not going back to that dreaded pizza shop tonight. Maybe never. Fuck everyone.
"Jax . . .,"I slur.
“Kace?” he answers groggily. “It’s three in the morning. What the fuck?”
I hear shuffling and know he’s making his way out of bed and into the passage. “Kace? You there?”
