Page 123 of The Daddy’s Girl

Amelia places her hands over her midsection. “I’ll just sneak into the bathroom.”

“Let me check first to make sure it’s clear.”

“Wait,” she mumbles. Grabbing my face, she kisses me fiercely. But only for a second, because then she pulls away with a quiet giggle. “Okay, hurry. It’s dripping.”

Unable to keep the smirk off my face, I peek my head around the corner. There’s no one around, and the women’s bathroom is just across the hall.

“Coast is clear,” I say. “Hurry.”

Amelia holds her hands over her stomach as she scurries across the space. I grin to myself as I watch her rush toward the bathroom. She reaches for the door as I step out of the storage closet.

When Amelia nearly careens into a woman emerging from the bathroom, my heart stops.

Everything happens in slow motion.

“Oh, excuse me,” the woman says, and my eyes catch on her vibrant copper hair. Her eyes register that it’s Amelia scrambling into the bathroom. Then they lift to see me.

Phoenix’s gaze dances between the young blond disappearing into the bathroom and then over to me, slinking out of the darkness like a criminal, which is what I feel like.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what is going on here, and even if it did, Phoenix is the smartest person I know. She has us figured out in less than a second.

Playing it off, I head into the men’s room. “Bonsoir, Phoenix,” I mutter before slipping behind the door and separating myself from her scrutinizing gaze.

Once I reach the sink, I stare at the mirror and rest my hands on the porcelain surface. Only a week and already we’ve been caught by Julian, Geo, and now Phoenix. This is hardly a secret anymore, and it’s only a matter of time before Ronan finds out the truth.

My hands are shaking as I douse my face with cold water. It feels as if I’m teetering on the edge of something, waiting for the drop.

I need to tell him the truth.

That’s all there is to it. I have to tell him before he finds out the wrong way.

By the time I emerge from the bathroom and head up to the patio, everyone has finished their cake. I sit down in my seat and glance toward the end to see Amelia back in hers, carrying on a casual conversation with Freya.

Phoenix’s eyes are heavy on me as I sit down.

And when I take a bite of the cake in front of me, I feel like a monster.

Rule #35: Give people a chance to surprise you.

Amelia

Amelia: Do you think she knows?

Matis: Yes.

Amelia: I should talk to her.

Matis: Want me to talk to her with you?

Amelia: No. I’ll swing by her apartment later tonight. I’d feel better doing it in person.

Matis: Okay. Let me know how it goes.

My shoes scuff against the steps as I huff up the massive hills of Montmartre to Phoenix’s apartment, not far from the restaurant. I told my parents I needed to stop by the club, so I let them take the car home without me.

Phoenix left dinner before us so I’m sure she’s home by now. Wringing my hands in front of me, I just keep replaying the look on her face when she stepped out of the bathroom and looked at Matis emerging from the dark closet behind me.

Why are we so bad at this? We can’t keep this relationship under wraps to save our lives. It’s honestly embarrassing.