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A lump forms in my throat, and though I have the urge to rise, I’m immobilized right where I sit. I still remain utterlyfrozen, unable to move a muscle.
Luke regards me for a moment and then scoffs at me in utter distaste.
And then he leaves.
Oh.
It all happens in the quickest of moments, but that’s all it takes to ruin my world.
My hands ball into fists under the table. I was helpless. I wasscoffedat. I was treated as something to be reviled at by the man I once loved.
And I am so, so angry.
But I feel so utterly crushed.
And I want to cry all over again.
Everything has gone to shit.
I’m lyingin my old childhood bedroom, attempting to drift off to sleep, but I can’t. A sharp, disturbing noise is loudly filtering in from the adjacent room. My dad’s room.
He’s crying. Again.
It’s late. Nearly midnight. Outside is pitch black, and Dad clearly reckons he can cry without me catching a sound.
But Iamhearing him. And I can’t go to sleep because of his pain.
He’s so upset. I just want to go in there and hug him, but that would be a step too close and personal for my proud father.
And so, I close my eyes and try to drown out the noise of my Dad’s heart breaking.
But it doesn’t work.
I can’t live like this.
Dad can’t live like this.
He was already broken by what Mom did. This might very well be the last straw for him.
Crap. Here goes. I need to do something. I’m at the end of everything.
I finally give in.
And I turn over in the bed and reach for my phone and the card that Damon gave me with his personal number on it.
I'm going to call the man right now, accept his stupid offer, and end all of this.
Right now, I would accept anything to stop my Dad from crying at night.
Be happy with Daddy forever.
12
DAMON
Spencer resideson the most picturesque street in Crystal River. My brother’s townhouse is incredibly convenient for him, especially in relation to the university campus. It is also –especiallyconveniently - a stone’s throw away from a certain Olivia Weldon: the Crystal River University student who has somehow managed to capture his cold Penmayne heart.
I arrive at his home on the leafy street earlier than we planned, parking my sportscar directly outside. I always prefer to roll up at my appointments just before the appointed time. I may do bad things, but I still consider myself a punctual gentleman.
