Page 10 of Faking It With the Single Dad

Turning to Glenn, I square my shoulders. He looks uncomfortable now, as if realizing he’ll be next.

“And you,” I say, my voice colder now. This one is an adult, so there’s no excuse for how he treats me. “You’re no better. I don’t care what you think of me or what disgusting offers you think are okay to throw my way. I’ll pay you your money, and after that, I never want to hear from you again. Do you understand?”

Glenn’s face reddens, and he stumbles over his words. “I-I was just joking, Bella. Don’t take it so seriously.”

I shake my head, disgusted. “You don’t get to hide behind that excuse. You’ve crossed every line, and I won’t put up with it anymore. Get ready for this month’s rent, and after that, we’re done.”

Without waiting for a response, I turn and walk away, leaving him standing there like the fool he is.

I blink back the tears that cloud my vision the second I turn away, making a mental note to get a new place by the end of the day.

Chapter Four

Ryan

Ishould have known that scumbag Vance wasn’t to be trusted.

I slam my laptop shut and push it away as rage bubbles in my chest. One, two, three, four…

It’s not working.

Vance’s email this morning is the cherry on top of a miserable week. He didn’t even have the decency to call. All I got was a blunt, condescending message saying the land wasn’t worth the price and that he’d rather spend the money on a decade’s worth of beer.Beer!

Am I a joke to him?

The plan had been simple: sell the land, leave Cedar Ridge, and move on with my life. But now, thanks to Vance and his sudden change of heart, I’m stuck here longer than I ever intended to be.

I glance at the bed where Alice is still fast asleep. Her face is pale and her breathing is uneven. She caught a cold last night because of the faulty windows in this cheap hotel room, and I spent most of the night at her side to make sure she was warm and comfortable.

It wasn’t enough.

This room won’t do. Staying here isn’t an option. Alice needs a proper place to recover, not a drafty hotel room with peeling wallpaper and broken windows.

I briefly consider Aunt Linda’s place, but the memory of last night’s dinner stops me cold. She spent the entire evening pestering me about finding a wife, and her not-so-subtle remarks grated on my nerves. Staying with her would only add to my frustration, and I can’t afford that right now.

No, I need to find an apartment. Somewhere decent and quiet, and I need to do it fast.

Dragging myself out of bed, I hop into the shower and let the hot water wash away the tension in my shoulders. When I’m dressed and ready, I’ve formed a plan: I’ll find a property agency and start looking for a place today.

After grabbing my jacket and wallet, I head downstairs. The hotel’s receptionist, the same young woman who helped me check in on my first day, is still behind the counter. She’s flipping through a magazine, her nametag still conveniently covered by her sweater. I realize I never asked for her name—not that I care enough to remember it if I had.

“Excuse me,” I say as I walk up to her. “Can I ask for a favor?”

She looks up, and her lips curl into a slow, almost playful smile. “Lucky you, I’m just about to finish my shift. What do you need?”

I glance at my watch. “Alice is still upstairs, and she’s not feeling well. I need someone to watch her while I run an errand.”

She arches a brow, clearly intrigued. “You’re asking me to babysit again?”

“I’m asking you to check on her. I won’t be long.”

“And her mom?”

“What about her?”

“I’d feel a certain way if a stranger was babysitting my daughter for free. Wouldn’t she?”

“This will be the last time,” I answer, ignoring her attempts to pry.

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