Laney
Ilet out a frustrated sigh and take a sip of my now lukewarm latte. Could this day get any worse? With Dad away in Phoenix for a couple of nights, I thought I’d be able to sneak off to Prescott, find a decent shopping mall, and pick up a new outfit for my date tomorrow night. It was supposed to be easy. What I didn’t count on was my car breaking down in the middle of nowhere… and being stuck in this rundown Starbucks for hours.
When AAA told me the policy had lapsed, I knew I was in trouble. I called everyone I could think of, which didn’t take long, hoping someone would bail me out. No luck. Which meant I had to do the one thing I really didn’t want to do. Call Dad. And of course, he was furious. I’m already grounded from last time, and with the stunt I pulled recently, cancelling his date with Ashlyn, this is definitely not going to help.
I jump when my phone rings in my hand. My stomach twists as I glance at the screen. Dad. Great. Bracing myself for another lecture, I answer.
“Hello,” I say quietly, bringing the phone to my ear.
“It’s me.” His clipped tone makes my stomach clench tighter. “Ashlyn’s on her way to pick you up–”
“No!” I blurt out, cutting him off. “There has to be someone else who can come.”
He sighs, the frustration in his voice making me wince. “Like who, Laney? Who else do you expect me to call?”
“I’ll get an Uber,” I snap. “I don’t need her to come get me. I don’t want anything to do with her.”
“I’ve had enough of this crap,” he barks, making me flinch. “Ash has kindly agreed to go out of her way, after working all day, to come get you. After how you treated her the other week, do you honestly think she wants to pick you up?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “You will be polite. You will thank her. Ash is a part of my life now, and you need to get used to it. If she tells me you’ve been anything less than respectful, you’ll find out just how much worse things can get. Do you understand me?”
Anger boils inside me. I clench my teeth, refusing to answer, knowing full well that’s only going to make him angrier, but I can’t help it.
“Answer me, Laney,” he snaps again, his voice dangerously low. “Do. You. Understand?”
I squeeze my eyes shut, blinking back the sting of tears. I thought he was angry when I sent that message to Ashlyn, but that was nothing compared to the edge in his voice now. “Yes,” I murmur.
“Good. Ash is going to call me when she’s picked you up. Your car’s staying there. I’ll deal with getting it towed when I get home. I have to go. Call me if you need me.”
The line goes dead, and I toss my phone onto the table, groaning as I drop my head back against the booth. This day had already hit rock bottom, and now I’m supposed to make polite conversation with my dad’s girlfriend.
Knowing Ashlyn won’t be here for at least another thirty minutes, probably longer with traffic, I make my way back to the counter and order another latte. Once it’s in my hands, I return to the booth and drop into the seat with a heavy sigh.
I know I’m being unfair about Ashlyn and Dad’s relationship. Deep down, I get it, even if I don’t want to acknowledge it. I’ve only properly met Ashlyn once, and yeah, I was drunk, but even then, she seemed… nice. The kind of person I’d probably be friends with under different circumstances. But I can’t bring myself to let her in. Every time I even think about it, it feels like I’m betraying my mom. And that thought alone is enough to make my chest ache.
I absentmindedly scroll through my phone while I wait for Ashlyn to get here. Despite the bravado I’ve been clinging to, nerves twist in my stomach. The last time I saw her, I was a total bitch. And the time before that, Dad was with me, and I’d had enough vodka to take the edge off. This time, it’s just me.And coffee definitely doesn’t have the same calming effect as alcohol.
I can’t help but wonder if she’s as nervous about seeing me as I am about seeing her. I’m embarrassed that I used Dad’s phone to text her and cancel their date. When I asked if we could go and visit Mom and he put me off, I saw red, and the decision was made in a split second. I instantly regretted it. I knew I’d never get away with it. I don’t even know why I did it in the first place.
About twenty minutes later,I’m pulled out of my scroll through social media by the sound of the door chime. I glance up and my eyes widen when I spot Ashlyn walking in. But it’s who’s behind her that throws me. Wyatt Brookes.
“Holy crap,” I mutter under my breath, wishing I hadn’t been sitting in this rundown coffee shop for hours in jeans and scuffed sneakers.
Ashlyn’s gaze finds mine, and she gives me a small wave. I take a steadying breath and lift my hand to return the gesture before pushing myself up from the table and heading toward them.
“Hey,” she says with a warm smile. “Your dad said you’ve had a rough day.”
“You could say that,” I reply, forcing a small smile of my own. His lecture is still playing on repeat in my head, but I push it aside.
“Thanks for coming all the way out here to get me,” I add.
She brushes it off easily. “Of course.”
I glance over her shoulder at Wyatt, who flashes me a grin that makes my stomach flip.
“I brought my brother along,” Ashlyn explains. “He knows his way around cars and offered to take a look.” She turns slightly toward him. “Wyatt, this is Laney. Laney, Wyatt.”
“Nice to meet you, Laney,” Wyatt says with a nod.
“You too,” I mumble, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. Sure, I’ve seen him plenty of times on TV, but in person, he’s even more ridiculously good-looking.
