Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
DAMON
I leave Archie’s with a smile on my face and spring in my step.
That bitch Kerry-Anne isn’t getting a cent, and she doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Her trump card of Constable Shane Elliot is null and void, because she hasn’t been with him in months, maybe even a year.
Fuck knows, but I don’t give a shit either way.
I’ll never forget the moment Archie told her what he could do to her, and the way the colour drained from her Botox lined face.
It’s been a long, tiresome week, and now that this is over, I can finally focus on getting my girl back. After Johnny’s little talk, I spent the next day grovelling to my daughter, and thankfully she has forgiven me. Just.
After a scream fest from Arrie, she finally calmed down and allowed me to explain how Dottie and I became what we were.
Betrayal and hurt stung her bad, but after she heard me out, Arrie admitted that Dottie and I made sense, even if it grossed her out and made her feel uncomfortable.
Her acceptance was hesitant and reluctant, but she came around, saying that if I ever hurt her best friend, that she would cut me off completely.
Minus the latter, it was a relief, that’s for sure.
Hopping into my truck, I start it up and put it into first, doing a double take when I see Dottie’s deathtrap fly past. Putting it back into neutral, my heart skitters in my chest as I watch my daughter driving, until they’re out of sight.
My stomach churns, the smile falling off my face, because something is very fucking wrong, but just as I’m about to follow them, my phone chimes. It’s from Arrie.
Do not follow us, dad. I will call you later.
I type back.
What’s going on?
Her response is immediate.
I’ll explain later.
Locking my phone, I curse and throw it onto the passenger seat and then bang on the steering wheel. The happiness I was feeling moments ago dissipates, and in its wake is a sick and dreaded feeling.
Swallowing, I do the only thing I know to keep me occupied, I message Johnny and tell him to meet me at the beach so we can go for a surf. It’s been a long fucking time since I’ve hopped on my board, but it’s the only outlet I have right now, besides downing a bottle of Jack.
Johnny hits me back straight away, and I’m relieved he’s free and happy to meet me there. It’s a three-hour drive, but I know if I stick around here, I won’t be able to keep away. Starting the truck again, it roars to life, and I gun it down the street and back home to grab my board.
I just hope the drive and surf is kind to me so I can clear my head.
Riding the wave to the shore, I jump off the board as it reaches the sand, narrowly keeping my feet. Johnny chuckles behind me, and I turn around and flip him off before picking up my board and cradling it under my arm.
Walking over to where we placed our stuff, I put my board down and fall onto the towel, looking out into the vast ocean. It’s so freeing and calming, it’s my happy place. Well, besides with Dottie.
My mind starts swimming again, the serenity when I was in the water fades away and I’m left with a deep-seated gnawing in my gut. Something is wrong, and although I want to race to find the girls, I know that Arrie has told me to stay away for a reason.
Johnny drops his board and sits beside me, snapping me from my thoughts.
“So, are you going to tell me why you made me drive three hours for a surf at the last minute?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Damon, I have known you for over three decades, so, yeah, I know when something is up with you. Plus, you said Archie gave you good news, so the fact you look like a sour puss, speaks volumes.”
Groaning, I turn and face my best-friend.
“After Archie gave me the good news I was sitting in my truck, and Arrie and Dottie flew past. Arrie was driving Dottie’s car and messaged me not to follow them.”
“Right. Let me guess, your spidey senses are tingling?”
“Yeah,” I say, sighing. “Something like that.”
“Did the surf at least help?”
“In the moment.”
Johnny sighs. “Yeah, wankstain, I get that.”
His tone sounds sombre, and it gives me pause. Glancing over at him, I watch his dark hickory brown eyes scan the length of the ocean. He looks pensive and lost in thought..
“What’s eating you, Gilbert Grape?”
Johnny groans.
“I hate that movie.”
“No, you don’t and don’t change the subject, asshole.”
“It’s a fucking sad movie!”
“You think?” I jest, and he turns to glare at me.
Even though his glare is firmly in place, it’s the first time I’ve noticed the bags under his eyes, and the strain in his jaw. Something is going on for him and I feel like a prick for not picking up on it sooner.
“Spill it.”
“You have your own shit going on, Damon, you don’t need my mediocre two cents thrown in.”
“I will beat your ass, Johnny Arlington. Now tell me.”
Groaning, in what I know is resignation, he looks back out to the ocean.
“I hooked up with this chick.”
“What’s new?” I joke, but the tic in his jaw stops me. “And?”
“I can’t get her out of my fucking head.”
“You only slept with her once?”
“Define once,” he says, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.
“Did you see her more than the one night?”
“Nope.”
“Did you get her number?”
“Nope.”
“Does she frequent wherever you picked her up?”
“I’ve seen her a couple of times, but not in the past month.”
“So, you are pussy whipped over a chick you met once?”
“Damon, fuck me, she was feisty little thing. I was pulling all the moves on her for fucking hours; I was just lucky she needed a ride because the taxi line was a mile long.”
“Please tell me you didn’t fuck her in your car?”
“What if I did?” he asks, finally looking at me.
I look at my best friend, realising I’ve not seen him hot over chick like this in fuck knows how long. Whoever she is, she really got under his skin.
“She had this long chestnut coloured hair, tits like you wouldn’t believe, legs for fucking days, and these dark as sin eyes that saw right through me.
With everything we did in that backseat, I can’t get her eyes out of my head, or the way her tattooed forearm and hand wrapped around mine while it was collaring her neck. ”
“Too much information, wanker.” I joke, gagging, and he turns to me with a sad smile on his face.
“What’s with these young chicks now days?” he asks out loud, but I can tell he’s asking himself more than me.
It seems we both have a thing for younger women.
“What are you going to do?”
“Keep creeping until I see her again.”
“Do not start stalking the poor girl, Johnny. I refuse to bail you out if you get caught.”
“I won’t get caught,” he says, grinning, and I groan.
Pulling my knees up, I glance out across the vast expanse of the ocean, watching as the waves ripple, build and then crash onto the shore. We stay quiet for some time, seemingly lost in our own thoughts, but the silence isn’t uncomfortable.
After what feels like hours, but is probably only fifteen minutes, Johnny speaks.
“So should we try and get home before dark, or are you planning on staying the night out here?”
“Fuck no.”
“Good. Then let’s go, because there are way too many fucking people around.
Three hours later, with Bury Tomorrow blaring around me, I find myself sitting outside the workshop in my truck, waiting for a reply from Arrie. My phone blinks at me incessantly, but it’s not for the reason I want, rather the many fucking emails I need to tend to.
Right now, I don’t care for them.
As if sensing my mood, Arrie messages me and I am not at all prepared for what I read.
Aunt Mani passed away.
Dottie’s mum is dead.
Starting the truck, I push it into first when another message pops up.
She’s with Uncle Lewis. I’ll let you know when she leaves .
“Fuck!” I curse, turning the car off and banging on the steering wheel again.
Hopping out of the car, I slam the door and head inside. My body is vibrating with pent up frustration, and anxiety bleeds through my veins. I should be there for her.
No matter the relationship she had with her mother, she still loved her. This is going to kill her, and I don’t even want to think of the guilt her dad will be dishing out.
He could never keep his god damn mouth shut. Whatever demons Lewis was wrestling, the fact that he couldn’t slay them in his own time, and dragged his daughter and wife along behind him, always made me mad.
Poor Mani. That woman had the worst life growing up, and then she married a man who treated her like shit and only loved her when she could do something for him.
It makes me sick, and I know he will be playing the victim right now as well.
Heaving out a deep breath, I push down the terrible memories of a time long gone and try and calm myself the fuck down. Plopping on the couch in the office, I reach over and flick on the light.
Looking at the mural, I think of Dottie, and what she must be going through.
I don’t know how long I sit in the office and stare at it, wishing a message from Arrie into existence, but it doesn’t happen. Sighing, I lay back on the lounge with my hand under my head.
If she doesn’t message me soon, I won’t be held accountable for my actions.
Images of Dorothy growing up infiltrate my mind, and I see the sweet little girl who wished upon a star that her parents would love her enough to end their addictions, but it didn’t come.
Instead, the little girl morphs into a geeky, emo Dorothy with dark hair, dark eyeliner and an attitude for days.
That girl lost her spark for life, her bright eyes dulling, and the star she wished upon plummeted to the ground and died.
I didn’t see much of Dottie as a teenager, as that was when I split with Kerry-Anne. I always made time to visit Arrie and spend time with her, but once I left that godforsaken toxic house, I jumped on my bike and rode as far as the eye could bloody see.
The last time I saw her before I found her in my apartment, was at her and Arrie’s graduation.
A graduation that her parents didn’t attend.
I’ll never forget the shy smile she gave me through the crowd when she noticed me, but when she tripped and knocked herself out, I remember my heart stopping in my damn chest.
It wasn’t until the hospital cleared her, that I could draw in a much-needed breath. I’d always had a soft spot for Dottie, but I never saw her as anything other than my step niece, until recently.
I still don’t know how to feel about that, but I refuse to dwell on it. We are both consenting adults, and once I have her in my arms again, I will never let her go.
And after finding out that Kerry-Anne and Shane haven’t been together for some time, and that she was only using him as crutch to blackmail Dottie, and that Arrie accepts and respects our relationship, there is nothing holding me back.
Us back.
Sighing, I remind myself this is only for a little longer, that we have to be apart, but then my phone vibrates beside me, and I glance down to see it’s a message from Arrie, I smile.
Give her thirty minutes, dad. Dottie is at the hotel. Room three.