Page 87 of I Saw You First

I sit down in the recliner next to the couch and give him the highlights.

“Shit,” he says after I tell him about Jeremy writing me up. “What a dick.”

“That’s what I said. To his face.”

“So… Jeff told Jeremy to write you up?”

“Of course he did.” My tone is bitter and brittle. My own father. But what do I expect? It’s his company. He can do whatever he wants.

“You think Jeff will go for you skipping out of merch early to take Ford’s spot at Ridge?”

I shrug and tell him the same thing I told Jeremy. “The numbers don’t lie.”

“I don’t know, Jaws. Seems risky.”

“Well, it’s a risk I’ve got to take. He threatened Abbey’s job, too.”

“Jesus,” he says. “So you think leaving now will protect Abbey?”

I hang my head. “Sam. I—we—Abbey came home with me on New Year’s Eve.” I look up at him and his eyes are wide. “We… uh. We slept together.”

“No shit?” he blurts. “That’s awesome!”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not. It can’t happen, Sam.”

“Why the hell not?”

I spare him the laundry list of reasons. “It just can’t.”

“What are you going to tell her? That Daddy said you can’t have playdates with her anymore?”

“Fuck off.”

“Seriously, Jaws. What are you going to say?”

“Well, I can’t tell her that Dad threatened to fire her. She needs this job too much, and she’s applied for at least one AM spot. I’ll tell her that I made a mistake. That I shouldn’t have approached a subordinate.”

“Oh, yeah, great idea. Abbey’s gonna love that. Subordinate. For fuck’s sake.”

“I don’t know what else to do. I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Oh, you’re going to hurt her.”

“Helpful, thanks. I’m so glad I stopped by.”

“Guys?” Adriana calls from the top of the stairs. “Dinner’s ready.”

“You staying?” Sam asks. “She made chiles en nogada.”

“Fuck yes, I’m staying.” Adriana is an amazing cook.

“It’s all going to work out,” Sam says as we walk up the stairs. “Hang in there.”

If only I could be as lucky as Sam.

TWENTY-FOUR

“LIE TO ME” BY JONNY LANG, 1997