by E. L. Todd
His eyes narrowed at my accusation. “I do business with his bank.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“You didn’t answer mine,” he snapped.
I couldn’t lie to my father, not like this. I may have told some white lies here and there but I’d never boldly lied when he asked me a direct question. It was a slap in the face to him and our relationship. He was my best friend as well as my father. The idea of doing something that he so strongly disagreed with made me hurt inside. But what other choice did I have? If I told him the truth, it would be much, much worse. Slade’s corpse would be dragged out of here in a body bag.
He stared me down, waiting for a response. My father could be intimidating and frightening, but he was also a big teddy bear. Right now, he didn’t resemble a fluffy pal at all. He looked like the reaper. “Trinity, answer me.”
Why did I have to be in this situation at all? This was the worst. This situation literally couldn’t get any worse.
“Are you with Slade?”
I couldn’t believe I was about to lie to him. I was a horrible person, a very, very horrible person. “No.”
He kept staring at me. “Then why did Reid say that?”
“Slade came by the house to get something and Reid misunderstood why he was there.”
My dad was a hard man to fool. He knew when someone was lying with a sixth sense. But fortunately, for me, he was blinded by his love. I could get out of this if he trusted me. “He said you actually told him you were with Slade.”
Why did he have to drill me like this? “I said that so Reid would leave.”
“Because he was bothering you?” he demanded.
“No!” I couldn’t throw Reid under the bus, not even to save my own ass.
“I’m confused. You told me he ended it, but you’re the one who ended it? Why did you lie?”
Why couldn’t my dad be an idiot? “I just…”
“What, Trinity? Which is it?”
I was panicking. “This is why I don’t talk about boys with you!” I got up to storm off.
My dad grabbed me and pulled me back into the chair. “Walk away from me again and I promise you’ll regret it.” He kept his voice low so we wouldn’t make a scene. He released my arm and stayed in his chair.
“Was that a threat?” I challenged.
“What did you think it was?” His eyes were dark.
“You’re going to hit me if I leave?”
All the anger left his body immediately. “No…I would never hit you. I’m…hurt…you would even think that.”
It was a low blow but it was the best way to change the subject. “Well, when you talk like that it scares me.” I was a horrible person. I hated myself. Ugh, I hated myself.
“Trinity.” He grabbed my hand. “I would never, ever hurt you. I would just yell—what I do best.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “You’re everything to me. What made you think that?”
“I just…you got so mad.”
“Trin, I promise that you’ve never seen me mad.”
That was a scary thought. I didn’t see how much more formidable he could get.
He dropped my hand. “Okay, let’s talk about this calmly.”
So much for my brilliant plan. “Dad, I don’t want to talk about my personal life with you.”
“Why?”
“It just makes me uncomfortable.”
My dad ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Are you with Slade? I need to know that.”
I had to be convincing. “Slade is an annoying piece of shit. He’s a jackass I can barely stand. The only reason why I talk to him is because I have to. He means nothing to me, less than nothing. Whatever Reid said was a misunderstanding. Now I would appreciate it if you kept your nose out of my business and didn’t harass a guy I was seeing.”
“I didn’t harass him,” he snapped. “I went to the bank and he was there.”
“And I just magically came up? Reid thought it was a good idea to discuss his time dating his client’s daughter? You aren’t fooling me, Dad.”
He looked defeated. “Okay…I may have brought it up…”
“I’m never telling you anything again.” I crossed my arms over my chest and clenched my jaw.
My dad knew he messed up. “Trinity, I’m sorry. I…I just wanted to make sure there was nothing I could do to fix the situation.”
I was so close to snapping at my own father. “It’s not your job to fix it. I can’t believe you did that. I made it clear I didn’t want to be with Reid but you tried to force it anyway.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe you…”
My dad sighed. “Trinity…”
“I’m done with you.” I stood up.
“Wait. What does that mean?”
“I trusted you. I know you’re my dad but you’re my friend too. At least I thought you were.” I marched off and didn’t look back.
“Trinity!” my dad called after me.
I kept going. I just needed to get outside and get some fresh air. I needed to get away from my controlling and psycho dad. I trusted him but it was misplaced. He was upset with me for lying but he shouldn’t stick his nose in my business.
When I made it outside, I saw the lights from the endless traffic. Cars honked as they tried to take the road. People passed on the sidewalk and marveled at the hotel. I stood on the wet sidewalk and looked around, unsure where to go. The first thing I wanted to do was call Slade. But I couldn’t do that.
“Trinity!” He caught up to me then stood in front of me, towering over me like a mountain. “Let me—”
“Fuck you.”
He flinched as the venom left my voice.
“I thought you trusted me… The fact you went behind my back and did that is unforgiveable. All that stuff you said last week about accepting my decisions as an adult was all bullshit. I’m never telling you anything ever again. I don’t trust you. I can’t even look at you.” I felt the tears under my eyes but I held them back. I turned around and walked up the sidewalk.
“Trinity, please. I’m sorry!” My dad chased me then grabbed me by the arm, forcing me to look at him.
His eyes were red and watery. Then a tear fell.
I’d never seen my dad cry. I didn’t even think it was possible. “Dad…”
“Trinity, I’m sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. I promise I will never do anything like that again. Honestly, I was doing it for your best interest. I swear to god. But from now on, I won’t do anything like that. You mean the world to me and I don’t want to lose your trust because of a stupid decision on my part. I will always be protective of you because you’re my daughter but I won’t overstep my boundary. Just…please don’t push me away. I’ll do anything.” He took a deep breath and stilled his tears. “Please. Your old man is begging you. And we both know I never beg.”
Seeing him like that evaporated all my anger. “Dad, it’s okay…I just overreacted.”
“No, you didn’t. If I were your age, I would have given my dad the bird.”
I felt people pass me on the sidewalk. I crossed my arms over my chest.
“You forgive me?”
I nodded.
He breathed a sigh of relief then hugged me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I rested my head against his chest.
“So, you aren’t dating Slade?”
“No…”
“Okay…I thought that didn’t add up anyway.”
Now I felt even worse for lying.
He rested his large hand on the back of my head. “I won’t ask Reid anything again.”
“Please.”
“Please still talk to me about your personal life. I know I ruined your trust this time but I won’t ruin it again.”
“Okay.”
He sighed again. “I’m so bad at this Dad thing…”
“No, you aren’t. We all make mistakes.”
“I’m so glad you’re forgiving and co
mpassionate like your mother.”
“And stubborn, headstrong, and will put you in your place.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, my girls have that in common.”
I pulled away. “I guess we should go back inside.”
“Yeah.” He put his hands in his pockets and walked back with me inside the hotel. We didn’t say anything else as we entered the ballroom.
I was irritated my dad did what he did but he seemed genuinely sorry about it. I couldn’t just turn my back on him and walk away. We all make mistakes. Besides, it would be hypocritical for me to be too upset with him.
After all, I was the one who lied. He never did.
Chapter Fifteen
Skye
“Cayson, open the door.” I knocked again.
He didn’t make a sound.
“I know you’re in there.”
Nothing.
I took out the key I bribed from the front desk, dropping my last name as validation, and then unlocked the door. When I stepped inside, Cayson was standing on the other side of the living room, looking like he might kill me.
I stepped inside and shut the door. “Cayson, I—”
“You just crossed a line.” He kept his voice low but the threat was imminent. “I came here to get away from you. I’m not ready to talk. I never get angry, but when I do, I’m furious. And I say a lot of things I regret, things I don’t mean. If you’re as smart as I think you are, you’ll walk out now.”
Shit, he was really pissed. “I came here to apologize.”
“That means nothing to me.”
That wasn’t the reaction I expected.
“I let you get away with everything because you’re the love of my life.” He walked around the couch with his hands in his pockets. His stance was tense and formidable. He never behaved this way before. Perhaps I’d never seen him mad. “But I’m not letting you get away with this. It’s not water under the bridge. And I’m fucking livid with you.” He stared me down with a crazed look in his eye.
“I said that out of anger and—”
“Don’t bullshit with me. You meant every fucking word you said.” He never cussed like that. It was a rarity. “So, you think Jasmine is a whore? For a feminist, you seem to believe in gender stereotypes. Slade can sleep around with whomever he wants and that makes him more desirable. But when a girl does it, she’s garbage. That’s real fair.” Sarcasm was heavy. “Just because she likes sex just as much as a guy does not mean she deserves to be treated like crap.”
I was losing my patience with him. “Look, she wanted a one-night stand with Roland. Roland likes one-night stands and she’s attractive. And then they slept together. No one got hurt. You’re making a big deal over nothing. If Jasmine was aware that sleeping with Roland would hurt her, she could have walked away. She could have said no. You’re acting like Roland raped her. Stop babying her! She’s a big girl and knows what she’s doing. The fact she slept with your friend proves that she obviously doesn’t care about you as much as you think.”
Cayson stared at the wall like he hadn’t heard me. He shifted his weight several times like he couldn’t stand still. “She sleeps around because she’s depressed over me. And Roland fed that negativity by sleeping with her!”
“Well, if that’s how she copes with it, then let her be. She had a one-night stand with you. Who was she trying to get over then? If she wants a perfect gentleman, then she needs to be a classy woman. Why would a perfect guy want her? She acts like trash.”
“Don’t. Call. Her. That.”
That slipped out. “Why are you so defensive about her? It’s like you’re in love with her.”
The fire had been fed. “Why would I have dumped her for you if I loved her?”
“You tell me! You’re ending a friendship over this girl! You’re alienating a family member, your girlfriend’s brother, for this girl! You’re acting like she was a lot more than just a fuck buddy. She knew what she was doing. You’re acting like Roland got her drunk then took advantage of her. I know Roland broke a guy ‘code’ by sleeping with her, but I understand his point of view. You said, numerous times, that she wasn’t serious. Roland isn’t as sensitive as you. He didn’t understand he was doing anything wrong. But he still apologized because he felt horrible for hurting you. And he didn’t even have to tell you but he did.”
“So, I should just forget what he did?”
“I think you’re making nothing into something.”
He turned around and ran his fingers through his hair. “Just go.”
“No, I’m talking to you. My sentiment and understanding has officially expired. No one else agrees with you—”
“Slade does.”
“Even he would agree that your hatred of Roland has gone on long enough. Get over it and move on!”
He turned back around. “How would you feel if I slept with one of your girlfriends?”
“I’m in love with you, asshole! It’s not the same thing.”
“Asshole?” He stepped back. “Now I’m an asshole?”
I was getting too emotional about this. “I didn’t mean that. I’m just upset.”
“I get you’re jealous of Jasmine, but you’re letting that cloud what’s going on here.”
I never wanted to slap Cayson but I did now. “I admit I’m a little jealous of her, but it’s mainly because I could have had you long before she came around if I just pulled my head out of my ass. But now I’m just hurt that you’re so hung up on her that you don’t want anyone to go near her.”
“I’m not hung up on her.”
“You’re acting like it!”
“I’m not. I’m hurt that Roland, my friend—”
“You keep repeating yourself and it’s really annoying.”
He clenched his fists by his sides.
“I’m your girlfriend and you even asked me about our future as husband and wife. How is that going to work if you hate my brother? Did you think of that? Now, your love for me should be stronger than whatever you feel for Jasmine. Your emotions for an ex shouldn’t cloud your feelings for your present girlfriend. And when it comes down to it, Roland is my brother, and while what he did was wrong, I’m on his side. If you make me choose between you, I will choose him. And then we’re done. Is that what you want?”
He stared at the wall. “I guess so.”
Did I hear him right? “Excuse me?”
He turned to me. “I. Guess. So.”
I immediately felt lightheaded. “So, you’re breaking up with me?”
He turned around and walked away.
“Cayson, answer me!”
“You said you would have to choose. So I guess you’re choosing him. Therefore, we’re done.”
I shook my head. “You’re being ridiculous right now.”
“Well, I told you to leave me the hell alone!”
Tears bubbled under my eyes and I couldn’t hold them back. “Fuck off, Cayson.” I stormed out then slammed the door. I didn’t even get down the hallway before I burst into tears and leaned against the wall. This night took a turn I never expected. I was diminished and broken. I lost Cayson and it wasn’t even my fault. But he was still gone.
Chapter Sixteen
Cayson
I can’t remember the last time I was this mad. Tremors moved up my body and a distant migraine thudded deep behind my eyes. Skye was being an annoying brat and I couldn’t put up with it. If she was on her brother’s side, then fine. I couldn’t care less.
I stayed in the room for over an hour, before I realized I needed to get back soon. Everyone would know I was missing eventually. And deep down inside, I felt like a jerk for missing Uncle Sean and Aunt Scarlet’s anniversary party. It takes a lot to make me mad and storm out, but Skye’s comment really got under my skin. It was mean and cold. I was just supposed to let it slide? Then the fact she came up here and said I was annoying and immature didn’t help matters.
I was tired of being the one who kept this relationship together. Sh
e always screwed up and got upset over nothing. I wasn’t just going to let this go. She couldn’t talk to me like that and expect me to pardon her crimes like they were old news.
I finally went back downstairs and tried to blend in with the crowd. Everyone was having a good time, and Uncle Sean and Aunt Scarlet were in the center of the dance floor, dancing slowly. He held her close and stared into her eyes like it was the first time he ever really looked at her. Would that be Skye and I in twenty years? Or did our relationship just end tonight?
Roland approached me from the side. “Hey, I just talked to my sister and—”
“Get away from me. I don’t have the tolerance for you right now.”
A defeated look came into his eyes. “Hate me all you want. Punch me and kick me when I’m done. I really don’t care. But please don’t push my sister away.”
I grabbed my drink and walked away from him. All I wanted to do was hit him in the face, and it would only cause a scene. Keeping my distance was the smart thing to do. I grabbed another drink then spotted Slade staring at me from his seat at the table. He didn’t approach me or make a move. I knew he was waiting for me to make the decision.
I sat down next to him and downed half my scotch.
He didn’t say anything. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye then stared at the dance floor.
Silence was nice.
When I looked in the corner, I saw Skye standing alone. She wasn’t crying but she looked depressed. She stared at her parents but she didn’t get any joy from it. Her arms were across her chest and her eyes were lifeless.
“Cayson, let’s talk…”
I turned to him. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Then listen.”
Slade was the only person I could stand at the moment.
“I understand why you’re mad. I really do. Even if we remove the possibility that Jasmine felt used in the situation, Roland still broke a huge law by hooking up with her. I know it. You know it. We all know it. And you’re entitled to be mad. No one is telling you otherwise.”
I sipped my glass and felt the ice cubes slide toward my mouth.
“But where is this going? We all make mistakes we regret. We’re all guilty of it. I honestly don’t think Roland’s actions indicate that he’s not loyal to you. I really don’t. And it really shouldn’t matter. The relationship you’re hurting the most is the one you have with Skye, the only one that really matters.” He stared at me, watching my face. “I saw her come down here after you talked. Tears still glistened in her eyes and she didn’t look happy. I don’t know what was said but don’t throw away what you have with her because of this. You’ll regret it, I promise you.”