Page 112 of Who's Your Daddy
I shrug. Honestly, I don’t know anymore. I hound Sully daily ensuring that he feeds Fuzzy, and I remind Brian to walk him every couple of hours. And I make sure he doesn’t get out. Though I delegated the cleaning of the litter box to the guys, the task has fallen to me, so I guess, yeah, it’s my cat.
My mom drops to her knees, and the cat slinks over, rubbing his head against her cheek.
“What a good boy,” my mom coos.
“He does tricks too.” Cal stands a little taller. “Let me grab his leash and our ball and we can show you how we play volleyball in the car park.”
My mom chatters animatedly, and as they head out, my dad turns back. “We’ll swing back later and grab you for dinner, Lola.”
Once they’re gone, I shuffle back to my desk and drop into my chair with a sigh.That may have been the easiest encounter with my parents in my entire adult life. With a cleansing breath, I turn back to the computer and continue on the certification I need to get to our client before lunch.
“Dammit,” Brian curses several minutes later.
“Stop calling him that,” Cal says over his shoulder as he appears at the door. Stepping into the room, he shoves his hands into his pockets. “You mad at me?”
I shake my head. “I feel like I should call you my hero. I’ve never gotten rid of my parents that quickly. Normally when they show up, they bulldoze my day.”
He props himself up against the table beside me. “You said you wanted to work today, and what Lola wants…”
I grab his tie and pull him in. When our lips meet, I sigh into his mouth. “Thank you.”
“Anything.” The single word is a promise.
“I don’t suppose you can get me out of dinner too?”
“Not likely.” He pecks my lips and pulls back. “But if you don’t mind Murphy coming along, we could join you?”
It’s tempting, but Murphy will probably be bored out of his mind.
“The guys won’t be home tonight?”
“Sully has a meeting with T.J.’s therapist in the city, and Brian has dinner with the Berkshires.”
I sigh. I hate the idea of dragging Murphy out, but I can’t deny that I’d love their company. “If Murphy’s okay with it, then I’d love it if you came.”
He gives me a devastating smile before uttering his favorite sentence. “Whatever Lola wants.” As the words work their way through me, wrapping firmly around my heart, I find my eyes pricking with tears and my nose stinging.
Chapter 39
Cal
Istorm into Brian’s office, interrupting some phone conference, and nod toward Sully’s. “Partner’s meeting, now.”
I think Brian must sense my pending breakdown because he quickly gets off the phone and slides his chair back. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head not wanting to say anything until we’re behind closed doors. Only once we’re in Sully’s office and the door is shut do I speak freely. “Lola’s parents are here.”
Brian’s eyes dart from me to the door. “And you’re hiding because?”
“For fuck’s sake I was on with Langfield,” my brother mutters, glancing down at the phone he’s just hung up.
I press my hands into my knees and try to suck in a breath. I think I might actually be hyperventilating.
“Woah, what’s happening?” I hear Brian say. Though the words sound far away as this buzzing sounds loudly in my ears.
“Water,” I mumble, grasping at my throat.
“Shit.” My brother jumps up and shoves a bottle in my face. I glance at it but finally grab it when I realize it’s a fresh one. My hands shake as I tip it back and guzzle it down.
