Page 80 of Swiped By My Dad's Best Friend
“That man is your friend.”
“Not anymore.”
I pressed my lips together hard, holding back the angry torrent of words that wanted to pour out. Dad must have seen something in my expression because he relented. “Your phone in the bottom drawer of my desk,” he said. “It’ll make your symptoms worse if you get caught up in checking all your notifications.”
“I know that,” I said tersely.
“I know you’re dying to talk to Trace but finish your lunch first at least.”
I nodded once, the closest I could come to thanking him. When he closed the door, I exhaled tiredly and dropped back onto the couch. The adrenaline that had flooded me ebbed away, and I ate slowly.
After I finished, I’d get my phone. Once I had it, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist calling Trace. Dad was right about that. Iwasdying to talk to him.
Then, I’d make a plan for getting back to my life. Dad wouldn’t magically accept our relationship overnight; I knew that. But I couldn’t continue to stay in a place where Trace wasn’t welcome. Every moment in my father’s house felt like I was choosing sides.
Trace had left me at the hospital so I wouldn’t have to choose where my loyalties should lay. I appreciated the gesture. I didn’t want to give up my relationship with my father. I wanted my familyandthe man I loved. But when push came to shove… Well, in my heart of hearts I knew.
I’d already made my choice a long time ago.
And I’d chosen Trace.
* * *
TRACE
My knees ached and my bicep muscles burned as I knelt on hard, uneven boards and swung the hammer at another nail. I held three more between my lips, methodically pounding down new boards to reinforce an old porch on the verge of rotting away. Cooper’s crew had started some of the work the week before—reinforcing support beams and repairing the steps and railing—but there were patches of rotten wood that had to be replaced.
My whole body hurt, and still I worked. I’d take sore muscles and exhaustion over the worry and restlessness that plagued me when I had too much time to think. I knew I wouldn’t be at ease until I saw Cooper again. Matthew was taking good care of him, I was sure, but it rankled that I couldn’t be there for him. And then there was the ever-present worry that Matthew would give Cooper some kind of ultimatum, and fuck knew how that would tear him up. Forget about my own broken heart; my brat would be the one who suffered most.
I didn’t want that for him.
My phone vibrated in my back pocket, and I took the excuse to drop the hammer with a clank and swipe an arm across my sweaty brow before grabbing my cell. Cooper’s name lit up the screen, making my heart leap.
“Brat! I’m so happy you called.”
“Hi, Daddy,” he said almost shyly. The sweet tenor of his voice was a balm on my worried soul. If he was up to calling me, he must be doing okay. “Can you talk? You’re usually on the road about now, aren’t you?”
I realized with a jolt that it was Friday afternoon, and I hadn’t done fuck all to prepare for my Saturday seminar. Well, the students could use the time to finalize the projects that would be coming due soon. I had more important things to worry about.
“I can talk,” I said. “Actually, uh, I’m not on the road.”
“Isn’t it getting late? You don’t want to drive after dark.”
I sat back on my heels and chuckled ruefully. “I guess your dad didn’t tell you, huh? I stayed in town.”
“You did?” He sounded shocked. “Since Wednesday?”
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat, a little embarrassed. “I couldn’t stand to leave you like that.”
“Aw, Daddy.” If I hadn’t fully bared my underbelly to him before, I was certainly stripping myself naked now. I’d never felt so vulnerable, not even when I’d first admitted I loved him. “That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Yeah, well,” I grumbled.
“I wish I’d known,” Cooper continued. “I would have left sooner.”
“You left?”
“Well, I’m getting ready to,” he said. “I can’t stay here anymore, not knowing how he feels. I could head over to the frat, but if you’re in town…”
