Page 63 of Midnight Waters

Dad chuckled as he hugged me back. “What’s all this for?”

“Oh, you know. I just feel really guilty for worrying you last night. I love you, Dad.” It might have been a distraction, but I meant it.

“It’s all right, sweetheart. I just… well, you terrified me last night.”

“I won’t do it again, I promise.” What were the odds I’d fall off a cliff again and randomly turn into a mermaid?

As we pulled away, I looked over Dad’s shoulder. The desk was empty, and Ben was gone.

As I followed Dad out into the office, potent irritation tinged my relief. What had I expected from a reckless Everhart?

I should have known Dad would never let me lock up alone that night. I waited around for half an hour after closing for him to rock up in the car to collect me.

Something told me it’d be a while before I could close shop alone again.

But his earlier frostiness had melted away, which filled me with relief. I hated disappointing him.

“Open the glove box,” Dad said, nodding to it as we wound down the roads toward the capital city.

Sandra had requested a pickup for when her shift ended in an hour, and Dad was happy to make the detour.

Bemused, I popped open the glove box and a rectangular container slid to the front.

“New phone,” Dad said as I picked it up. “Got it for you today.”

“Dad, you didn’t have to. I could’ve gotten one.” I pulled the box open all the same and marvelled at the shiny new tech.

“When? In three weeks when you remember? You’ll have me worried sick if I can’t get hold of you.”

A smirk pursed my lips. What on earth would he have done if we lived in a pre-phone era? Worry himself to death?

I put the box back together and put it back in the glove box. It would take me all night to put the contacts I’d lost in it, but at least I was connected again.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“So, how long do you think you’ll be staying on Dusk?” Dad asked.

“Why? Sick of me already?” I teased.

“Har-har. Are you planning on staying?”

I shrugged. I hadn’t really given it much thought. “For a while, at least.”

“What if I asked you to be my business partner?” Dad asked.

I was mid-swallow and choked on my spit. I hacked into my elbow for a full minute before I could take a proper breath again. Embarrassing enough for a regular person, but considering I had spent the other night asleep in the sea, it was even more so.

“Business partner?” I wiped my eyes. “Really?”

“You kept this place on the level,” Dad said. “I’ve let things slip since you left. The entire company will go to you anyway, when I’m gone. So, why not start now?”

I grabbed the water bottle in the centre console and took a swig.

Dad had always talked about me owning the place one day, but that had always seemed so far away. Always in the future.

Becoming a partner would give me a bit more sway over the place. Hell, maybe I could even get us a proper logo and branding.

But having my name on official papers and bearing actual responsibility for the business meant I wouldn’t be able to leave Dusk as freely as I had before.

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