Page 38 of Fake Coral and Keys

“Oh yes.” TJ nearly growls in rage. “This asshole had pictures of my baby girls, Blake. Mywife. Out in public. Like some stalker shit.”

“What did he want?”

“He wants you, asshole,” TJ snaps. “He said to remind you that you have a job to do.”

“I’m sorry,” I tell him.

“You need to get your ass back here.”

“It’s going to take me a minute to get a flight back.” I stand up and look around the room as if the answer to this building panic weaving around my throat is hidden in a corner somewhere. “And get to the airport.”

“Whatever, man,” TJ says. “But get your ass back here before this scary assGodfather-looking dude comes to my house again.”

The call goes dead. I sink to the bed and put my head in my hands. Fuck. Why did I think I could take time away? Now my stupidity has TJ and his family involved.

“Everything okay?” Daisy stands in the bathroom doorway, her brows knit in concern.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.I have to leave her. After what I did last night, acting like a jerk and everything with Justine, I have toleaveher.

“Blake?” She tilts her head to the side. “What happened?”

I close my eyes and exhale, wishing I was different. I was supposed to be better by the time Daisy wanted to see me again, and I’m not. My life is a mess, and I’m tangled up with bad people. And now I’ve got TJ involved.

My shoulders slump. “I have to leave.”

She steps back and straightens. “When?”

“Now.”

She looks to the bed and then tightens her robe. Her face goes completely blank, her eyes hollowing out. “Okay.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, rushing forward to cup her face in my hands. “It’s an emergency.”

She gives me a fake smile. “I understand.”

I want to scream. The way she keeps avoiding my eyes tells me she thinks I’m lying. I can’t leave her like this. She’ll never want to see me again.

“My father is sick,” I tell her.

Her eyes instantly dart to mine. She grips my hands and squeezes. God, I hate myself so much right now. She’s so pure and so kind. I’m so selfish.

“I didn’t tell you he’s been sick for a while.” My mind races, trying to figure out the best way to describe my dad. The most believable lies always have a smidgen of truth. “My father is an alcoholic. He’s been in the hospital.”

It’s really a rehab, but whatever.

Her entire body sags with sympathy. “And he’s not doing well?”

I’m going to hell.“No,” I say, and the pain in my voice isn’t a lie. I hate myself for using my asshole father and his shitty liver as the excuse to leave, but I’m desperate.Please, whatever powers that be, don’t use this against me laterand hurt my father.“I have to get the first flight back.

She steps out of my grip and shakes her head. “No, my father can set up your flight.” She rushes to get her phone. “I’ll call him now. You’ll be back in a few hours.”

There isn’t enough time to feel guilty about this. If I have to book a flight through a standard airline, it would take hours and probably even a layover. I run my fingers through my hair and curse.

Daisy steps forward and places a hand on my arm. “It’s okay, Blake.”

“It’s not,” I tell her. “I’m leaving you with the mess I made last night.”

She laughs. “Yeah, but I’m a big girl.” She thumbs through her phone, then waves me away. “Go pack.”

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