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I shook my head."I don't want to talk about him."
Clarissa sighed."I'm so sorry, honey.I wish I could explain the man or make some kind of excuse for him, but what he's done to you is just fucked up, completely wrong, and I'm sorry."
"It's fine.I just…” I sighed.“Every time I think that he's going to be a different kind of father, a different kind of person, I get disappointed.That's okay.I should learn to stop hoping."
"Oh, honey.I don't want you to stop hoping.Your father is just a dick sometimes."
"Then why are you still married to him?"
She shrugged."Well, I'm sort of obligated to keep loving him.I know it's messy, but I do.And well, mostly I love you girls.so there's not much I can do except sort of endure him."
"Clarissa, you could do better.You could have someone who loves you back."
"Your father loves in his own way.He's just used to being selfish."
"Can we not talk about him today,” I said.“I’m just tired of him, and if we're going to celebrate my birthday, I want to do it in a fun way."
Clarissa nodded."Fun coming right up.About your wedding, please let us help plan.Have you picked a wedding date?"
I laughed."I love how quickly you can adjust."
Morgan came back from the bathroom."What did I miss?"
Clarissa said, "I was just asking your sister when she's getting married."
Morgan groaned."Are we still doing this?I thought you, of all people, would have found an answer, a way out."
"I don't think so.Especially now that I know he’s helping me meet payroll for the next few weeks.I have employees to take care of, you know.Anyway, thank you for the cake on my birthday."
Morgan grinned."The gummy bears.I know that made you happy."
I'd eaten a slice of it this morning for energy.Instead of tea, I'd chosen sugar.What?Don't judge me.I’d wrapped it up to take home before we left the office, and then he'd put it in the fridge for me when we got home from his mother’s.Which was sweet.
"So, how is it going with Atticus anyway?”Morgan asked.“Is he the evil and brooding super genius that he seems to be publicly?"
I put my hand up."We're not going to talk about it.Now where are we going shopping?"
Morgan took that opportunity to tell me about some boutique she wanted to explore, and Clarissa was saying how she needed a new coat.I knew that shopping together would make them happy, and I would try my best not to stare at my phone all day because all they wanted to do was spend time with me.Which was great.And as I watched my sister, I was happy that she was happy.I knew this whole situation just stressed her out.
Then I started to wonder… Would Atticus have fingered Morgan like that if the roles were reversed?
I coughed as I took a sip of water.Both my stepmother and sister turned to look at me, and I gave them a quick smile."Sorry, wrong pipe."
"Oh!"Clarissa waved down the waiter for more napkins, and I dabbed up as much of the spill as I could.
When I looked up, my scalp prickled, and I started looking around.I knew only one person made me feel like that, and I whipped around, my breath catching when I saw Atticus standing at the door.
"What the heck is he doing here?"I mumbled.
Both Clarissa and Morgan glanced over where I was looking.Morgan whistled low."Jesus, fucking hell.Is that what he looks like out of a suit?"
He was wearing a lightweight sweater over dark jeans.His hair was tousled, and I could see now that the curl he had in the mornings was natural.He looked far less coifed.And he sported some stubble on that stupidly square jaw, complete with a dimple on his chin and everything.
He glanced around the restaurant and then flashed a wide, wicked grin when he saw me.Clarissa coughed this time."Jesus Christ, is that what his smile looks like?"
I sighed as my pussy fluttered.I was well acquainted with the effect that smile had on the populous."Yeah, that's what it looks like."
My stepmother tittered."Well, goddamn.No wonder you're not ready to get out of this whole deal."
