Page 36 of The Tangle of Awful

“Of course.”

It all feels so domestic and easy. But not at all familiar like I’d hoped. Something different crackles between us. Not a stepfather and stepdaughter spending quality time together watching a movie. Something far more twisted. An unspoken promise to take a forbidden journey with her.

We can’t.

She sits down beside me, passes me a water bottle, and brings the bowl of popcorn into her lap. I chug the water, hoping to cool off all the heat burning through me. It’s a fruitless endeavor because her nearness has me combusting from the inside out.

This doesn’t feel like movie night with my stepdaughter.

This feels like a date with the sweetest, hottest, most tempting girl I know.

I force myself to think of my missing wife because nothing kills a boner like Neena does. Where the hell is she anyway? Surely she’s caught wind that Aubrey’s back in town. You’d think that, even if she were punishing me, she’d want to see her daughter.

But that’s assuming Neena is like Jamie. Jamie, despite screwing over my brother to have an affair with my dad, is actually a great mother. She loves the twins more than anything in this world. Jamie wouldn’t abandon her daughter or even avoid her because her children always come first.

The only thing that’s ever come first for Neena is Neena.

My phone buzzes. I pull it out to see I have a new message from my campaign manager, Vance.

Vance: Don’t forget our meeting tomorrow morning. And show up happy because I have something I want to propose. I need you to say yes.

Me: Don’t be vague, V. Out with it.

Vance: Though it wasn’t my idea, and probably stems from nefarious intentions, I still think it could be great PR.

Me: I’m already not liking the sound of it.

Vance: Jeter wants to have dinner with you.

I scowl at my phone. Scott Jeter is my opponent running for AG.

Me: Why the hell would I want to have dinner with that idiot?

Vance: Because the press loves a juicy story. Jeter is a tool and you’re the exact opposite. You wouldn’t have to do anything but be you. He’ll fuck things up and you’ll be the media darling.

Me: Sounds too easy.

Vance: Here’s where it gets tricky.

Me: Tricky?

Vance: You’ll need to bring Neena. Is she done being mad at you?

Fuck.

I’ve evaded Vance thus far about media appearances with Neena because I admitted we were having marital problems. But I lied and said we were working through them. That by the time the election rolls around, we’ll be fine. Nothing to worry about.

Here we are, though, late summer, and the election is on the horizon. Still no wife. I’m so fucked when the press gets wind I can’t find my own goddamn wife. Sure, many people will assume she ran off and left me, speculating as to the whys. There will be a significant amount of people, however, who will assume foul play. They’ll want to investigate her missing whereabouts. I don’t need that shit in my life.

Me: She’s still pissed, but I could bring my stepdaughter as my date.

I inwardly cringe at the word date, but I’ve already sent the text. Luckily, he doesn’t read into it.

Vance: Father/daughter dinner. Even better. The press will love it. You’re a smart man, Park.

Smart.

Yeah fucking right.

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