Page 58 of The Paradise Problem

Ok but real talk: Dad is ok?

David is great.

He said he might be up to coming to dinner at the cafe this week.

I almost can’t believe the words I’m seeing. Dad eating? Dad getting out of the house for a meal? I’m not always good at managing the white-knuckling fear of losing him, and hearing this makes hope expand inside me until it seems to push every other feeling aside.

But then I look up and see West jogging back down the beach toward me and another feeling shoves its way back in: predatory lady hunger.

West is jogging on the beach near me.

Vivi replies with a gif of Whoopi Goldberg saying You in danger girl, and she could not be more correct.

OK gotta go actively resist this.

Love you.

LYB

Footsteps pad along the bridge, and then West is there, turning the corner onto the balcony. “Hey,” he says, wiping a forearm down his sweaty face, and I have the intrusive thought that I wouldn’t even need to be dared to lick his chest right now. His nipples are… well, I enjoy them. I would like to touch them. Maybe with my boob again.

“Hi.”

He walks over, pulling a towel from where it’s drying on the railing, and uses it to wipe down his torso.

I’m momentarily devastated but soldier on. “How was the run?”

“Pretty good.” He motions to my abandoned paints. “What’s this?”

“I was painting the sunrise but got distracted.”

“Ah.” He rubs the towel over his sweaty hair. “By the way, I wanted to thank you for that.”

“For what?” I ask.

“What you’ve been doing for Regs. I think she often gets lost in the shuffle. I just wanted to tell you, I really appreciate you spending that time with her.”

“Are you kidding? She’s so much fun. I remember how much it sucks being a preteen. How universal is the experience of life sucking when you can feel like you’re missing out even when you’re on a private island.”

“Yeah.”

“So how’s it going with your dad?” I say, standing and stretching. West was pretty shaken up after Ray blindsided him in front of the Forbes editor. I can’t imagine what it’s like wanting to avoid your own father.

West hops up onto the railing, sitting with the ocean behind him. It’s a glorious view. “He’s trying to back me into a corner.”

“What I don’t understand is why he has such a boner for you being CEO when you clearly don’t want the job. Let him give it to Alex. He clearly wants it.”

“This has been his plan for as long as I can remember. It’s all about his legacy, and what Ray wants. He doesn’t want Alex. He obviously thinks my being here at all means I’ve had a change of heart.”

“Oh, sure.” I grin up at him. “I mean, why would you be at your own sister’s wedding unless it had something to do with him?”

The side of his mouth twitches up. “Sounds like you’re now fluent in Weston.” His expression straightens. “Speaking of… sorry about what my mom did the other night. I guess we haven’t talked about it yet.”

“You mean about the anniversary party I inadvertently asked for?”

He nods, grimacing. “Yeah.”

“I just remind myself I’m here doing a job. I don’t ever have to see her again after this.”

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