Chapter 16 Georgia
Georgia
“My dad freaked the fuck out,” I say into the phone, waiting for Daisy’s response after I told her the full story about what happened. “Can you believe it?”
“Actually, yes.” Daisy lets out a sigh. “I can definitely believe it. Your dad is the literal definition of an asshole. I don’t know why you’re surprised at all.”
I blow out a breath, continuing to pace the inside of my room. “I know. I know, and at first, I was just so mad at him for being that way, and I thought, ‘fuck him,’ you know?”
“And now, I’m guessing the high has worn off?”
“No,” I hesitate. “Not exactly.” I fall into silence for a few beats, mulling it over. “I don’t know exactly how I feel about it. Like, I don’t want to be seen as defiant, but also… this is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Because you have access to unlimited luxury and sex,” Daisy’s voice goes flat.
I frown. “Ouch.”
“It’s harsh, I know,” she sighs. “But you’re kind of living in a fantasy world. Maybe that’s what your father is concerned about? Maybe he doesn’t want your heart to get broken?”
“Well, I hadn’t even considered that,” I admit, plopping down on the edge of my bed. “But I can’t recall the last time my dad ever really cared about my heart. He seemed to be just fine with breaking it over and over.”
“True,” Daisy sighs. “I guess I was just trying to make some sense of the whole thing. There’s got to be some way that you don’t lose both your dad and the guys.”
“I don’t even know what keeping them looks like,” I muse aloud. “I don’t feel any clearer about the whole situation than I did before.”
“Maybe you just need to take the pressure off yourself.”
“Maybe.” I run my hand over my thigh, just as my phone starts beeping in my ear. I pull it away from my face and then stare down at the caller ID.
Oh fuck.
“Georgia?” Daisy’s voice echoes from afar. “Are you still there?”
“My dad is calling me,” I grit out. “I think I should maybe just ignore—”
“No,” she stops me. “Absolutely not. You need to answer it and just face up to whatever he has to say. I think that’s the best way to deal with it. Head on.”
“Head on,” I repeat. “Got it. Love you.” I switch over to talk to my dad. As soon as it connects, I hear him let out a loud breath.
“You answered,” he grunts. “I’m shocked.”
“Why?” I squeak out, and then clear my throat. “You’re my dad.”
“That didn’t stop you from dodging me.”
“I said I was sorry for that,” I insist. “I shouldn’t have avoided you. I guess I was just worried.” And it turns out that I had every reason to be. This is a freaking nightmare.
My father pauses for a few beats and then makes some sort of incoherent grunt.
“Yeah, you know, I could see that.” He pauses, and he continues.
“And I get that I probably overreacted. It was just shocking to see you in Charleston. I… I guess I just thought you were still in NYC. I didn’t think you’d come back home and not tell me. ”
“Well, again,” I blow out a breath, trying not to get defensive. “I thought you were in Italy, and I wasn’t sure if it was worth telling you, anyway. Not until after I was done, and I’d been paid.”
“And you knew which direction your and Brody’s relationship was going, right?” His voice remains somewhat reasonable in tone, and I have to admit, it brings me some relief.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
His voice brightens. “Where’s the yacht docking next?”
“I’m not completely sure…” My voice trails off.
“Well, I’m sure Brody can get you to Savannah? I’m in town here for a few business meetings. I came home early from Italy to handle the business here.”
“Oh, okay. I’m sure I can talk to Brody about it.”
“I’d just really like to meet you for dinner. Both of you. It’d be nice for us to sort this out. I know I overreacted. Like I said, it was just a shock.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“Good,” he quips. “Now, go talk to Brody and let’s get this out of the way. Deal?”
“Deal,” I mumble.
“Love you, Georgie.” Before I can even answer, he hangs up the phone.
I roll my eyes and pull my phone away from my ear, seeing that Daisy is still waiting for me on the other line. “You there?” I ask, taking her off hold. “You didn’t have to wait.”
“Well, you know, I have no drama like your drama. I live for it. What did your dad say? Is he disowning you?”
I laugh. “Not yet. He wants to meet for dinner and talk everything out. He even apologized for overreacting.”
“That sounds dangerous, Georgia. Your dad never apologizes and means it.”
My stomach knots up. “I know, but maybe this time is different since it involves Brody.”
Daisy’s voice falters. “I hope so.”
Me, too.
I stare at the black dress in the mirror in Brody’s room, taking in the way it hugs my curves in all the right ways—but maybe it’s not the best choice for this occasion. “Do you think this is too sexy for tonight?” I meet Brody’s eyes in the mirror.
His gaze rakes over the mid-thigh-length dress. “I think it’s sexy, for sure. But too sexy? Nah.” He gestures to my covered chest. “You look modestly sexy. It works. If your father is gonna be pissed over that, he’ll be pissed over anything.”
“Well,” I spin around to face him, taking in his charcoal suit. “That’s the problem. He does get pissed over everything.”
“Then it really doesn’t matter what you wear.”
I nod. “This could be really awful.”
“That’s why I’m your buffer guy.” He gives me a reluctant smile, and I know he didn’t really want to do this. I saw it on his face last night when I asked him about it.
But he’s doing it anyway. Because that’s just who Brody is.
He shows up. Always.
Brody offers his arm to me and threads mine through his, letting him lead me out onto the main deck. Emmett and Miles both perk up, their eyebrows raising sky high.
“You sure you don’t want us to come with you?” Emmett throws it out there. “I haven’t seen Robert in a while, and I’d love to talk to him about—”
“Shut up,” Miles cuts him off, shooting him a dirty look. “Don’t make the situation worse. It’s our job to hold the fort down.”
Brody chuckles. “And then be ready for damage control.”
“Yes, damage control,” Miles grumbles, flipping his case file shut. “That seems to be what I always do.”
“It’s basically what you get paid to do,” Emmett jokes, sinking deeper into his chair. He tips his beer back and gulps it down. “You two have fun. Try not to piss Robert off too badly.”
“That’s the plan,” I manage to say, though mostly under my breath. I give Emmett and Miles each a kiss on the cheek and then follow Brody off the ship. My heart is racing, and it continues to as we climb into the back of the SUV waiting for us.
“He said he wants to talk it out.” Brody’s words hardly work as reassurance as he settles in beside me. “That’s a good sign.”
“Yeah,” I keep Daisy’s suspicions to myself. I don’t want to be the one who introduces worry into a situation that maybe doesn’t warrant it. I mean, for all I know, my dad really cares. He might be okay with all of this—or at least hear us out.
But will we tell him about Emmett and Miles?
My stomach churns at the thought. His reaction to Brody was horrific. I can only imagine what he’d do if he found out about the other two.
He’d have my head.
I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “It’s going to be fine. My dad loves me.” I don’t know why I say those words out loud, but Brody reaches over and grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“We’re in this together.”
I nod. Together. That makes it far less intimidating than if I were going in on my own. I ride in quiet silence beside Brody for the rest of the drive, my hand sweating from nerves. A half hour later, the car pulls in front of an upscale bar and grill.
“We’re just going to see what he has to say,” Brody says as he opens the door. “That’s it. He can be reasonable when he wants to be, and so maybe it’s going to be fine.”
I nod and take Brody’s hand as he helps me out of the car. I chew the inside of my cheek as we pass by the flowers planted along the concrete walkway.
Brody guides me carefully up the steps, my heels clicking against the pavement. Maybe this is what it feels like when you have to walk the plank—right before diving to your death.
“You’re shaking,” Brody leans into me, just before reaching for the door handle. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise. No matter what.”
I peer up at him, forcing a smile. “I sure as hell hope so.”
“That’s my girl.” He winks, and then we step inside.
“Good evening,” the hostess, a young brunette woman, greets us. “Are you dining with Mr. Blake this evening?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Brody doesn’t seem surprised that she knows exactly who we are, but I’m left with my brows raised.
So, this is what it’s like to be a part of the upper crust circle.
“Right this way,” the hostess leads us through the dining room back to one of the more private areas. I spot my father at one of the back tables next to the window, overlooking the canal below.
My heart remains in my throat, and my legs start to feel like Jello as we make our way to the table.
Brody pulls out the chair closest to the window for me and then reaches across the table to shake my dad’s hand. “Robert.”
My father, dressed in a dark navy-blue suit, eyes it, and then takes his hand, giving it a firm shake. “Brody.”
My gaze bounces between the two of them, unsure of what to think. I can’t tell if this is just how they always are, or if we’re all really freaking awkward. “Hey,” I say to my dad. “I like the suit.”
He picks up his glass of water and takes a sip, eyeing me. “I like your dress. It’s very… grown up.”
“Well, I am twenty-five years old,” I say, giving him a smile. “I’d say it’s about right for my age.”
“Wasn’t saying it wasn’t,” he shoots back, though there’s still a slight smile on his face. His eyes hold mine just long enough to have me feeling suddenly uncomfortable, but then he turns to Brody.
“What a coincidence that we were all in Charleston, and now we’re all in Savannah.” His tone is polite, but I don’t miss the edge.
And I’m sure Brody doesn’t either.
“It’s a small world. I’ve run into people I know overseas before. It just happens sometimes.”
“Uh-huh,” Dad waves down the waiter, who hurries over to take our order. He orders a bottle of wine and then places an order for a shrimp cocktail for the table. As the waiter walks away, he turns to me. “He’s more your age, don’t you think?”
Fucking hell.
I feel Brody stiffen in his seat, but I keep smiling. “Well, I think he’s actually probably closer to a teenager. Maybe still in college.”
“Still much closer than whatever this is.” Dad’s hand waves between the two of us, a look of disgust on his face. “I’m still struggling to understand this dynamic.”
“Not every dynamic is easy to understand,” Brody’s answer comes across way more put-together than mine would’ve. “How’s work been, Robert?”
My dad shoots daggers at Brody, but then leans back in his chair, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s going well. I’ve invested in a few new businesses that have a lot of potential. Definitely on the up and up.”
“So, I guess that’s why you’ve been gone so much?” I ask, trying to sound genuine. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Because you haven’t.” His tone is flat. His lips part as if he’s going to say something else, but the waiter appears again, pouring our glasses of wine and setting the appetizer down.
“Thank you,” Brody gives him a polite nod and he takes our entrée orders. I go for the salmon, too nervous to think about eating anything heavy.
“A chef, huh?” My dad comments to me as soon as the waiter heads back to the kitchen. “I guess for you, that’s like a dream come true.”
I swallow the pang of hurt at his condescending tone. “Honestly, it really is. It gives me the chance to reset and think about what I want moving forward.”
“A café maybe,” Brody gives me a teasing smile, nudging my arm with his.
My dad grunts. “Not a great business to start. Most struggle to get off the ground and can’t keep the doors open for long. You probably wouldn’t even be able to pay your bills.”
I shrug, desperate to let his words roll off my shoulders. “That’s not always the story.”
“Oh, right,” My dad snorts. “Because you’ll have your rich boyfriend to float you, if the bills pile up too high. What do you even know about running a business, Georgia?”
“I know enough…” I purse my lips together, fighting the urge to break down in tears right then and there. Why is he being such an asshole about this?
“You could always ask Brody for business advice,” my dad says, shifting his attention to Brody. “And maybe he’d help you out since you’re sleeping with him.”
“Lay off, Robert,” Brody shoots back at him. “It’s not like we killed someone. We’re just exploring the connection that we have. There’s nothing wrong with that. Please just consider it.”
“But Georgia,” he shifts his gaze to me, “doesn’t seem to see the problem with acting like a slut to get ahead in life. I thought I raised you better than that. I really did.”
He did not just say that.
My jaw nearly drops, but I hold back my reaction, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. I shove back from the table and jump to my feet.
“Take me back to the boat,” I demand to Brody, my voice shaking. “I’m done with this dinner.”
And everything else, too.