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Wiping my face with my fingers, I get up from my chair and she swiftly guides me through a door and towards a small room. She leads me into a corridor, stopping me and I turn to face her. Her eyes are full of pity. “I’m so sorry, Ms Lancaster…’ the ache turns into full on pain, slicing through my tummy and my heart like a serrated edged knife. I steel myself for her words. I know it’s bad news, she has a sadness in her eyes that she didn’t have when I spoke to her the first time. “Your father passed away a little while ago.”
“NO.” My knees give way from beneath me. They refuse to hold me up anymore. The tears are back in full force as I sob for everything I’ve lost. Somewhere around me, I hear a door close but before my arse has time to hit the floor, I feel strong arms wrap around my back and pull me back up to my feet.
My world spins on its axis.
“I’ve got her. Thank you,” I know that voice, it’s as familiar as day.And even though I know it’s him, I still snuggle my cheek into the firmness of his chest, letting his scent envelope me like a warm blanket. Strangely it feels like home. Clinging onto his shirt I cry, while his hand cradles the back of my head, giving me comfort. A comfort that I’ve craved for so long… “That’s it, cry it out Em.” I’m too far gone to listen to him, I’m too upset to even care. Just that little bit of comfort is so nice. I haven’t had a cuddle, a proper cuddle for years. His arms wrap tighter around me and loud sobs tear from me. I hear the nurse saying she’ll give us a few moments then come back. I try my hardest to stop my tears, but I can’t. They’re falling relentlessly but he still just holds me. I’m so embarrassed. How can I look him in the face after I’ve cried all over him. Finally, I take a deep breath, feeling the shudder in my chest as I attempt suck breath into my lungs, and shakily, I blow it out. Lifting my hand to my face, I swipe my fingers beneath my eyes before lifting my head. There, looking right at me are the dark eyes I used to dream about. Only they are older, wiser, sharper even. Troy Parker. His stubbled jaw tenses as he stares back at me and never mind that he’s comforted me, all the old feelings I had come flooding back, anger, hurt… the fractured pieces of my heart become a fissure. I have no choice but to protect it.
With the heel of my hand, I smear the wetness across my face brushing away the loose hairs that are now stuck to my face, then try to pull myself together. I inhale a deep breath into my lungs and blow it out as I stand, straightening my hoodie. Placing some distance between us, I move to the other side of the room to look out of the window. I’m met with dusk as I open the blinds. The only thing I can see is the opposite block, but I’d rather look at a brick wall than bring myself to look at him again.
“How long have you been here?” I ask, staring through the glass.
“I’m not sure,” Troy answers casually.
My brows pinch tightly as I spin back around.
Ten years have been kind to him. As I scrutinise him, I’m met with his manly good looks. They haven’t changed, in fact he’s more handsome now than he ever was. I know it’s been ten years but Jesus, no man should bethatgood looking. His green eyes shimmer under this artificial light and his dark hair is shorter than it used to be, but the rough, stubbled look is still the same. It’s no wonder no other boy matched up to him, or any man since. My gaze drifts towards the door and back to him again. “How did they have your number?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t get into this now.” He stands from the chair and slips his hands into his trouser pockets. I wonder why dad hadn’t mentioned Troy at our lunches.
With just a few cautious steps in my direction, I held my hand up, effectively halting him. “Stop there.” I tell him firmly, swallowing hard and praying that the nurse would come back. But as ever, he did what he wanted and carried on anyway. Troy Parker never cared about people's boundaries; he obviously hasn’t changed. My father has taught him well. His very own Mini-Me. He must’ve been so proud. The thought has me twisting up inside.
Allowing myself a second to admire his form, my eyes trail down his body and as much as I want to appreciate him, my nose screws up. “Why do you always have to be so formal? Couldn’t you come in a pair of joggers like any normal man.”
“I was working late… why does it bother you?” He smirks. How could he smirk at a time like this? He looks like he wants to say more, but he holds off.
An irritated sigh blows from my lips. “So, why did they ring you before me? I’m his daughter.” I know I sound bitter. I am bitter that I was second on the list and not first.
His lips purse as he studies me, I can tell he’s looking for the right words. It doesn’t matter anyway, I’m already upset. He can’t twist the knife any more than it already is.
Just as he opens his mouth to speak, the nurse walks back in. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting like this, we had an emergency.”
She looks so apologetic, knowing how busy it is I nod. “It’s fine.”I answer softly.
Troy holds his arm out, his fingers pointing in the direction of the door, and I follow behind the nurse. My teary gaze falls on my dad lying there in front of us, lifeless but peaceful. I’ve barely passed through the door and again my knees almost buckle. Reaching out I cling onto the door frame. Like he’s acting on instinct, Troy’s fingers grip my waist, tightening as he keeps me up. I’m too washed out to shrug him off, his comfort is finally welcome as I take the final steps to say goodbye to my dad.
CHAPTERSIX
TROY
The warmth of her body immediately leaves my own as she steps inside the room. It makes me sad to see Mitch lying there. I’ve grown close to Mitch through the years. I haven’t always agreed with his handling of Emily but what could I say, she is his daughter, and for me to make my feelings known I would’ve had to confess to what happened between us. There is no way I can do that. I can’t afford to lose everything because I might have feelings for his daughter. Mitch has taught me not to get emotional, but I was young and stupid.
Emily heads straight over to his bed, dropping down into the chair at the side of him and takes his hand, resting her forehead on the back of his hand. Seeing her cry crucifies me, a lump forming in my throat restricts my airways and forces me to inhale a shaky breath. I close my eyes and turn away from the sound of her sobs. I had no idea that Mitch hadn’t told her about his health issues. I just assumed he would, but even though she’s his daughter he has me down as the person to call if anything happened to him. I don’t understand. He’s been having some issues recently with high blood pressure and they found an irregular heartbeat earlier this year too. He’s been on beta blockers, and an anti-coagulant, although it didn’t stop the other silent heart attacks before this one.
The chair scrapes along the floor, dragging me from inside my own head. My head turns in her direction. Emily leans over to kiss his cheek. Pushing from the door frame I make my way back over to her. The last time we were together wasn’t so friendly. As she stares at her father, I cup her shoulders and softly squeeze, just pushing my luck that little farther. I want to touch her, hold her in my arms again, just like a little earlier. She’s vulnerable, but her body melts into mine, it’s as though she wants to be there. it’s a natural instinct that has always existed between us. We’ve always had this connection. This could be the last time I ever get my hands on her, well, not without her wanting to gouge my eyes out anyway.
“Emily?” I plead with her.
“Please leave me alone.” Her voice low as she sniffs back tears and shakes my hands from her body. For those few silent moments, I pretend she still wants me. I hear the shake in her voice. “I can’t believe he’s gone. We were getting on so well.”
“He spoke about you a lot, you know?” I slip my hands in my pockets, not wanting to push her.
She twists around and looks up at me, “He did?” Her eyes hold a glimmer of hope, how can I take that away from her.
“Yeah, he did. He was so proud of you?” I add with a small smile.
Her head cocks to the side, and a sneer forms on her lips before she whips her head back around. “And you were doing so well Troy, but you just had to spoil it. There is one thing Mitch Lancaster isn’t and that’s proud of his daughter. If anything, he was prouder of you. His little protégé.” She stands up, the backs of her legs pushing the chair back. I jump back before the it smashes me in the knees and grip the back of it, stopping it from tipping over. I sigh quietly but don’t say anything to her little rant. “You’re the golden boy, and you’re not even his son. Me, I’m the black sheep.” Her blue eyes darken like a storm has rolled in. But even in her anger, she’s even more beautiful. “Excuse me.” She stomps past me, and out of the door before I even have a chance to call her back. She just needs five minutes.I can give her that.
Looking down at Mitch, I stare at his now expressionless face. “Well then, it seems she hasn’t forgiven me, Mitch…”Maybe when Hell has frozen over,I think to myself. Slipping my hand back into my pocket I pull out my phone. I doubt there’ll be any messages, it’s four in the morning, I just need something to take my mind off everything. I’m sure even clients with insomnia would want to conduct business at this crazy hour. When I see my screen blank, other than the one picture I kept of her, I sit in the chair that Emily departed and lean back with a sigh. I tip my head back and close my eyes while I wait for her to come back from wherever she’s gone.
