Page 174 of Movers and Shakers

“No secrets, remember? And besides, there’s more.”

“How can there be more?”

“I haven’t even told you about how Wilfred’s coming to the bar or how I finally opened up to Ruth and Tom about him.”

“What?”she nearly yelled. “Okay, start from the beginning and tell meeverything.”

“How much time do you have?”

“For you? I’llmaketime.”

I didn’t want to be nervous about my biological dad seeing my bar, but I was. He’d agreed to come an hour before opening and stay a while to see it in action. I’d never had a parent in before, and despite his constant kindness over the last few months, I was terrified he’d tear it down like Mom and Todd did.

Rose had given me plenty of positive reinforcement, giving my own advice back to me.

I needed to focus on how this could goright.

Unfortunately, it was easier said than done.

I’d been disappointed by this part of my life a lot, and yet, each time, it felt like a little more of my soul died. As much as I wanted to pretend it didn’t matter, it did, and I was starting to realize that.

And now that Ruth and Tomhadn’tdisappointed me, I needed the trend to continue.

“Why do you look like you’re about to shit your pants?” Audrey asked as she walked in. “Isyou know whocoming here or something?”

“No, but my dad is.”

She froze. I didn’t mention my family very much, if at all.

“Like, your asshole dad?”

“Nope. Apparently, I’m not related to him. Myrealone is coming.”

“What? You have a different dad?”

“It’s new to me too.”

She blinked. “Okay. Wow, um, so how did you take the news?”

“Terribly. But I’m adjusting to it now.”

“And do you need us to do anything?”

“No. In fact, don’t even listen in on anything.”

She gave me a look that told me she wouldn’t be doing that. “Yeah, right. I want to make sure you’re okay. And if I’m not around, Liam will be.”

“I should be fine either way.”

“But if it goes south, we’ll be here.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Do you remember when I said you looked like you were about to shit your pants?”

“I blocked it out because you sounded too much like my sister.”

“Who I need to meet, by the way,” Audrey said. “But seriously, we’re your friends too.”

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