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Dad groans. “Figures! We got it. I will stuff her silly full of junk food.”
“Daaad!” I groan.
“Okay, fine, protein and vegetables… then ice cream after, deal?”
Rolling my eyes, I nod. “Deal. I shouldn’t be too late. I want to get home to see Hailee before she goes off to bed.”
“Zoey…” he pauses before continuing, “… I mean this with all my love… get a life.”
I widen my eyes, choking a little on thin air. “I’m sorry, what?”
Dad laughs. “Honey, your work colleagues have finally asked you to go out and enjoy a night with them. It’s a Friday night. You don’t have to work tomorrow. Have some fun! Stay out late. Find some guy and hook up with him, for crying out loud—”
“Jesus, Dad!”
He snickers to himself. “All I am saying is… we will be taking care of Hailee, and you need to take care of yourself for once, Zoey. Have a good night. Don’t worry about us. You enjoy yourself, okay? Promise me?”
Inhaling deeply, a sense of warmth flows through me.How did I get so lucky to have such an amazing and supportive father?“Okay. I’ll try to stay out later than normal and… have a good time.”
“If you think about coming home earlier than midnight, text me so I can tell you not to come home until you’re completely hammered and having a good time. Oh, but if you get drunk, please Uber home or call me. Don’t you dare drive.”
I grin at his protective side surfacing. “Have I told you that I love you?”
“Constantly. Nowgo… have fun.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Live your best life, baby girl,” he states, then ends the call as I pull into a parking space at the back of Revel Rose. Nash’s car is here, so I look at myself in the rearview mirror. My flushed complexion is back to normal—thank God. Moving to my bag, I pull out my lipstick, apply a fresh coat, smack my lips, tousle my hair, then nod.
“Okay, Zoey, let’s go hang out at a bar with your bosses. How weird can this be?” I hop out of my car, taking a settling breath before I close the door and enter.
Marcel, the owner, is behind the bar wiping down the woodgrain, and as I walk past, he gives me a head bob.
“Good evening, Marcel,” I declare as I edge past him.
“You’re looking lovely tonight, Zoey. You here to join the group in the entertaining area?”
Nodding, I hike my bag higher on my shoulder. “I am. Is everyone here?”
He chuckles. “Blake is late, as usual. And it seems Lucas and Paisley are yet to arrive at their own party.”
I snicker. “I remember that all too well… the joys of figuring out timings when you have a young child.”
Marcel waggles his brows. “Lucky for me, I don’t have that problem.”
“Not that you know about.”
“Oh, Zoey, don’t wish that on me. I have enough to handle maintaining the bar and dealing with the NOLA Defiance MC and their shit. I do not need a baby mama throwing that drama at me here.”
I chuckle. “As long as you wrap it up, you should be all good.”
“Always on the safe side,bèl dam.” He winks as he speaks the last word in his native Haitian Creole.
I gesture to the entertaining area and smirk. “I better go mingle.”
“Have a good night.” He grins.
I turn and step down the few stairs into the area. Nash and his partner, Brianna, and a bunch of other people I don’t know are seated.
