Page 29 of Could Be Worse

“I don’t know what I’m doing, Dad.” I buried my face in my hands, mortified that he probably knew I had screwed around with Bryce tonight. If he thought poorly of me, it would break my heart.

“Did you sleep with him? Did he push himself on you? You can tell me, peanut.”

“No, Dad. He didn’t push himself on me.” Just seduced me was all. And I wasn’t upset about it. It had been the best night I’d had in a long time.

“You were only there to watch his girls. How could y’all move so fast for you to be there until after ten? You don’t even know him. I mean, yeah, I noticed the chemistry between the two of you, but I thought it would take time to develop.”

“You saw chemistry between us?”

“Sure did.”

“I have a confession.”

“Lemme hear it.”

I sucked in a nervous breath, then blew it out. “I met Bryce last Friday at the Boulder Tap House. We never exchanged names or numbers, thinking we’d never see each other again.”

He started laughing, like holding his belly while he laughed. “Did you hook up with him?”

“I’m so humiliated.” I covered my face. “We had a couple of drinks. I ate a tray of cheese curds and then we went out to his truck.”

“Wait.”

I froze and lowered my hands, preparing to get scolded about doing it in Bryce’s pickup.

“You ate a tray of cheese curds?”

“In all that, cheese curds are what stood out to you?”

“Look, peanut. Do I like knowing a guy had sex with my daughter in a truck? Fuck no. But that’s your business. I’ve had my fair share of raunchy hookups before your mom. I’ve got no place to judge. But you never eat junk food. Will you please tell me what brought you home?”

“It’s better if I show you. Follow me.” I went to my bedroom and dug out the pictures and letter from my suitcase. I pressed them against my chest. “Please don’t freak out, Dad.”

He put his hand out.

“Please promise me you won’t freak out.”

“Sadie, let me see.”

I sighed and handed him everything. Anyone could tell when my dad was furious because his face turned beet red, just like now.

“When did you get this?”

“A few days before I got home. I didn’t say anything because I knew it would hurt Mom.”

“Sadie, your mom is a strong, fierce woman. She can handle anything.”

“I’m so sorry, Dad.”

“I have one question. How did you get these?”

“They were spread out on my bed.”

“Fuck! I fucking know who did this!” He took the pictures and letters and stormed out of my room.

“Who?”

“I’m going to the club.”

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