Page 98 of Better Daddy
I shake my head. It’s not, but I’ve never admitted to the lie. Years ago, he and Brian watched it all the time, and since I just wanted to hang out with him, I told them it was my favorite.
Not only was I desperate for time with him, even before we were dating, but anything was better than sitting in my apartment by myself. I grew up in a quiet home where my parents emphasized studying over friendships. In law school, most people I met were the same way, but Sully was more relaxed, and over time, he convinced Brian to let up a little too. Rather than studying at the library, they would invite me back to their apartment, where we’d break up study sessions with drinks and movies and joking around. We still aced exams because Brian and I were overachievers, and despite Sully’s skate-by mentality, he was really freaking sharp.
I smile at the memory. We used to have so much fun. During our first few years at the firm, we’d work hard and party even harder at night. What we were doing now didn’t resemble that kind of partying, but we’d reverted back to that in a way now that we were all in Jersey. Our nights were full of Ping-Pong tournaments and dance parties and anything else ridiculous Cal came up with. And the rest of the crew still worked hard together all day before drifting upstairs for the night. My stomach twists a little at the thought. Though I love our evenings, I’m missing out on all that time with them during the workday now that I’m stuck working for Will.
Ugh.
Sully steps up to the edge of the bed, his eyes narrowed on me. “What’s wrong? Is the smell of the cheesecake bothering you?”
Slumping, I shake my head. “No. It smells delicious.”
“Then why the frowny-upside-downy?” He waggles his brows.
I snort out a laugh. “Did you just do a Cal-ism?”
“I’ll do anything to make you smile.” He hands me a spoon and then settles beside me. “Now tell me what the frown was about.”
I’ve been hesitant to tell Sully about Will’s ultimatum, afraid I’d let his opinions cloud my decision. But I realize now I should have been honest from the beginning. I promised I’d talk to him, yet I’ve been keeping things bottled up again.
So I tell him everything. How Will tricked me into a date. How he basically blackmailed me, hinting at my job being in jeopardy if Ididn’t date him. And how, when I finally told him I wasn’t interested, he gave me an impossible assignment, knowing I’d fail.
“I’ll kill him,” Sully grits out when I go quiet. Despite how red in the face he is, not once did he interrupt me or lash out while I explained.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
He rolls his teeth over his bottom lip, his gaze darting away. “Is it because you were considering it?” he finally asks, his voice low.
My heart cracks in two at the uncertainty there. As tears prick at the backs of my eyes, I pull his hand into my lap and shift so I’m facing him completely. With my other hand on his cheek, I duck, waiting for him to look at me. “Not even for a second.”
Sully leans into my touch, his eyes closing.
“You have to know there’s only ever been you when it comes to my heart.” I press his hand to my chest so he can feel the rhythm that only he’s ever inspired. It’s a few beats faster than resting because I’m always more excitable around him. Sometimes because he’s pissing me off, but more often, it’s because he’s sweeping me off my feet.
He searches my face, his eyes bouncing between mine, like he’s looking for the lie.
He won’t find one. I just smile at him. “After I told him I wasn’t interested, I went to speak to his father, and get this—my mother was the one who got me the job, not Will.”
Sully blows out a breath, and when he shakes his head, I drop my hand from his cheek. “Why?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. She wasn’t happy when she found out about the divorce. My guess is she figured I’d need a job.”
Sully’s jaw ticks, but he doesn’t respond. He and I will never see eye to eye on that subject. Maybe he would have been happy to bankroll my entire life, even after we divorced, but I never would have been okay accepting his money. I worked hard for my law degree, and whether we separated or not, I wanted my career. It was time I found myself again.
“Will Sr. offered me a position in trusts and estates.That’s why I stayed in the city tonight. I want to brush up on the cases he assigned me. I’m anxious to start on them and be done with Will for good.”
Rather than the relief I expect to see on Sully’s face, there’s nothing but anger.
“They can’t take you out of litigation,” he says, his tone low and rough, “just because his slimy kid didn’t get what he wants.”
I grasp his wrist and smooth my thumb over the inside of it. “I love trusts. It’s actually what I like handling the most. I think the idea of litigating was exciting because it was badass. My whole life, that’s what I’ve been told real lawyers do.”
My mother’s voice and opinions have always been loud in my head, but over the years, I’ve discovered that I can’t dedicate my life to making others happy. I need to make myself happy first. Fill my own cup and all that.
Sully scoffs. “Sloane, you’ve always been incredible. My father always sang your praises when it came to our trusts and estates.”
I let out a long breath. “My mother had me so convinced that the whole lot of you were mommy tracking me, and I let it get into my head. I resented you for it.”
Sully’s eyes go wide. “What?” Now he’s the one grasping my hands. “We knew you were incredible with those clients. And your brain, sweetheart? The things you’d come up with? Brilliant. Brian may be good at estates, but he’s nothing like you when it comes to creating relationships with the clients. You and Cal were our front line.”
