Page 22 of Teach Me Daddy

“Then I suggest you keep your whore mouth shut about whatever you think you know,” I snap, and Blake looks at me, seemingly surprised by the coldness of my tone. He’s never seen me this angry before, but it’s almost as if he likes it.

“You can leave now, Chrissy. We’re done here.” He dismisses her with a wave of his hand. “And don’t even think about breathing one word of this to anyone. Or you’ll find out just how cruel my wrath can be. I promise you won’t like it.”

“Fine,” she hisses through gritted teeth while stomping her foot like a petulant child. Then she turns around and storms out of the office, dramatically slamming the door against the wall.

We watch her leave in silence before Blake crosses the room to lock the door. He stands there for a moment, taking a few deep breaths, the tension slowly releasing from his tight shoulders, before he approaches me with a wide grin. “Crisis averted, little one.”

My smile is weak, and his eyebrows scrunch together with concern. He thinks all our problems are solved, but they’re not.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, and my heart clenches in my chest as I stare into his big blue eyes.

“This was too close of a call,” I explain, forcing the words past my tight throat. “We can’t do this again.”

“She won’t say anything. I guarantee it. And we’ll be extra careful until you graduate in May. That’s only six months away and you won’t have to worry about it anymore.”

“We’ve barely been together for six weeks and we’ve already been caught.”

He grabs my hips and tugs me into a tight embrace until our bodies are flush against each other. His muscular arms surround me while his warm, heavy palms span the width of my back and hold me in place. He presses his forehead to mine, and my breath hitches as my chin begins to wobble.

“We can’t take the risk,” I whisper, and a tear rolls down my cheek.

“No, no. Don’t do this, Madison. You can’t leave me, little one. I won’t let you.” His gaze burns into mine and nothing but agony reflects back at me.

My chest aches, but I have to stay strong. “Your career and reputation are too important to me. My father’s plans are on the line. It’s not worth the risk.I’mnot worth the risk.”

Blake lifts his hands to cradle my face. “Don’t ever say that again. You’re worth everything to me and I’d give it all up today just to have you. I love you.”

I place my hands on his chest and gently push myself back a step. “But it’s not just about us, now is it?”

He looks so pained, and for a moment, I’m tempted to give in. But other people’s lives are at stake and I can’t afford to be selfish. I won’t be responsible for that, no matter how much this hurts.

“Madison, I?—”

“Let me go. You’ll forget all about me soon enough.”

Blake reaches for me, but I step away again. “No, I won’t?—”

I cut him off, saying the one thing I know will make him stop. “Bananas,” I breathe, and Blake looks at me like he’s been slapped. I don’t stay a second longer, not wanting him to see me fall apart. I just broke my own heart and I have to get out of here before I do something stupid and change my mind.

I rush to the door, but pause after I push it open. I don’t dare turn back to look at him or my resolve will break. I lower my head and close my eyes, letting my tears fall freely as I feel his intense gaze burn into my back.

Then I whisper, “I love you, Daddy,” before I run from the room. I can’t contain my sobs as I pass other students, who all stare at me with varied expressions. But I don’t care.

I don’t know how I’ll care about anything ever again.

10

BLAKE

I’m fucking wrecked.

It’s been weeks since Madison walked out of my office, leaving my heart crushed in a pile of dust on the floor. At first, I refused to believe it was really happening. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. When Chrissy showed up with her fucking threats, I treated them as the first big obstacle in our relationship, something we could overcome together.

Sure, most couples don’t experience shit like this so early on, if ever at all, but I knew we could handle it, and we did. I put that cocky little brat in her place and made sure she’d never bother us again. That should’ve been enough to ease my little one’s concerns and fears. But I was wrong, so very wrong. And now, I don’t know how to fix it.

I never expected Madison to break things off. I couldn’t convince her that if we could handle that bullshit with Chrissy, then we could handle anything else thrown our way. Her faith in us was gone, and that hurt worse than having my fiancée cheat on me with my best friend all those years ago. It hurt worse than anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. Knowing that my little girl loves me but left anyway has fucking gutted me. I appreciateher selflessness, putting me and her family above her own wants and desires, but it’s not necessary. I know we can make it work.

I’ve tried to not be angry, throwing myself into my job and working out until my body was so exhausted that I practically passed out every night. I was fueled by the hurt and rage, and I clung to my emotions because it was much easier than dealing with the pain I felt every time I saw Madison sitting in the back of the classroom, avoiding my sad eyes. To make matters worse, she ignored all my calls and texts too. I wish I could be mad at her for walking away, but fuck if I can do that. I love her too much and I’ll give her anything she wants. Even if it’s being away from me.

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