Page 18 of Delicate Storm

“Aboutyou. You’re earning your money by working. You’ve been a spokesperson for the Youth Voices charity since you were a teenager. You’re a model, a business owner, and an incredible artist.” He pauses with a brow raised, waiting for me to comment, but I let it slide. I don’t like talking about my art. It’s the only part of my life I’ve been able to keep secret. “You may have those opportunities because you were born into wealth, butlike me, you’ve paved your own way and I’m proud of you. Always have been. Even when you refused to talk to me.”

Guilt gnaws away at my insides. Especially considering I only agreed to move here for my own benefit—and he knows it. To his credit, he hardly ever mentions it. Until now. Though, he’s joking.

“Relax, I’m—”

“Kidding, I know. You’ve forgiven mybrattiness.”

“You weren’t being a brat. You were misinformed. I should have worked harder to ensure you knew the truth. But this is the world we live in. It’s impossible to know what to believe. Even when it comes to family.”

He’s not wrong.Christian’s family is proving that right now. And I have to admit, I kind of like having two sides to my family again.

“You know, I might actually miss living with you. A little,” I say honestly before quickly adding another “might.”

“Well, IknowI’ll miss you. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. Why don’t you come to the stadium tomorrow? The team has a preseason practice session. You could watch from my suite.”

“From your suite? You mean I can’t stand on the sidelines?”

“Not a chance. If I could put a restraining order on the entire team and force them to stay at least a hundred feet away from you, I would.”

“Come on, they’re notallbad.”

“No, they’re not but I heard what you said. You may not have explicitly told me, but I know that asshole hurt you. I don’t want to be responsible for someone else doing the same.”

He knows because the world knows. Only my ex painted a very different picture.Mytruth was getting in the way ofhisstory. So, he rewrote the narrative. Kind of like the heroes across history. And I let him. I needed a reason to disappear, and he gave it to me. We’d been on the rocks for months. He traveled often, so it was normal for us to go weeks, sometimes months, without seeing each other. We’d share “I miss yous” on social media to keep the dream alive. But toward the end, we barely spoke. I’m not naive; I know he had women in multiple countries, but in New York, in America, he was mine, and I was okay with that. It was a relationship of convenience. But it ran its course.

As much as I want to support my dad, now is not a good time to be thrust back into the public eye. And while I may not be a fan of sports per se, I know the change in ownership of a team is a big deal, and it’s a bigger deal when it’s on the back of a Super Bowl win.

The media will be everywhere. All the time.

I’m already in the gossip columns on a daily basis; I don’t need to add fuel to the fire. And Dad doesn’t need that either.

I can see it now.Has Paige D’Angelo moved on with one of her father’s players?

I’d rather avoid that if I can.

Plus, I have no intention of dating anyone at the moment. Things are complicated enough.

“I think I’ll pass this time. Maybe another day?”

“Sounds good.”

I settle into my new apartment, and by seven p.m., I’m starving for something my dad didn’t have pre-stocked in my fridge. A sweet treat.

So after throwing on a more respectable outfit, I go in search of cookies, and call my mom on the way, missing the sound of her voice.

“Hi Sweetie,” she answers nicely, and then… “When are you coming home?”

“Mom.”

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.”She’s not.“Have you found anyone special yet?”

I don’t bother hiding my groan as I answer. “As I told you last time we spoke, I’m notlookingfor anyone.”

“I know you said that. But it wouldn’t hurt to put yourself out there again. Christian’s moved on and—”

“I look like the poor little girl that got left behind?”

“No. Of course not. Never. No.”That’s a yes.

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