Page 62 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

I force a chuckle through the sudden tightness of my throat. “No, sir. I’m pretty confident your daughter wants nothing to do with me.”

He mumbles. I’m not sure, but it sounds like he says I can have her. As if she’s his to give. Like he doesn’t want her. But that’s fucking crazy because if there’s a man who cherishes his daughter more than Mr. Carson, I’ve yet to find him.

“Daddy.”

My heart beats double time in my chest. Of course, she’s his ride.

Goldi’s voice comes closer as she repeats herself. My gut pinches knowing she’ll hate that I’m here for this. But it’s too late, she’s already next to him, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Chase?” she gasps.

I attempt a smile. “Hey, Alina. I was just keeping your old man company for a bit. Catching up.”

She looks back and forth between us as she chews on her lip, color flushing high on her cheeks. She puts her hand on his arm. “Daddy, come on. Let’s go home.”

He twists in his seat, smacking her away. She stumbles back.

I grasp the edge of the bar to keep myself from reacting.

“I’m not goin’ ‘til I’m good and… ‘til I’m ready. And I sure as hell ain’t goin’ with you. Johnny!” He slurs across the bar. “How many times do I gotta tell you I don’t need no… damn babysitter.”

“Daddy, stop it.” Her voice cracks as she reaches out again, and again he smacks her off him. I blow out a breath and stand up. I’ve officially had enough. I’m about to intervene when I glance at Goldi. Her shoulders are tight and her face is stone—mask firmly in place. I’ve seen that mask before. Hell, I’ve worn it. I know the suffocation of trying to breathe underneath.

Johnny walks up, slinging a towel over his shoulder. “Hey, Lee.”

She sighs, throwing up a half-hearted wave. “Hi, Johnny. Thanks for callin’.”

“No problem.” He pauses like he doesn’t want to say what he’s about to. “Listen, Lee… I can’t keep lettin’ this happen. It’s no good for business and to be frank, it’s irresponsible on my part to keep servin’ someone who clearly doesn’t need the drink.”

“I get it.” She nods. “But, what am I supposed to do?” Her voice is a whisper and her eyes are glassy. I’m sure she’s trying to keep me from hearing. She turns toward her father. “Did you hear that, Daddy? You’ve gone and lost your favorite bar with the way you been actin’.”

Mr. Carson doesn’t react. He’s gone from mildly coherent to passed out on the bar top. Jesus. Goldi shakes his shoulder and gets nothing more than a grunt. She peeks over, her body rigid, obviously uncomfortable with me witnessing her vulnerability. Doesn’t she know I’m the last person who would judge her for this?

“Daddy, come on.” She shakes his shoulder again.

I make a split-second decision and lightly put my hands on her hips, ignoring the way the contact singes my fingertips as I move her to the side. I put her dad’s arm around my shoulder and hoist him up. She protests but I silence her with a look. “I’ve got him, Alina. Please, just let me help.”

She sucks in a breath, analyzing the way I let her father’s weight rest against my side. She closes her eyes and dips her head. “Yeah, okay. I’m parked right out front.”

I half-walk, half-carry Mr. Carson outside, and get him settled in before I close the door and turn to face her. She stands behind me, keys in her hand, chin high. Her eyes steeled like she’s preparing for battle. Whether it’s against me or her father, I don’t know.

“You good?” I ask.

“Yep.”

“I’m staying at Sam and Anna’s if you need anything, okay?”

She runs her fingers through her hair. “Look, we’ve been fine since you’ve been gone. Actually, since before you were gone. You can’t just show back up years later and think I’ll be waitin’ around for you to come save me. I’m not.”

“I know you’re not.” I shrug. “But I know how hard it can be.” I gesture toward her passed out dad in the car.

She stiffens. “You don’t know anything.”

My heart turns to lead, sinking inside me at the strength of her resentment. “Fair enough.”

I stuff my hands in my pockets and watch as she rounds the car. It’s only when she’s long gone that I finally move back inside.

A few hours later I’m back home, surfing channels. There’s nothing on, but I settle on Hoarders: Buried Alive. I need something to take my mind off the ache my soul feels knowing Goldi would rather suffer in silence than accept my help.

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