Chapter Nine
Nico
Carly strolls in at the very last moment and sits down into the seat beside me at the dinner table.
Her freshly manicured nails are on display as she goes into detail over the emotional torture she endured on deciding what color to select.
I can’t suppress a roll of my eyes. You’re a grown ass woman, no one at this table cares if you chose ballerina pink or light in love. It’s fucking pink.
Goddamn. I’m glad that most of my words these days stay inside my head because I have become quite the prick.
I’d like to say it’s because she makes me this way, that’s not fair, though.
Even if she is irritating as hell, that doesn’t mean she is the reason I’ve become…
well, my father. She certainly isn’t helping the case, though.
Personally, I’ve never been a fan of meatloaf, but the instant I take my first bite, I regret all my prior notions.
“Mary, this has to be the best meatloaf I’ve ever had,” I say.
Her smile practically lights up the room as she brushes me off.
“It’s nothing really.”
I see Cassi sitting beside Henry, shaking her head.
“Quit with the fake modesty, mom. Your meatloaf is literally the best ever. I used to ask to have it for breakfast.”
“Really?” I ask in surprise and also partly in disgust.
“It’s true,” Mary smiles. “That girl will eat anything, any time of the day.”
“Social constructs revolving around food are absolutely ridiculous. How can it be a right or wrong time of day to enjoy certain foods?” Cassi asks the table.
“I do love waffles for dinner on occasion,” Henry agrees.
“But do you love it because you’re not supposed to have it?” Mary challenges.
“I don’t buy that, remove the taboo and it’s still a delicious waffle, or a life altering piece of meatloaf, right?” she asks me for back up.
I hesitate for a moment, not sure what to say. Cassi’s bright green eyes are practically begging me to agree with her and before I think otherwise, I’m nodding my head.
“Good food is good food, no matter if it’s considered right or wrong to have it.”
The instant my words are out, I want to take them back.
Especially when I see the flare in Cassi’s eyes followed by the deep breath that has her chest rising and falling.
A chest I’m extremely acquainted with. One I’ve seen bare and donned with beautiful rope that made her look like an unwrapped gift for the taking.
I’ve come to the realization that I’ll never be able to escape that night. No matter how hard I’ve tried, it has been etched into my brain. Every last detail of it, of her, there forever. To stand the test of time, I have no doubt of it.
“I’ve always hated meatloaf. It’s so fatty and weird,” Carly adds in, taking the conversation into a swift and sharp detour.
The mood feels instantly soured as everyone looks from one another, unsure of where to go. I watch as Mary’s proud smile dims as she softens her voice and her head.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. You don’t have to eat it. I have some salad in the fridge if you’d prefer.”
Carly moves to stand when I rest a hand into her lap, pushing her leg down so she’s forced to sit. She looks to me in confusion as I attempt to control my irritation.
“You need to apologize to your mother and eat what she made.”
“Have you seen this meal? Not a veggie in sight. Do you want a fat girlfriend?” she argues.
Jesus Christ.
“I want a respectful one. Apologize and eat, in that order.”
She gives me a defiant look but ultimately caves, turning to her mom.
“Sorry, the food is good. I’m just watching my macros.”
Mary gives her a tight smile paired with an understanding nod before everyone resumes their meal.
I peel my hand away from Carly immediately and ignore her completely when she pouts.
I know she’s expecting me to dote on her and praise her for being a decent fucking human to the woman who birthed and raised her, and I don’t have the energy or patience to point out how fucked that is.
Shaking my head, I focus on my meal as I recount how idiotic it was to decide to stay here. I can’t fucking take this. I don’t even know why I wanted to stay.
That’s not true and you fucking know it.
Still.
I need to get home to Boston. Away from the entire Fischer family. They spell nothing but trouble for me.
“So, Nico, since you will be with us for a little longer, how about we head out to the sound? Do some fishing?”
“I’ve never been,” I admit, “but it sounds like a good time.”
Henry smiles like I’ve just made his day.
“What do you say, Carl? Your boyfriend is coming.”
“Dad, I’ve told you how much I hate that nickname. Second, three of us piled into your dingy? Sounds awful.”
Henry shakes his head and busies himself with his food.
Okay, some of my guilt over spoiling Carly rotten is starting to dissipate because if this is how she speaks to her parents all the time, then maybe she was always like this and just put on a very convincing front.
I can’t help but feel completely conned.
“I could find us a boat for the day. Something we could take wherever we wanted to go, I’m sure?” I offer.
Henry looks up in hope that will convince his daughter and Carly returns my suggestion with a wrinkle of her nose as she stabs at the meatloaf once more.
“I’ll go, Dad. We don’t need a fancy boat, just some worms and beer, right?” Cassi says.
Henry looks to her and nods. “That’s all you need for a good fishing trip. Nico has a point. The boat has a small crack in the haul from the last time I took her out. I’ll go halves with you on it?” he says to me.
I shake my head before he can even finish his sentence.
“You have invited me into your home, for longer than you agreed upon. Please, let me.”
“Yeah, dad. Let him, he wipes his ass with hundred dollar bills,” Cassi snarks.
I look to her with a serious expression.
“I could never be so wasteful,” I tsk before looking to Henry. “I use twenties.”
Laughter erupts from the table, of course except Carly as Henry shakes his head.
“As any good man should.”
Cassi is grinning so wide it actually catches me off guard.
Her teeth are so white, so perfect. Her smile transforms her face into something…
else. I don’t know how to explain it. Like how people say someone lights up the room.
She lights up an entire city block. Light, and joy and…
something else just radiates out of her.
It’s a look I’ve really never seen on the smartass twenty one year old.
I didn’t think she had it in her to look anything other than irritated by me.
The fact that she’s laughing, at a joke I made no less, it does something to me that I know it absolutely shouldn’t.
The plan was to go out for some evening fishing tonight since everyone had to work.
I did some things on my laptop and took a few conference calls but I have my VP holding down things well enough so my presence wasn’t overly necessary.
Carly set up a girl’s day with some friends from high school and honestly, I’m grateful for it.
She’s been breathing down my neck since we’ve got here.
I haven’t so much as kissed her since our fight, and she can tell.
I’m not sure why I haven’t fucked her, she’s my girlfriend after all.
Maybe I just don’t feel like it because I’m so goddamn irritated with her.
Maybe by the day, her personality ruins her outer appearance for me more and more to the point where I’m losing my attraction to her altogether.
Or maybe I’m shit scared that if I fuck her, I’ll wish I was inside her sister.
Say anything you want about Cassi, fuck knows I’ve said it all in my head, but that woman is…
something else. Her body was so responsive, flawless.
Supple curves, silky skin and a pussy that felt like it was goddamn made for me.
Carly is beautiful of course but Cassi is almost ethereal.
Like a forbidden goddess. Something out of my reach, out of my grasp. Two things I am not familiar with.
The first thing I did this morning was have my assistant arrange a boat to take us out for fishing.
She said she found the perfect one that came with a captain and had glowing reviews from CEO’s to celebrities, even an NFL player for the Seattle Crusaders apparently used them.
I told her that it sounds good enough and had her book it for today.
I’m not a huge water person. A beach house is about as involved as I get so this is definitely new territory for me but I like Henry, he seems like a good guy.
The girls are lucky to have him, I’d have given anything to have the kind of dad I know he was to them.
Seeing Carly shoot him down so easily bugged me and then seeing how Cassi swooped in to save the day in a sense opened my eyes.
It had me watching her a little closer for the rest of the night.
Every snide remark Carly would make to someone, Cassi would match it with a compliment.
Every complaint Carly had, Cassi had something to thank for.
Every turn, she was actively trying to right her sister’s wrongs.
It must have been fucking exhausting growing up like that.
Mary and Henry met me at the house and together we drove to the docks where our boat is waiting.
I was surprised at first when Mary asked if she could join this morning.
She didn’t seem too interested last night but I’m glad she came.
She has this warmth to her, something that reminds me a lot of my mother, and I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed being around people that carry themselves in that way.