Page 118 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

‘How?’ I ask the two of them. ‘How’d you convince him to give it back?’

Dad kisses my cheek like he used to when I was a kid. ‘It was nothing a couple of baseball bats couldn’t convince him of.’

‘Guy likes his kneecaps,’ River adds.

‘Youbeatit out of him?’ Dax asks, his eyes wide. ‘Should I be on the look-out for cops?’ He shuts the door quickly, locking all the locks.

‘Nah.’ Dad laughs, patting Dax on the back. ‘I let you have the last hit with that tool. It turns out a visit from my lawyer, and the two of us were enough of a threat. You might also be happy to hear Victoria dumped him when she found out what he’d done to you. The cheating, stealing, lying, it was too much for her and she threw the ring in his face.’

‘It was epic,’ River says.

She dumped him? The smile on my face is slowly growing. I don’t know why that makes me feel good. It probably didn’t feel great for her, but I bet it made him miserable. I’ll take that victory any way I can.

‘And,’ River says, ‘I filed a complaint with the college the day you got back into town. I told them the whole story. They already had an investigation in the works, and this week, they fired him.’

I don’t know where I’d be without River. Never in a million years did I expect him to grow up to be such a goofball with a heart of gold. He’s exactly who you want on your side in life.

Without warning, I hug him. He grunts a laugh, his arms extended at his sides. ‘You’ve done so much for me. I don’t know how to thank you.’

He rests his hands on my back with a sigh. ‘How about you start by not ruining my shirt by bawling into it and smearing your make-up on me? You know I’m not great with crying women, Hols.’

I laugh, stepping away from him and wiping my eyes.

‘I’d deposit it fast,’ Dad says. ‘Never know what he might try.’

‘Now we drink!’ Riv says, lifting a finger into the air as though he’s had an epiphany. ‘Shall we?’ He and Dax head to the room door.

‘Can I uh – Dad? Can I talk to you?’

He looks surprised but nods. ‘Sure, sweet pea.’

I glance at Dax. ‘We’ll catch up.’

‘What’s going on?’ Dad asks when the room door closes.

‘Mom suggested if I got the money back, I should invest it in something I believe in.’

‘Your mother is a smart woman.’

‘Yeah,’ I agree. ‘Thing is, there’s a chance Dax may not win today. He’s in this to earn the money to buy back Robert’s shop and use it as his own. If he doesn’t win, would I be totally crazy to believe inhisbusiness enough to buy the place?’

Dad pulls the chair from the desk, turning it towards me and sitting down. His face is somber as he considers what I’ve said.

‘You want to date himandinvest in his business?’

‘Earlier, he asked me to work with him as his partner. I’ve never been happier than I am right now, so I want to. I think him wanting to do this in the same place his dad did is so… endearing.’

Dad nods as though he agrees. ‘Family meant everything to Robert. I see that in Dax. I also see Dax surpassing his father in this industry already. I think his business would be a great thing to invest in. Both personallyandfinancially.’

My dad has always been the most soft spoken of my parents. When you’re married to a pop star,sheleads the show. Dad brought up the back. We’d go to him first when River and I were in trouble. He’d smooth things over before we said a word to Mom. And if we disagreed, he’d give us advice on handling things. He never lectured. He used to say, ‘Sometimes it takes time to find the right words, and it’s always worth the wait.’

‘You sure you love him, Hols?’

‘He’s given me everything since I came back. A place to stay. Something to do so I didn’t feel like a total failure in life. He listens without judgment. Makes me laugh even when I don’t want to. He made himself my bodyguard.’ I laugh under my breath. ‘He’s loved me his entire life, and like the selfish girl I was, I never saw it. Until recently I didn’t even know this feelingwaslove. Dax has changed me, Dad. I want to be a better person because of him. He makes me so happy, even when he says nothing at all. I’ll never be able to pay him back for all of it as long as I live. So, to answer your question the long way, I’m sure I love him. I want to do this. For us.’

An ear-to-ear grin greets me as I glance up at my dad. He wipes one of his eyes – I get my over-emotional cry-at-everything side from him.

‘Your mother’s wedding vows weren’t that good.’

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