Page 19 of Falling for My Best Friend's Dad
Tears stream down my face because I’m afraid and I regret being here. If only I were less naïve! Desperate, I stomp my heel on his right foot and he yelps, loosening his grasp. I push him away from me quickly, seizing the first object I see on the desk, which turns out to be a stapler, and throw it into his face.
Jason lets out a painful howl while I grab my purse and run out of the office.
I cry in my car for about ten minutes. I don’t know what to do. My mom is home, but I don’t want to worry her. I call Ivy, but she isn’t available. It’s ten minutes to six. I start the car and drive toward Bay Bistro.
On my way to the restaurant, I’m tortured by shame and regret. What was I thinking? I knew this would happen, and yet I took a chance. I knew Jason was a jerk, and I still gave him a chance to insult me. Worst of all, I let Richard down. I didn’t take his advice. I ignored his warning.
I drag through the congested traffic and arrive at the restaurant at six thirty.
There are a few customers around. Richard and the other part-time waiter are serving the tables. Richard’s eyes brighten when he sees me. I’m so ashamed of myself I can’t even force a smile.
“You’re earlier than expected….Is everything okay?” Her smile fades as soon as he speaks.
My eyes must look red again. “I’m fine,” I say, and hurry past him.
I go into the storeroom and close the door. I take a deep breath and tell myself to calm down. I won’t let the jerk ruin my evening. I can’t let Richard know I made a horrible mistake.
Chapter 10
Richard
My eyes never leave Kayla in the evening. She isn’t herself today. Something must’ve happened to her. It has to have something to do with her day job. When she called earlier saying she would be at work later, I didn’t feel good about it. It was only her first day being the new position, and her jerk of a boss already had her work overtime? And it isn’t the only reason for her being inattentive. An hour’s overtime shouldn’t wear her out so much. Something else is bothering her.
She spills water onto the floor, but thankfully not a big mess. She also takes the food to a wrong table. This is unusual. Kayla never makes mistakes like that, at least not in recent years.
I close the shop fifteen minutes earlier than usual because I can’t wait to speak to Kayla. As soon as we’re alone in the dining room, I ask her, “Kayla, tell me what happened.”
She’s wiping down the table, and she tenses at my words.
Not looking up, she says, “Nothing.”
I put a hand on her arm to stop her. “Leave it alone, I’ll take care of it later.”
I take her to the bar counter, the same spot I kissed her last night, and make her sit down on a barstool.
I tilt her chin up using my thumb and index finger, so she can’t avoid looking into my eyes. She shivers. “You weren’t yourself tonight. Was your day job too demanding? Or did your boss…”
I haven’t finished my sentence when tears well up in her eyes.
“I’m so stupid,” she says, sniffling.
I brush the teardrops from her cheeks. “No, you’re not! You’re the smartest girl I know.”
“I thought I earned it with my competence, but…”
It doesn’t take me long to understand what she’s talking about. I’ve guessed it right.
“What did he do?”
She shakes her head and more tears roll down her face.
I brought her a napkin, and she buries her face in it.
“Did the jerk violate you?”
“No!” she shakes her head. ‘He didn’t get to. I ran away.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Fucking bastard.”
