Page 65 of Winter Ends
Shawn’s arm tightened around me. He knew we were talking about him. I smiled up at him and leaned in to place a quick kiss against his lips.
“So we set something up. I’m glad we talked about this. I’m sorry you went through what you did for so long and that you felt like you couldn’t talk to your father and me about it.”
We finished the conversation, setting up when we could look into finding me someone to talk to about my feelings. Once the call was disconnected, I was completely drained. Who knew that telling my parents such revealing details about me would lift such a weight off my shoulders?
The phone dropped to the bed, and I rested against the headboard and the warm body at my side. My eyelids were heavy, wanting to close and forget the world for a while. I wanted to sink into the warmth at my side, to feel Shawn and drown in him. To thank him properly for talking me into doing this.
We said nothing for the longest time, simply being content with each other’s presence. It was amazing how he set me at ease the way he did now. When Nacho stirred, he crawled up the bedand curled into my lap. My two guys, providing me with so much strength and comfort. The shift was startling, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. This felt right. Like I belonged here with them.
Chapter 42
Shawn
By the next day, Daniel was still pretty out of it. I left him in bed, curled up with the dang cat. He looked so content there that I didn’t want to bother him. I left him a note under his phone that I’d let my dad know he needed another day. He might’ve been mad at me for speaking on his behalf, but I had noticed how he told his mother that he trusted me to take care of him.
When I entered, I found Margaret’s empty. The chairs were flipped on top of the tables and the blinds were drawn down over the windows. It was still on the early side, and the opening crew wouldn’t be in for a bit. It gave me more time to talk to my dad without interruption.
He was in his office when I made my way to the back of the restaurant, and he wasn’t alone. A woman I’d never seen before sat in a chair across from him. She wore a black suit dress and stood the second I walked through the door.
“Good morning. My name is Deborah Hutch. I’m the lawyer who’s here to help with the case of Daniel Morgan. Are you him?”
I looked between my father and the woman. Maybe I should have called ahead.
Before I could speak, my father interrupted me. “Deb, this is my son, Shawn. I think the last time you saw him, he was a lot smaller.”
She smiled at me and nodded. “It has been a long time. And your father is right. I think the last time I saw you, you were maybe fifteen?”
Shit, I recognized the woman now. She’d almost destroyed my parents’ marriage at one point. Mom had been suspicious that my dad had been having an affair. He swore up and down that nothing unprofessional was happening between them, and the fact he was still working with her must have meant something.
“Daniel wasn’t feeling well this morning. He needs another day at home.”
Dad paused halfway around his desk. “The boy is staying with you?”
My shoulders tensed at the question. “Just yesterday, you asked if I was in love with him. Is it a bad thing if I have him staying with me?”
Dad stood silent for a moment before he shook his head. “No. It’s not a bad thing. I’m glad he has someone to look after him while he’s going through all of this. Would it be all right if I sent Deborah over there to talk to him?”
I looked at the lawyer again. Daniel had been so wrung out last night after talking to his parents, and I didn’t know if this would add to his stress or not.
“Carter, I think I better come back later. If he isn’t feeling well, I won’t be able to get the information from him I need.”
My eyes bounced between the two of them. There was a level of familiarity there. No one ever addressed my dad by his first name. Not even my mom. It was always honey, sweetie, and darling…
Once Deborah had left, I stared down at my dad. “Is something—”
“Stop.” He held up his hand. “I thought you’d recognize her eventually. And no. Nothing ever has and nothing ever will happen with me and my lawyer. We went through a rough patch ten years ago and I can’t blame you for being suspicious, but we are nothing but friends and colleagues. She has kept our businesses out of trouble several times.”
Trouble? When had they been in trouble? It was a worry for another time. I was more thankful Dad had been so quick to set things up for Daniel.
“Now, tell me, is he really not feeling well?”
I shifted under Dad’s scrutiny. “We had a long night. He told his parents everything for the first time. I tried to wake him up this morning, but it was like trying to wake the dead. Instead of continuing to bother him...”
“You let him rest. I raised you right with one thing.” Dad smiled as he finally came around his desk and clapped me on the shoulder. This finally felt like we were getting somewhere. Like maybe he was proud of me for a change and not waiting for me to fuck everything up. I still had to tell him I didn’t want the restaurant, but now the idea of telling him didn’t cause my heart to race. Maybe we could reach an understanding and he’d let me set out on my own dreams.
The rest of the staff started filing in around ten to prepare for the lunch rush. The tables were set, and it was like a new life was breathed into the place. It was typical for the start of another day, but I was facing the prospect of another shift behind the bar without Daniel.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. When I pulled it out, there was a message from Daniel. There was a picture of him sprawled across my pillows with the cat curled up next to him.
