Page 14 of Daddy's Double Surprise

Rick’s forehead wrinkled and he opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Melanie chimed in. “Oh dear, yes. If you’re ill, you should lie down.” Rick never got a chance to say another word.

Sunny shot up from her spot, dropped her cloth napkin on the table, and dashed off down the hallway. It felt like a part of my heart was being torn out of my chest. She had to be soupset, so mortified by Rick’s actions. Everyone watched her go, but only I stood and stared after her, not realizing I was doing it.

Melanie looked up at me and patted my hand then stood. “I’ll check on her. You enjoy dinner.” Her knowing gaze made me shrink back in embarrassment. To these people I was just her boss, a friend maybe, but not the one who should chase after her. To me—it sent a very loud signal. Sunny was claiming a place in my heart that I couldn’t deny, and it was happening lightning fast.

Rick scowled at his plate, then turned to Liam and said, “I apologize for that interruption, Liam.” He nodded at the table. “I do hope you’re enjoying dinner anyway. That was rude of Soleil. I’ll have a talk with her later.”

I shrank back to my seat as Rick scolded Sunny’s behavior in front of company, and I felt ashamed to even call the man my friend.

Luna, however, reveled in the fact that she had 100 percent of Liam’s attention now.

I plunged my fork into the roast for another bite, but my mind was on Sunny. No wonder she didn’t like living here or being around Rick alone. He was more than just obtuse; he was bordering on controlling or abusive. A talk with him wouldn’t fix it either. All I could do was be there for Sunny when we were alone and pray that our time would help her heart feel safe enough to unravel and heal.

And maybe more someday…if Rick didn’t hate me for loving her.

9

SUNNY

Ididn’t even make it to my bedroom. I went straight to the powder room down the hall before the vomit rose high enough to come out. Kneeling over the toilet, I sobbed and let my dinner go down it. My father was a piece of work sometimes, but this time took the cake.

When he told me he had invited someone for dinner, I knew what he meant. He was going to try to fix me up with a guy around here to make it more appealing for me to stick around. He wanted me under his thumb, and I wanted freedom. But a celebrity? Dad crossed the line this time. I didn’t even know he had connections in Hollywood.

“Baby?” Mom said. I could hear her on the other side of the door as I pushed myself to my feet and flushed the toilet.

“One sec,” I told her, reaching for the faucet to at least rinse my mouth. I blew my nose and took a few gulps of water, then opened the door to see her concerned face.

“Oh dear, I thought you were just trying to get away from that nightmare.” Mom reached up and pressed the back of her hand to my forehead then pulled me in for a hug. “I didn’t realize youare really sick.” Her strong arms guided me out of the bathroom and down the hall farther to my bedroom door.

“I don’t know what came over me. It wasn’t your cooking. I promise. I just didn’t have an appetite, I got upset, and then I had to throw up.” I felt a bit weak from the exertion of tossing my cookies, so I let her push me toward bed, climbing in, letting her cover me with the comforter.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. You probably just picked something up at the clinic.” Mom fussed with the blanket and said, “I’m really sorry Dad is being a bit overbearing right now. I think he just really misses you and wants you to be closer to home.”

“Dad wants to ruin my life. He can’t let me just be myself.” I sniffled, tasted the bile still draining from my sinuses, and cringed. I had to brush my teeth and use mouthwash.

“He loves you and means well. He’s just concerned.” Mom pushed some hair off my face and asked, “Would you like me to get Dr. Price to check on you? He’s a trained physician. If you’re sick he could help.”

“God, no,” I groaned. I was mortified by rushing out like that. He didn’t need to know I’d gotten so emotional I threw up. How humiliating.

“Alright…” Mom sighed and paused as she stroked my hair. I curled into a ball, fighting the urge to hate my father. I was so angry, so embarrassed by how he tried to manhandle me into a future he imagined would be perfect. Couldn’t he see I was hurting? “He just thinks you’re lonely.”

“Well, he’s right,” I snapped, then felt bad for taking it out on her. “I mean, I am lonely after losing my best friend. Luna isn’t the same; we don’t have the same relationship. But dating a man isn’t going to replace what I lost. I’m missing someone who knew me inside out like a sister.” I huffed and forced myself to an upright position. “Besides, if I wanted to date someone I could. I already like a guy.”

I picked at my fingernails and then pinched a strand of hair, twirling it around my finger mindlessly. If Mom asked Carter to come back and check on me, I’d break down crying. He felt safe. After talking with him about Kira, we bonded a little. I knew he understood me deep down, and I knew if all of this emotion about my dad trying to set me up came out, I would ugly cry. We’d bond more. Mom would see right through it all and figure out I liked him.

“Oh?” she asked, her eyebrows perked. “Who is he? Anyone we know?” A half smile warmed her face, and I shook my head. No way I was opening that door right now. Dad would never approve; he’d hate Carter for even looking at me. And in the end, I’d be heartbroken when I moved to Tampa anyway, because with the way Dad was acting, there was no way I was staying here.

“Uh, it’s no one.” Sucking in a deep breath, I tried to think of a way to take back what I blurted out, but someone knocked on the door and I stiffened.

“Soleil?”

“Oh dear.” Mom patted my arm as she stood up. “I’ll take care of this. You rest. I’ll have Luna make you some bland soup; that will help with your belly. But if you’re not better in the morning, I’m calling Dr. Price.”

She placed a kiss on my forehead before she strolled to the door. I heard her talking quietly with Dad, assuring him I was fine. She told him I threw up and I wasn’t faking it, and he started to insist Carter come back to check on me, but she ushered him away.

I shoved a pillow behind my back and let my head drop to the carved wooden headboard behind me. I knew when I came home for the funeral with the intention to stay a few weeks that this would be torture. Now, more than six weeks later I was regretting that decision so much. I should’ve just jumped rightback into my high-paying job in Tampa and started searching for a roommate.

After a few minutes, the soft knock on my door was followed by Luna waltzing in with a tray. I looked up to see her grinning like a mad idiot as she set the tray on my nightstand. It had a bowl of soup and some crackers and a glass of water.

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