Page 27 of Sending Nudes to My Boss

I’m fully alarmed now, getting up from the porch swing and trying to right my underwear and bra. This must be an emergency. Otherwise, Katie would just text me and wait for me to respond when I had the time. For her to call William, it must mean she’d already tried my phone.

“Hey,” Katie says. “I know you had a night planned with William, but it would be great if you could head to your parents house. Like…soon.”

“What?” I gasp. “What’s up? Is someone hurt?”

“No. Well technically yes. Darren punched your dad.”

Shit.

I’ve been waiting for this day. It’s not even a surprise, really. My older brother has had a major problem with our father ever since we discovered his pattern of infidelity. My brother is ordinarily a gentle giant, but the exception is when it comes to the women in his life. He’d fight anyone for me, for Katie, and for our mother.

But I thought that once he found love with Katie, that his anger towards our father would subside.

I guess I was wrong.

“Is Dad okay?” I ask.

Behind me, I hear William’s belt buckle and the sound of him donning his t-shirt again, grabbing his keys and ready for whatever I need.

“He was bleeding and said he needed to go to the hospital. But it wasn’t an emergency. More like he needed a reason to get away from Darren. Honestly, if you don’t come quickly I think Darren and Sam are going to fight, too.”

“Who’s Sam?”

Katie hesitates.

“Who the hell is Sam?” I repeat.

“Your half brother,” she says timidly. “We just found out. He came by the house to talk and that’s when all hell broke loose.”

I don’t respond. I need to process what I’ve just heard. I can put the pieces together without Katie needing to explain anything further. Our dad is a cheater. It’s not impossible at all that he fathered other children outside of his marriage.

“I’ll be right there,” I say, hanging up the phone. I look at William apologetically. “I’m sorry. I think I need to go.”

“So I heard. I’ll drive you. Do you know if the police were called? Darren shouldn’t speak to anyone without me present.”

I hadn’t even considered this. Surely our idiot dad wouldn’t press charges against his own son. Then again, he’s not really loyal to family, right?

“Katie didn’t mention the police. I don’t really know what’s going on. Just that Dad’s choices are imploding our family.Again,”I add bitterly.

William takes my hand.

“It’ll be okay,” he says.

I don’t know why, but I want to believe him. And even if it’s not okay, even if this is finally the thing that breaks my already-splintered family…I know I’ll still have him.

That’s just enough to keep me strong.

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

My future brothers-in-lawstand behind me at the altar like armed guards.

I never had many friends, especially when I became so invested in my career. But joining the Baker family, I’ve learned, means gaining a whole lot of new friends.

Darren stands behind me as my best man, rings in his front pocket, patiently waiting for the moment he can be useful. Behind him is Sam, a man I’m currently defending against several charges. He’s not the toughest case I’ve ever worked, but he’s definitely in the top ten.

He also happens to be a great guy.

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