Page 95 of Mine to Love

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me. Your dreams aren’t my dreams, Dad.” I haven’t snapped at my father in years. Not since I found him lying on the floor because he refused to ask for help after his stroke. “What else did you tell him?”

Mariah reaches across the table and gives my father’s hand a squeeze. “Your father means well, honey.”

“I’ve never doubted that. I still deserve to know what he said.”

He folds his hands in his lap and looks me the eye. “I told him about your career goals and how you gave them all up to take care of me.”

Realization kicks me in the gut. “You asked him to give me a job. A job with his company.”

“I never asked him. I made it clear you’d never accept one anyway.”

“Yet here I am, working for a company he started so I could have a job in my chosen career path. Meanwhile he’s losing millions of dollars.”

“He’s losing money? I thought you were busy at LP Financials. Clients knocking down the doors.”

“I’m busy with nickel and dime clients. He’s used to working with multi-million-dollar companies, and as far as I know, hasn’t worked with a client through LP yet, only through Pierce Financials in Austin.”

“That’s odd.”

“No, it’s not. Not if the Maine company is a farce to make up for demoting me and then a pity hire after hearing about my family’s sob story.” I toss my napkin on the table and push my chair back. “You of all people, Dad, should know how I feel about pity.”

I’ll regret taking my anger out on my father later, for now, I need the outlet, and he’s the only one available. Emerson is my other outlet, and I’ve pushed her away. For a guy.

I’m a terrible friend and calling up Em tonight will only be another betrayal. Using our friendship for when I need something instead of being there to give.

I drive home and take a long, hot shower. When I’m curled up in bed, my phone chimes. I avoided Logan’s calls last night and sent him a text this morning telling him I fell asleep early and that I’d be out late having dinner at my father’s.

I’m too pent up, too pissed off to even send a pretend text. Instead of caving in, I shut off my phone and attempt to sleep.

Sleep doesn’t come. I’m too used to Logan spooning me when I’m on my side, so I flop to my back. When that doesn’t work, I flop onto my stomach. That doesn’t help either and only reminds me of when Logan takes me from behind, his face buried in the crook of my neck telling me how good I feel.

“Shit.” I jump out of bed and go into the kitchen for a cold glass of water and a shot of Nyquil.

It helps a little. I manage to fall asleep but waking up to my alarm is hard. A stop for a caramel latte and a French cruller from the donut shop is a must.

“Good morning,” Autumn greets me as I come through the door to the office. “Mr. Pierce is on the phone. I told him you weren’t here yet and he said he’d wait. Should I patch him through to your office?”

“No time for coffee and my donut?” I lift the bag and my coffee.

“All work and no play, is what I hear.”

Yup. Playtime is most definitely over. “Give me a minute to settle and then I’ll take his call.”

Downing two large gulps on my way to my office, I close the door behind me and take a seat behind my desk. Logan is always professional and focused at work. I pray he doesn’t break his rules today. Calling on the office line instead of my cell gives me some reassurance I can get through this call.

My desk phone rings, and I put it on speaker. “Good morning, Logan,” I say in my best professional voice.

“Reese.” He pauses, his tone solemn. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, you know, busy day. I have you on speaker so I can multitask.” Hopefully he’ll pick up on that and not say anything he wouldn’t want Autumn to overhear.

“Thomas said your pitch to Turner’s Dairy went well. Today’s follow-up meeting should go off without a hitch.”

Thankful for work talk, I carry on as professional as ever, discussing my upcoming meetings, plans, and projections for projects. Fifteen minutes later, he softens his tone again.

“I’m going to try to get a flight Thursday night instead of Friday morning. It will be last minute and late since I have a six o’clock conference call with Melchum, and they’re on pacific time.”

It wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about him sleeping over while at work, and definitely not while on speaker phone. “Autumn and I will see you in the office Friday morning either way, I presume. Have a good day. I need to get ready for my next meeting.” I hang up and thunk my forehead on my desk.

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