Page 65 of Love Off Course

I shove past the guys and thankfully they let me. When I reach her, I hug her tight. She squeezes me like I’m her best friend—her only friend. I know that feeling. All too soon, we’re being broken apart.

I didn’t tell her goodbye.

I didn’t tell her she’s the best chick I know.

I’m trembling as I get escorted down a hallway away from the crying people. I realize I have no idea where my bags are. A security guy is carrying them behind me as another guy guides me away. They push through a set of double doors and I’m blinded by the afternoon sun. There’s a limo waiting. As soon as the door opens and I sit down inside, I nearly start sobbing.

“Daddy!”

He pulls me to him, stroking my hair. “There’s my girl. Missed you, Sher Bear.”

I can’t stop crying. I’m relieved to see him. Sad my week with my friends and lover is over. Devastated he had to postpone his wedding for me. Exhausted. I just need my dad to hug me and make it all better again.

And he does.

The entire drive to the five-star hotel near Arenal Volcano is spent crying into my dad’s chest.

“I missed you too,” a deep voice says from the limo.

I freeze and pull away from Daddy. David sits across from us looking like a man of leisure in his blue polo shirt, khaki shorts, and loafers. And his face…oh my God.

“Why do you have a black eye?” I ask in way of greeting.

He shrugs, a sheepish grin on his face. “Boys will be boys, you know?”

Daddy grunts at that but doesn’t say much more on the matter.

Well, then.

I’m going to get to the bottom of this.

Chapter 20

Camilo

Three days later…

I’m going crazy.

My life has been off its axis since Dad had his stroke, but now it’s tilting so much, I feel like puking. Sheridan. She did this. Shoved my world just enough, it’s spinning hard and I can’t regain control of it.

Even though I just spent too much time with my good friend Carson, I need to talk to him. Luckily, when I texted him, he invited me over for dinner. We both live in Boca where my two-bedroom condo is located not too far from his ranch style home. At one time, Dad stayed with me, but now he’s an official resident of Boca Dunes Nursing Home.

I park my Tahoe in Carson’s driveway. Before I can get the engine shut off, a little person tears out of the house right for me. Carson and Krissy’s son Brennan jumps onto the running boards of my vehicle and presses his nose against the window.

“Mr. Z!”

His blue eyes are wide and his dark hair is messy. Cutest damn kid ever. Acts just like his daddy too. Poor Krissy.

“Hey, Mr. B,” I tell him through the glass. “You gonna let me out of here so I can give you a present?”

He squeals and jumps off before bouncing up and down. I exit the vehicle and dig around in my pocket for his gift. I’ve started collecting beer bottle caps from different places that sell local beer.

“You’re going to turn my son into an alcoholic one day,” Krissy says, walking outside and into the yard, a grin on her lips.

I ruffle Brennan’s hair and hand him a bottle cap. “Beer is gross,” I remind him. “It makes you grow boobs.”

He rolls around in the grass, howling with laughter. “Momma! Mr. Z said boobs!”

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