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“We did. But she apologized and I accepted.” Riley shrugged. “And she and Leo broke up so I figured she’s okay now.”
“I don’t know…” He leaned back on the chair, considering her request. It had been a few days since they’d come back from Boston, and she’d complied with every punishment she’d been given. He hadn’t heard a word of complaint from her since they’d stepped back on Californian soil. And yet he had an urge to keep her with him. Not to punish, but to protect. Even if Laura and Leo weren’t an item anymore, there would be somebody who would hurt her again, leaving him to pick up the pieces.
“Laura’s mom said you can call her if you’d like. She even said you could come and eat there, too.” Riley’s eyes were wide. “But you won’t, will you? Because that would be super embarrassing.”
“No, I won’t,” he bit down a smile at her tone.
Riley’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean I can go?”
“Yeah, you can go. But only for dinner. I want you home by nine.”
“Sure.” She nodded quickly.
“And you need to be in bed by ten.”
“Of course.”
He racked his brain to think of another condition but came up empty. She was complying with everything he’d asked. And more, if you counted her volunteering. “Okay, I guess it’s steak for one here,” he said.
“You could invite somebody over to eat the other one,” Riley said, the smallest of smiles pulling up the corner of her lips. “Like Ally, for example.”
“I’m pretty sure she’d say no. But thanks for the suggestion.”
The smile slipped off Riley’s face. “I miss her,” she said quietly. “It’s quiet around here without her.”
Yeah, well he missed Ally, too. More than he’d ever tell his daughter. How many times had he lifted his phone to call her, or stood beside his car and thought about driving to her house and begging her to take him back?
But all he could remember were the words she’d said when she’d given him her resignation letter. That she didn’t want him to contact her.
It was killing him to abide by her wishes.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?” Riley asked him, still hovering by the desk. “I can stay and eat steak with you if you’d like?”
Her words made him think of Ally’s father and the conversation they had. Of how he’d described the way he’d held Ally back. Nate didn’t want to make the same mistake. “Of course I’ll be okay,” he said, forcing a smile on his face. “Now get out of here. I’ve got work to do.”
She nodded and went to walk away, but then turned on her foot and walked back toward him. Before he had a chance to ask her what she was doing, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. “I love you, Dad,” she whispered.
“I love you too, sweetheart.” His throat tightened as she walked out of the office, her footsteps echoing in the hallway. Another half hour and he’d be on his own again. And that was okay.
Wasn’t it?
* * *
Ally glanced around the restaurant until she could see Ember, Brooke, and Lucas already sitting at a large table. Ember’s mom was there, too, along with Deenie Russell. Next to her was her husband, Wallace, and a few people that Ember worked with at school. Squaring her shoulders, Ally walked over with her crutches, painting a smile on her face as they all stood to greet her.
“Happy birthday,” she said to Ember, holding a pink and silver gift bag out to her.
“It’s so good to see you.” Ember hugged her tightly. “Thank you for the gift, you sweet thing.”
The next few minutes were taken up with hellos. When she’d greeted everybody, and exchanged pleasantries with Ember’s mom and Lucas’ folks, Ally slid into a chair between her two best friends.
“How are you doing?” Brooke asked, her voice low. There was enough chatter at the table for nobody to pay attention to them. “How are things going with your dad?”
“Okay. He’s moving back into his house tomorrow. I’m not sure whether I’m looking forward to it or not.” The truth was she’d gotten used to having him around again.
“You could have asked him to come tonight. He would have been welcome,” Ember added.
“It’s fine. He dropped me off here and headed out to meet Lorne. The two of them are going to play pool.”
