Blinding light poured into the room despite the cool air that surrounded it. She groaned and rolled over in his arms, burying her face in the crook of his neck to escape the light. He merely threw an arm over his face and used the other to bring her closer to him.

They must have forgotten to close the curtains before they had collapsed onto the bed the previous night.

Hell, she was still dressed in her dress from last night.

Thelonious reached out and looped an arm around her waist as she attempted to get away from him. Pulling her back to him, she landed on his chest with an 'oof!'. Giving in, she allowed herself to enjoy the moment for a little longer.

He smirked; his eyes still closed. "And you thought you could get away."

She pouted and gazed up at him lovingly. "I need to get ready." She glanced down at her attire, scrunching up her nose in distaste. "And I want to get out of this dress."

"I could help with that." He offered, his intentions far from pure or innocent.

"Oh, I'm sure you can." She pulled away from him reluctantly and got off the bed before heading into the shower. Since they had slept together a little over a month ago, Darcy had been spending more time at the hotel and so had left a few outfits and necessities which allowed her to get ready in the morning. Rocking up to uni with the same outfit two days in a row was not something she wished upon herself, especially since she was sure that most people would figure out the reason why.

Darcy was in and out of the shower within fifteen minutes.

It was only when she had finished drying her hair and already started her makeup for the day did Thelonious finally decide to get up. She heard some ruffling behind her but didn't bother to turn around to see what he was doing.

A laugh escaped as he brushed past her with his naked behind on display to her. It was only when he got to the doorframe of his walk-in bathroom did he turned around fully to give her eyes something rather delightful to feats on. Thelonious winked before closing the door and disappearing behind it. A short few moments later and she could hear the shower running.

She instantly regretting not taking him up on his offer earlier.

Once she was finished getting ready, she waited for him to get dressed so that they could get breakfast together. Lying down on the neat bed which she had just made, she stretched her arms above her head and yawned. It was ironic since it was only the beginning of the day and she had just woken up. "I'd like you to meet my dad." She didn't really think about it, the words just left her mouth but she meant every word.

It was about time her dad met Thelonious, especially since he heavily suspected that she was seeing someone. Darcy wouldn't even contemplate introducing her father and Thelonious to each other if she didn't truly believe that they would go the whole way, if she didn't know that they would be end-game.

Thelonious froze with his back to her, surprised. Turning around slowly, he stared at her. "You really mean that?" He asked, surprise and a hint of fear – or worry, she couldn't exactly tell – evident in his eyes. He finished buttoning up the black shirt he had chosen to wear today in haste.

She nodded and offered him a small smile. "I'd really like for the two most important men in my life to finally meet each other." She couldn't help but grin at the dazed look in his face.

He wasn't scared.

Nervous would be a mild description of what Thelonious was feeling in that moment. It wasn't that he wasn't excited to meet Darcy's father, especially since she had spoken very fondly of him whenever she did speak of her father. It was evident that Darcy absolutely adored her father and vice versa, and he couldn't help but worry that her father would disapprove of him. Thelonious had never had a relationship get so serious that they were ready to meet each other's parents, so this was a first for him, especially since he was lacking in the parent department.

A tinge of sadness washed over him. His parents would never meet Darcy, the love of his life.

"You have nothing to worry about, my father will love you just as I do."

He smirked and walked up to her. When she reached out for him, he pulled her up so she was now sitting. Weaving their fingers together, she smiled. "Well, maybe not exactly the way I do."

He leaned down and placed a chaste peck on her lips. A laugh resounded from him when she pouted as he pulled away, having expected more. Leaning in front of her, he kissed her again but this time, he gave her something to think about all day.

Once they were all dressed and ready for the day, they took the stairs downstairs to the ground floor. Once they had reached the front desk, he pressed his lips against her temple and squeezed her to him. "I'm just going to check on the guys in the kitchen." He gestured towards the set of double doors. "You take a seat. I won't be long."

Darcy smiled and nodded before heading to the dining area, excited for some eggs. Pouched or scrambled, she couldn't decide. Perhaps she would ask Mac to make both for her.

Walking into the dining hall with eggs on mind, Darcy halted as her eyes landed on a man with hair as ginger as hers and eyes as dark as she had ever seen. He had faint lines around his mouth – tell-tale signs of aging – as he smiled warmly at the blonde sat across from him as they enjoyed some light conversation over breakfast.

She wouldn't have noticed him if he didn't just happen to be her dad.

Darcy froze, unable to move nor comprehend exactly what was going on in front of her.

Her dad shouldn't be here. He should either be at home or at university, getting ready for his first class of the day. He shouldn't be having breakfast with the woman who Darcy suspected he had spent the night with.

Other than her mother, her father, Elijah, had never shown any romantic interest towards a woman. And even then, her mother had abandoned them both just after she was born, so she had never really seen her dad anything but single nor had she ever felt the need to suspect that he was seeing someone.

So, this was all definitely news to her.

Since when had they begun keeping secrets from each other?

She had believed that he was still heartbroken over her deceitful hag of a mother. It wasn't that she wanted him to be single and lonely his whole life, but rather expected to tell her if he had met someone. With the way he was holding her hand in the middle of the table and staring at her with evident love in his eyes over the rim of his cup of tea raised the suspicion that this was someone really special to him.

Just when she couldn't take it all, she intended to turn around and leave. But right at that moment, her father looked up and their eyes locked. Contrasting colours of black and dark grey gazed at each other, one with shock and the other with sadness and rising anger.

Now that she had his attention, anger bubbled under the surface, threatening to spill over and scorch everyone and everything around them.

Darcy watched as her father mumbled something to his lover before he stood up and made his way towards her.

Not wanting to make a scene in Thelonious' hotel, especially with so many people around, she headed out of the dining room and towards the foyer where it was empty. She glanced at the front desk briefly. She suspected that Romeo was supposed to be behind there but he wasn't, and this time, for that, she was grateful.

She didn't want anyone to overhear the conversation she would be having with her dad. She wasn't even sure what direction it would be going in.

Turning around, she discovered her father behind her. "Darcy, I can explain." She waited for him to continue but he appeared to be at a loss for words as his mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

Her frown deepened. "How about we start with who that woman is."

-

NOTE - not edited

The next chapter should be uploaded on 20/05/2020

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Layla Knight

18.11.19