I KNEW IT wouldn't be long before word got to my father about my decision to attend the charity gala, and when I spot him at our usual booth in the back of the restaurant, I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

He's smiling from ear to ear, and my body is stiff when he pulls me in for a hug. "Hey, Everett. It's good to see you."

With a dip of my chin, I slide into the booth opposite him and fold my hands in front of me on the table. "Did you already order drinks?"

He shakes his head, attempting to get the attention of the waitress.

I'm waiting for him to bring it up. It's the elephant in the room, but he remains silent and waits for me to speak first, which annoys me more than anything. Doesn't he care?

"I'm not attending because of you," I say to get rid of the smile on his face. It only remains, making my irritation stronger.

"I didn't think you were. You've never wanted to come before, so I could only assume there was another outside factor that swayed your decision." Emery is what he's insinuating. That's why his grin only grows wider. "But it makes me happy to know you're coming, regardless if it's because of me or someone else."

I shrug, rolling the straw in front of me between my fingers. "It's not a big deal. Don't make it a thing."

He throws his hands up. "I didn't say a word. However, can I ask about the savings account you recently opened? Are you needing money for something?"

It's not a surprise he caught that. He tracks all my accounts to ensure there's enough money in them. "No, I'm fine. The savings account is for Emery. She's insistent on paying me to stay in the guestroom, but I don't need the money. I figured I'd just put it in a savings account without her knowing."

He raises a brow. "Will she be mad when she finds out?"

The waitress interrupts us for our drinks, and while we wait for her to return, I can't help but imagine the uproar it will be when Emery does discover I've been saving for her this whole time. She's never been one to accept my kind gestures without putting up a fight first, and when I picture that defiant stance of hers, with her little pouty lip and arms crossed over her chest...

I laugh, and you would have thought I just keeled over and died from the reaction on my father's face. It looks like he's seen a ghost. "She'll definitely be mad," I say, "but she'll get over it when she finally has enough money to move out."

"And is that what you want? For her to move out?" He's walking on a thin line asking about her, and he knows it, judging by how he holds his breath. I've never spoken to him about girls, and I don't plan on starting now.

"It's what she wants," I reply. "That's all there is to it."

The waitress returns with our drinks, and I take a long sip of Sprite as he clears his throat and says, "Well, I hope you know what you're doing, Everett. Don't be an idiot and let her go."

It irks the fuck out of me that she'll never be mine, and to be reminded of that...

"Can't exactly let her go if I never had her in the first place." I lean forward to rest my elbows on the table, and I know it's not right, I can feel how horrible it is as it rests on the tip of my tongue, but it leaves before I can stop it.  "If I ever got the opportunity to call her mine, I wouldn't fuck it up like you did back in high school. It's a miracle Mom stayed. In case you failed to forget, Dad, we are polar fucking opposites, and I plan on keeping it that way."

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

Lunch with my Dad left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Even when I said those horrible things, he still ended our time together the same way. He hugged me and told me he'd see me next week, but the smile didn't reach his eyes this time.

I'm still seeing that glint of disappointment when I unlock the door to the house. Emery is curled up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn, watching one of the movies I purchased for her, and the smile she gives me over her shoulder melts the fucking glacier of ice around my heart almost instantly.

How the hell does she do that? No one else can get me out of my funk, but with one smile from her, it's like all those years of loneliness and abandonment disappear. 

"What's wrong?" Her brows furrow together as she scans my face.

Even though she sees the true version of myself more than anyone, I'm not ready to talk about my Dad and that pain yet. It's why I'm such a fucking dick all the time, and to open up about that... I'm afraid of what her reaction will be.

She's a woman who has been dealt the shittiest cards. Losing her parents, then her grandma, she truly has no one. If she hears that I've been holding a grudge over my Dad leaving for some football games? I wouldn't blame her if she laughed in my face. My problems are minuscule compared to hers.

"Nothing now." I join her on the couch, plopping beside her before grabbing a handful of popcorn. "No work today?"

She shakes her head. "Nope. My only day off this week. Actually, I've had a very relaxing time by myself."

"Oh yeah?"

She nods, glancing down at the fashion magazine sprawled on her lap. "I've been trying to find inspiration for the shoes I'm going to wear with my dress for this gala. If only I knew what color it was."

I glance up at the movie on the screen, fighting another smile. "Fishing for clues, are we?"

"Ugh, Everett, come on! I need to buy shoes. How am I supposed to know what to get if you won't tell me anything?" She throws her head back against the couch in frustration, and it's sickening how weak she makes me.

I hate seeing her upset, so I grab the magazine off her lap to flip through the pages, finally settling on a pair of red heels that I would sell my soul to see her legs in. "Those," I say, pointing to them. "Buy those specifically."

"Oh, sure. Let me just whip out a thousand bucks."

As soon as the sentence leaves her lips and she eyes the expression on my face, she's too slow to take the magazine back from me. I'm darting for the counter to grab my wallet with the page clutched in my hand, shaking with silent laughter when she trips over the blanket and spills the popcorn all over the floor. "Everett, I swear on everything I love, do not buy those shoes!"

"Or what?" I raise an eyebrow when she finally approaches, holding my hand with the wallet above my head. The woman tries to jump to grab it, and it only causes me to laugh harder. Doesn't she realize she's short as hell? "Emery," I deadpan. "Come on. Be serious. The shoes will look fantastic on you. You're a fashion major, are you not? Look me in the eyes and tell me you've never wanted a pair of red bottoms, and I'll put the wallet down."

She meets my gaze, fully intending to tell me no, she's never wanted a pair, but she can't lie to me. Not after I've been inside her and have seen into the depths of her soul.

"One purchase," I say. "Just one gift. That's it. Please swallow your pride and allow me to buy them for you."

"I can find knockoffs at Target," she protests.

"You want to wear Target brand shoes with a designer dress? Are they teaching you nothing at college?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you're annoying, Everett?" She's pressed against my chest now, her nipples hard against my t-shirt, and she rolls her eyes at the cocky grin on my face.

I contemplate as if I'm deep in thought. "I can think of one person. In fact, she calls me a lot of names. Well, sometimes she screams them. Just depends on her mood."

"You're so..." She heaves a sigh, slumping her shoulders in defeat. "Will they at least be here on time?"

My eyes widen with surprise. "Really? Just like that? You're letting me buy them for you?" The woman who fights me tooth and nail about everything—the one who would rather die than let me have my way is giving in without so much as a question asked. 

But when she backs up towards the staircase, tapping a finger to her chin, I can't help it when my cock hardens. I know why she's giving in now, and I'm more than pleased to discover that I might also be a weakness to her.  "I suppose... But when are you going to make me scream those names again? Will it be now or when I'm wearing nothing but those red bottoms for you, Everett?" 

Oh, Emery...

Any lingering anger from this afternoon is long gone as my wallet clatters to the counter, and my hands are on her hips before she reaches the first step.

Author's Note:

I decided to do a bonus update!

You guys didn't get it to the comment goal for last chapter. I'm sad :(

I'll still update Friday, but you guys have to get this chapter to 220 votes, 300 comments. I won't update again unless the goal is reached!

Also, not to worry. There will be smut next chapter.

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