Page 25 of A Hurt So Good

I swim a few more laps with my dad, turning it into a race until we both laugh. It’s been a long time since we’ve done any of this, and at times, I miss it. My dad isn’t a bad man. We didn’t grow up hating him or anything like that, but we did make our way of life. Instead of having him hand us the world when we were old enough, we found our own ways.

“You boys still won’t consider working with me? I have clubs in Miami and New York that are going to need management,” he says while we both catch our breath. I lean against the edge of the pool and squint into the sun.

“I don’t know. It feels like shit is being handed to us.”

“It’s not really. You’d have to put the work in. I understand you boys want to be your own men and make your own money, but look at it from my point of view for a second. I’ve built these companies and clubs from the ground up. I’ve worked my ass off over the years for this, but I’m getting old, War.”

“You’re not that old,” I laugh.

“I’m getting there, and to be honest, I’d like to travel a little and not just for business. I want to take time for me and my wife and just be free.”

“You really have thought about this, haven’t you?” He looks over at me and nods his head.

“I understand where you boys are coming from. I was just like you once. I did what I had to do to get my life in order, but I want this to stay in the family, War. What’s the point in all of this if there’s no one to take it when I’m gone?” I lower my head, understanding what he’s saying, and it’s not that I haven’t thought about it because I have. But I also like my life the way it is.

“I’ll talk to them.” He nods.

“That’s all I can ask for.”

“So, the gala? We really have to go?”

“Yeah, you need to be there. I want Arya to have a good time. It’s her first one, and if you’re there, then she’ll know someone at least.”

“You got a thing for her?” I decide to ask. Not that I care. He can do what he wants and with who he wants. He glances over at her and smiles, and she quickly turns her head away.

“She’s something to look at, isn’t she?”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

“I don’t have a thing with her, War. Just a little tease here and there,” he replies casually. I grin at him now.

“You haven’t fucked her yet?” Now he laughs. A deep, hearty laugh.

“No, son. I haven’t, but feel free if that’s what you want.”

“Since when? I thought our little sisters were off-limits?” All the others he’s dragged in here have been off-limits, so why not this one?

“That is very true, but I have a feeling Arya is different than they were.”

“How so?”

“Her upbringing, for one, and the fact that she lets it happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, War. If I, or you, were to go over there and touch her right now, she wouldn’t say no.”

“Are you saying she’s a whore?” I laugh at the question.

“Oh no. She’s far from a whore, but she has something dark in her she wants to set free. You can practically see it in her eyes,” he says. I look over at Arya, still keeping her gaze turned theother way, and think. She did let me and Har finger fuck her in the car.

Then she turns and pulls off her sunglasses, her eyes clashing with mine. And he’s right. There is something darker in that girl. I wonder what it is and if I can be the one to drag it out of her.

I sit back as dad swims, resting my elbows on the edge of the pool, and just take her in. She has to know she’s nice to look at, but she’s also hiding something under that shirt. That’s what all the girls do, right? They hide what they don’t want you to see? Except now she’s caught my attention, and I don’t know if that’s such a good thing.

Dad climbs out of the pool and gives me a quick nod before grabbing his towel and making his way inside. I climb out and grab my towel, but I don’t go inside. Not yet.

Instead, I walk over to her and pull her glasses off her face. She opens her eyes, squinting into the sun before I move to block it.

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