AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Man, if pissing was an Olympic sport, I just won a gold medal,” Raven announces, dropping back into his seat after using the facilities.
“Raven,” Fern whisper-hisses, smacking him upside the head. “You are so crass … and embarrassing at times.”
“Yet, you love me.” He blows her a kiss and then realizes we have company. When he sees who our company is, his eyes widen, his cheeks darken in embarrassment, and he sits up straight. Even though he’s lived next door to us since he was three, he’s intimidated by my dad. Probably because Dad caught us practice kissing one weekend when we were eleven. Raven and I wanted to see what the big deal was, but it was horrible. It was all tongue and slobber and teeth. As first kisses go, it was a disaster with a capital D and eleven exclamation marks. “Mr. Fischer.” He nods at Dad then quickly looks to Mr. H. “Mr. Heatherington, how are you both?”
“Fine,” Dad snaps through clenched teeth.
“I’m well, Mr. Mitchell, thank you for asking,” Mr. H drawls, the tone of his voice once again vibrates through my body. “How are your mom and dad?”
“Dad’s well,” Raven replies, stealing a fry from Raven’s plate and popping it into his mouth, chewing loudly. Then he adds, “Mom just finished chemo, but the doctors are hopeful they got it all this time.”
“Good, good,” Mr. H says. Resting his hand on Raven’s shoulder, he squeezes in that loving parental way and I can see it reassures Rave that his mom is going to be okay this time around. “I have everything crossed for her. Please pass on my best wishes.” Raven nods and then Kane looks to Dad. “Ready to go?”
Dad nods. “See you at home, Princess.”
“Girls. Raven,” Mr. H says.
Raven and Fern both speak at the same time. She says, “Bye, Kane.” He says, “Mr. Heatherington.” While I opt for, “Laters, Mr. H.” He looks at me, a grin appears on his face and he does that little lip lift thing. That teeny tiny action does things to me that I shouldn’t be feeling in public … or with my dad standing a few feet away from me. I know I shouldn’t be lusting over my dad’s best friend, but it’ll never be so I don’t need to worry, right?
Without another word, the two of them nod and leave us. I unabashedly watch Mr. H’s ass as he and Dad walk away. Before he steps outside, he looks over his shoulder at me, totally catching me staring after him. We maintain eye contact for a few seconds and then he shocks the shit out of me and winks. We continue to stare at one another and something passes between us, I think.
My panties are currently damp and I swallow the lump sitting in the back of my throat and process the fact Mr. H just flirted with me, well, I think he was flirting with me. My mind replays his smile and wink over and over. Even though we were on opposite sides of the room, I felt that wink deep in my soul, and the little crush I have on my dad’s best friend just ramped up into a full-blown teenage infatuation.
ChapterTwo
… two years later
“Idon’t care, Danica, just sign the fucking papers. It’s been nearly three years,” I growl into the phone. “Just sign the damn fucking papers and end this farce.”
“What are you going to do if I don’t?” she sneers and pauses for dramatic effect. “That’s right, fucking nothing … like always.”
How I fell in love with this self-centered wench, I will never know.
“One question,” I dejectedly ask, running my hands down my beard and tugging in frustration. “Why?”
“Why what?” she snaps, her voice laced with irritation that I would dare to ask her, the almighty Danica Heard, a question.
“Why are you doing this? Why prolong the inevitable? Still being married doesn’t change anything between us. You left and we are never getting back together.” Hell will freeze over before I ever take her back. She showed her true colors when she left like she did but when I look back, I should have known. Hell, she didn’t even take my last name when we got married.
“’Til death do us part and then when you die, the hotel will be mine.”
Of course this is about the hotel, I should have known. Shaking my head, I laugh. “You think I didn’t change my will as soon as you left? You are delusional, Danica. Fucking delusional.”
“What do you mean you changed it?” Her voice is raising and laced with shock that I would cut her out.
“Exactly that, I changed it. Why the fuck would I allow you to get your grubby mitts on what I created? What I worked hard to build. What—”
“You only created it because I was stuck and trapped at home raising your spawn.”
“That’s your children you’re referring to.”
“Those animals aren’t mine.”
“Wow.” My grip on the phone tightens. “I knew you were a cold-hearted bitch but that right there, that’s the icing on the bitch cake.”
“Did you just call me a bitch?”
“If the bitch fits,” I snap, and I’m ever so thankful she isn’t in front of me right now. I don’t condone violence, especially against women, but what she just said about our, no, my children is unacceptable. “Lose my number, Danica, all communication now will be through my lawyer. Just sign the fucking papers.” Pressing the end call button, I throw my phone down on the desk. Then in frustration, I swing my arm out and swipe at it, sending everything flying off my desk and into the wall.
