Page 37 of Wild Hit
Did I just tacitly agree to cosplaying Miguel’s fiancée?
I straighten and allow my sight to get lost in the distance, landing on someone’s pink hat that looks like it has a dead flamingo on top, and probably costs twice an average sedan.
Honestly, in the grand scheme of ridiculous events in my life, how bad can this one be?
Besides, I reason while shifting my attention back to my dad and his new business partner—who is such a creep that he hasn’t lost sight of me even while I’m trying to hide—this would give me a really solid alibi to free myself from their plans.
“It’s not a big deal,” I tell Miguel. “Girlfriend, fiancée… potahto, potayto.”
His walking resumes. “Are you sure? Because I’m not Hollywood type of famous, but someone will probably say something that will end up on social media, if not the news.”
I shrug, though he can’t see it. “It’s fine, I’m a PR professional and the whole point of this is so I can also spin it to my benefit.” I peek again at the insufferable pair of men. “And I really need to benefit ASAP so I don’t have to be dragged around to these things anymore.”
“Hey, Audrey?” Miguel asks all of a sudden.
“Hmm?”
“Is that code for wanting to be rescued right now?” That catches me by surprise, and as my mind races, he keeps speaking, “Because I don’t want to make the mistake thatgenerations of mens have made in assuming that you can’t take care of yourself, but it kinda sounded like you need a hand.”
Something in me loosens—my spine, my soul, my hackles.
I’m not annoyed by his observation. It doesn’t negate how angry I am that my own father is still using me as his pawn and that my self sufficiency was so flimsy all along.
Rather, it recognizes that saving myself has been the way I have lived for years until recently, until I had a good group friends who are better people than me. Who made me see that getting help every once in a while isn’t so bad.
Why is it so easy for me to do everything—and I meaneverything, even sacrificing my own freedom—for my friends, yet it’s so difficult to recognize that it’ll be better to solve something with help than on my own?
It’s taken getting to the point of peak manipulation from my dad to realize this. And for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like a failure for reaching out.
“Actually, I’d appreciate some help. Any excuse to get out of here early will cut it.”
“I can do that.” I hear a raspy sound, like maybe he’s rubbing his face and it has some bristles. “How’s this? Let’s explain the plan to Marty together over ice cream.”
“Isn’t she in school?”
“Yes, but I’m pissed at this place and want to leave. I’m sure she feels the same, right?”
“Perfect.” I grin at the potted palm. “This is so gonna get you best dad award.” And it’s also going to improve my mood drastically.
We keep the call going just to give me an excuse to look unapproachable and too busy to have more vapid conversations.
In a record amount of time, I’m leaving this joint while escorted by a knight in shining sweats, his little goth princess, and a sensible SUV for a carriage.
CHAPTER 16
MIGUEL
“This. Is. The. Best. Day. Of. My. Life!” Marty exclaims, punctuating every word before taking a bite out of her ice cream.
Yes, a bite.
I watch fascinated at this strange little creature I call my daughter. “Wow, I’ve created a monster.”
“I would say she’s perfectly well adjusted,” Audrey counters, licking her ice cream cone like a civilized person.
Welp, I too am a monster I guess, because I definitely shouldn’t be paying any attention to the pink of her tongue as it carries chocolate ice cream into her mouth. I lower my focus on the sad fruit cup in my hands, stabbing a chunk of strawberry with more violence than necessary.
Audrey continues, not noticing my pause. “If any of my parents had pulled me out of school on a normal day and taken me to the ice cream parlor, I’d probably feel differently about them.”
