Page 34 of Daddy Vibes (The Anti-Bachelorette 2)

Chapter 13

Eric

I finally was able to get away from the new contractor on Friday. That man could talk for hours. You’d think after he told me about his wife, kids, dog, vacation plans, and weekend plans all with me only giving one word responses, he’d finally get the hint. I’m just glad I’ll be overseeing this job from afar so I don’t have to deal directly with him on a daily basis. How would I ever get home?

To make things even worse, he kept talking when I was just trying to get home to Angela. I have been trying to think of ways I could leave the job site early all week, but I swear nothing was working out for me this week. Contractors didn’t show up, there was a permit issue with the city, and then this fucker is just wasting time chatting it up. I’d use a different contractor, but this is a small town. There aren’t many options nearby, and I don’t want to pay for travel when I’m sure he’ll be good at his job when he actually shuts up.

I finally wrapped things up this afternoon, and I headed straight for my car so I could get home as soon as possible. I stopped for lunch, but just ate the food in my car so that I could get back sooner. It’s already a long enough drive as it is.

It feels strange wanting to be home so bad. I mean don’t get me wrong, I always like to go home and relax at the end of the day, but I’ve never felt the pull the way I do now. Before I wouldn’t mind staying late and taking on extra projects, but now all I can think about is cooking dinner with Angela, wrapping her up in my arms on the couch, just being with her.

I finally pull up to the house after the longest car ride of my life and head inside. There’s no one in here, but I hear a lot of noise coming from the back yard. I head over to the slider and see Emory and all of Angela’s cousins, but not her. Where is she?

My eyes search the backyard again, and then I see her getting out of the pool in nothing but a little red bikini. God help me, how did I get so lucky? She squeezes her long black hair to get the extra water out and then heads over to the chair next to Emory to dry off.

I am just watching her for a while while she runs her towel up and down her body. Good thing it is all only family here or I’d have to go out there and cover her up.

She lays down on the chair next to Emory and they start talking. I probably shouldn’t just be creeping on her like this, but she’s my girlfriend now so it’s okay, right? Girlfriend? Wow, I feel like I’m twelve again. Are guys my age even allowed to have girlfriends?

Emory points over to the house, and Angela nods like she’s going to take care of something. When she gets up, she throws a shirt on over her bikini and heads toward the house. I step back into the kitchen as she walks in. When she walks around the corner, I wrap my arms around her waist from behind. “Surprise.” I whisper in her ear.

She gasps at first but then turns in my arms, and her face lights up with the biggest smile. God she’s beautiful. “You’re back!”

She wraps her arms around my neck and slams her mouth to mine. Oh man I’ve missed her, and it’s only been a week. She pulls back, and I groan. I want her lips on mine again. “I thought you weren’t getting home until late. It’s only 6 o’clock.”

I just smile back. “I couldn't get away from there fast enough. All I could think about was coming home to you.”

She gives me the most sexy smile, and then her lips are on mine again. I quickly pull her closer and deepen the kiss. I’m debating if I can sneak her over to my bedroom without her cousins noticing that she’s gone when I hear a voice in the kitchen. “Angela?”

At first I think it is one of her cousins interrupting us, but when she pulls away and turns around, I see her dad standing there. Oh fuck. This is not how I wanted him finding out. Angela sounds just as surprised to see him as I do. “Dad? What are you doing here?”

He just makes a disgusted sound. “This was a family get together no? Am I not a part of the family?”

I feel Angela tense. “Of course you are, you just don’t usually stop by for these type of things.”

His face doesn’t change from the angry stare he had before. “Stop trying to change the subject. What is it that you are doing? Could you not handle not being a whore for 5 weeks? You had to seduce the only man available to you?”

My eyebrows shoot up. What the actual fuck? I know Alaric said they don’t get along, but this is not even close to being okay. “Excuse me sir, but you’re out of line.”

I see Angela’s eyes shoot over to mine in surprise. The look of pain there breaks me. It’s not that she cares about what her dad is saying. I imagine he’s said much worse, but it seems no one has ever stood up for her before. Did she not think I would defend her? Fuck, I need to show her how I feel about her more if that’s what she thought.

Her dad just glares at me. “Stay out of this. I don’t blame you. The slut can seduce any man.”

I feel my body moving to go to punch his asshole face, but Angela grabs my arm and pulls me back. She’s stayed quiet the whole time. It is so unlike her usual spunky attitude. I feel my anger rising even more. “You need to leave. Now.”

Her dad actually laughs at me. “You don’t need to pretend to care, Eric. She’ll sleep with you either way. Isn’t that right Angela?”

He’s taking this too far. I can’t let him put ideas in her head that aren’t true. “Pretend to care?" I hear my voice getting louder. “Pretend? Really? I’m fucking in love with her!”

Her dad looks at me with surprise, and he turns to look at Angela and I do the same. She has the same surprised look as her dad, and I suddenly realize what I’ve said out loud even if I haven’t told her yet.

She looks like she doesn’t believe me at first, so I just continue to stare at her to tell her with my eyes that I mean every word. No words pass between us, but then a smile slowly creeps across her face until she’s biting her bottom lip to try to hide it.

It’s like all of her life has been blown back into her, and she turns toward her dad with that confident attitude that I love. “Dad, you need to leave. Eric is our host, and you’ve been nothing but rude to him.” I pull her to my side and wrap my arm around her to show support.

Her dad just makes an angry sound and turns around to leave, but before he gets to the door he turns back. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The girl will be with the next guy by next week.” Then he storms off and slams the door behind him.

I quickly turn to Angela and cup her face. “Are you okay?”

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