Page 136 of Call Me Mrs. Taylor

“So why’d he come inside?”

Now, I pretend to be offended.

“Why are you pressing me like this?” I demand. “Did I do something wrong?”

“I don’t know who did what,” he says. “That’s why I’m asking. And if you don’t tell me, I’ll have to find out another way.”

I wait a few beats, then blow out a sigh, dropping my head as I pretend this is the last thing I wanted to happen.

“Ace…” I lift my head, bringing my gaze back to him. “I would never wanna come between you and your family.”

“What the fuck happened?” he says, his voice rising.

I close my eyes, shaking my head, showing him how much I hate having to tell him this.

“Your dad tried to kiss me.”

The room goes still. It feels like the air around us thickens with tension. Ace’s brows knit in confusion, but his fists ball up at his sides, his body clear about what he just heard.

“As soon as it happened, I kicked him out,” I say slowly. “It was…it was scary. I mean, he wasn’t violent or anything. I didn’t feel like I was indanger, but… he definitely made me feel…cornered.”

His breathing deepens, controlled but just barely. “Are you okay?”

I’m taken aback by that question. I expected anger, but I didn’t expect concern. At least not right away. And for a brief second, almost like a flash, I feel guilty for what I’ve done.

But I have to keep my eye on the prize.

I sigh. “I’m okay, I guess. I’m more worried about you. I really didn’t wanna tell you this.”

He nods slowly and reaches for my water. I watch him drink, mesmerized by his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows, lowkey turned on by how intimate it feels for us to share one bottle. It’s a little thing, but a big thing.

“I’ll take care of it,” he says, slamming the empty bottle on the counter.

“What does that mean?”

He rounds the island and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me in.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Especially…you know.”

I frown into his shirt, puzzled until it hits me.

My father.

I’ve worked so hard to block that out, sometimes it feels like it never even happened.

But Ace remembers.

I swallow hard and return his embrace. “It’s not your fault. And honestly, maybe you should just leave it alone.”

He pulls back, staring at me like I have two heads.

“You out your mind if you think I’ma let that shit slide, Raya. I don’t keep peace for the sake of family. Wrong is wrong.”

“It’s your dad.”

“Nah,” he says. “It’s you.”

Fuck.

---