Maybe I’ll order vodka next.
She leans forward, resting her forearms on the table. “What’s going on? You look pale.”
“Andrew came to me a few months ago and gave me an ultimatum.” I pause, taking a deep breath. “His dad—or maybe it was Andrew—opened another business base here. I didn’t know. I thought I was finally rid of them all.
“When they fired me, they let me know exactly who was responsible, and since I didn’t have a contract, I couldn’t even argue. Then I got home to find him leaning against his car, waiting for me.” I pause, feeling a lump at the back of my throat. “He happily informed me he had lasting power of attorney over my mum’s care.”
“That son of a bitch! Where was he when she fell sick? Where was he when you were going to school and taking care of her? And where the fuck does he get off coming into your life like this, after everything he has put you through?”
“He’s removed her from the home she was in,” I inform her on a sob. “She’s in a private one. She’s happy there. Really happy. But he said if I don’t do as he asks, he will stop visitation and put her into a home where she won’t get the full care she needs, and make sure there is nothing I can do about it. I’ve already spoken to a lawyer. Mum signed the documents when she was pregnant in case something happened to her. He’s not putting her in danger, so I can’t even take him to court.”
“That son of a bitch,” she repeats, earning curious stares from others. “What has he made you do in return?”
“First, I work for Hayes Removals,” I tell her, waiting for her to explode.
“Jesus, bloody, Mary. It never just rains with you; it fucking pours. What on earth made you go there? How do you concentrate? I’ve seen those guys, and boy… they are on fire. I’m pretty sure my panties would be constantly wet with arousal, and that’s only if I had a mind to wear any around them.”
“Becca,” I hiss, then burst out laughing because she’s right, they are a hot bunch.
“What? It’s not like anyone would disagree with me,” she points out. “Now, tell me what the Hayes have to do with this. You wouldn’t have mentioned them otherwise. Please tell me you’ve not let one in your knickers because, girl, they are bad news. They go through girls like we go through underwear. They are the definition of man whores, babe. And as much as you deserve a good fuck, you catch the feels. Unfortunately, they won’t; many have tried to turn their heads. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
I’m not going to say it doesn’t hurt hearing that, it does. I knew it was true already, but hearing it from my best friend, hearing it out loud… it hurts.
“No, it’s worse; I have a massive crush on one of them.”
She relaxes into her chair, sipping her wine. “At least it’s only a crush. You’ve had those before and resisted,” she tells me, before pursing her lips. “But they are the Hayes boys. They’re hard to resist.”
“It’s more than that,” I whisper, covering my eyes. I can’t look at her. “I just can’t explain it.”
“Alright, bab, I get you. I’ve been there,” she replies softly, instead of going on about how it would be a bad idea. “But what does this have to do with your dad?”
“When I approached Andrew outside my house, he didn’t start with the news that he had lasting power of attorney. He began by asking for a favour…”
My blood is still boiling after being fired, so seeing the sight of my biological father leaning against his car has made me livid. I want to scream, to claw at his face, but it would be wasted energy on my part. He wouldn’t care.
All my life he has only bothered to show here and there, but never because he cared or wanted to see me. So why he is messing with my life right now, when I have so much going on, is a sick joke on the universe’s part.
“What are you doing here?” I growl, leaving out the part that I know he had me fired. I don’t want him to know it got to me.
“I have a problem,” he drawls, straightening his suit jacket.
“You have a lot of problems,” I snap, because he does. Not having a heart is