Page 58 of Sweet Spot

“Yep. I might have a distribution deal with some big grocery store my investor won’t tell me about yet.”

“Wow. Very fancy,” Dad said with a small laugh. Then it was silent for several seconds and I let myself get paranoid that I’d said something wrong or done something to offend him.

“So, what are you up to?” I asked to break the silence.

“You already asked me that. I’m just sitting here,” Dad replied. I couldn’t read his tone. “Well. I guess I was also calling to tell you I might have done something to upset you. I saw Ritchie at the store the day you told me about your investment deal, and I told him about it. I was excited and I didn’t consider that maybe you didn’t want him to know. It’s kind of been weighing on me, so… I’m sorry about that, Lia. I wasn’t thinking.”

My heart melted. “Dad. Really?” I covered my face with my hand and gave a little giggle. “You let that bother you for so long? I’m happy you were so proud of me you couldn’t contain it. Not even to my ex who you don’t even like.”

His laugh crackled into the phone. “Okay then. I’m glad you’re not angry.”

“I’m not.”

“Good. I’m glad,” he said again. Normally, the repetition in our conversations depressed me and made me feel like we were two strangers. But not today. Maybe I was just happy but the conversation we were having felt like the best one we’d had in years. “Anyway, Lia, I’ll let you go. I know you’re busy. I hope I can find the energy to make a visit soon and see you.”

“Or I can come up to Warren,” I blurted, remembering what Ritchie said about the box his mom left me.

“Oh.” Dad sounded stunned. “That would be great. I just thought you said you were afraid of seeing people.”

“Yeah, but… things change,” I laughed. “I’m not scared anymore. All I’m scared of these days is paperwork and filling orders.”

“That’s not too bad,” Dad offered.

“No, it’s not. So maybe I’ll come see you. Maybe even tomorrow. I’ll catch a bus and take advantage of the rest of this weekend since it’ll probably be the last non-swamped weekend I’m gonna have in awhile.”

“I think that would be nice! I would love that.”

I grinned wide at the genuine enthusiasm I heard in my dad’s voice. After another minute of conversation, we hung up awkwardly as usual, but with laughter in our voices so I considered it very much a win.

I was still sitting with a smile on my face when the front door of the townhouse swung open. I sat up straight on the steps, getting ready for some snark in case it was Rachel. But it wasn’t.

It was Lukas and I knew the second I laid eyes on him that something was wrong.

“Hey,” I frowned, standing up. Light and breezy a second before, my heart felt suddenly heavy as Lukas walked straight into my arms.

“Tired,” he muttered.

“And?” Standing a step above him, I hugged his head to my chest. “I can tell something’s wrong, Lukas. Can you tell me what?” I asked. He heaved a sigh.

“Let’s go upstairs.”

We went into his apartment and once the door closed behind us, I asked him again. “Please tell me something, Lukas,” I pleaded gently.

“Cam broke into my office today.”

My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

“Yes but it’s fine. No one got hurt,” Lukas said, tipping his head to the side as he loosened his tie.

“You look exhausted.”

“I am.” He tossed his tie onto the couch. Turning to me, he cupped my elbows. “Listen, if you see a guy around here, six feet, kind of sandy blonde hair and a funny shaped face, that’s Cam,” he said. “If you so much as see him even on this block, you call me.”

“Why, is he going to hurt me?” I asked incredulously. “Why would he care about me?”

Lukas shook his head. “I don’t know. Because he’ll do anything to get under my skin and he already fucked with Tess so now he’s looking for other options.”

My eyes fluttered. “What did he do to Tess?”