Page 14 of Fake Dating Daxton Hawk
Mom
I know you don’t want to hear from me, and rightfully so. I just wanted to let you know your father and I are making changes. We will be attending a rehab facility, starting this week. Hope you are well.
Yeah, right. I’m tempted to reply withwhy is this time any different to the last four?But as I’ve come to learn, no communication with my parents is best for my mental health. The eight-year-old version of me believed their lies when they told me they would stop drinking. An eight-year-old shouldn’t even know what an alcohol addiction is. I believed them time and again throughout my childhood and adolescent years when they promised me and Ryan they would go sober. I loved them and believed they would change even after all the days they forgot to pick me up from school because they were passed out, the days when I would have to take care of them because they were so hungover, when they decided alcohol was a more important expense than paying the bills, when I was sixteen and they stole money from me to buy vodka, when they missed my high school graduation.
No, I can’t do it anymore. So many hurtful lies have come out of their mouths. There are so many trust issues they’ve scarred me with. I hope they’re telling the truth this time, that they’ll get help. But I’m not holding my breath.
I close the text from my mom and find an email waiting in my inbox. When I see the email is about one of the dance auditions I’m waiting to hear back from, my heart flutters with adrenaline and hope. This will be my moment. My luck is about to turn around. I always hear success stories of how people find their big break when they’re at their lowest.
I open the email and read the first line.Thank you for your audition. Unfortunately…
That’s all I ever need to read to know I’ve been rejected again. Fuck my fucking life.
Of course I shouldn’t have been hopeful. How foolish of me to believe this email would be any different from all the other rejections I’ve received. I amnevergoing to make it in this world. Okay, universe, I get it. I was a murderer or something equally terrible in a past life and need to be punished. But when is enough enough?
Despite wanting to stay hidden in bed all day, I need to get out of Daxton’s home. I’ll embarrass myself some more with the ugly crying at Mina’s apartment, but not here.
I slide back into my skimpy red dress, put on my heels, and tame my hair with my fingers. As soon as I exit the guest bedroom, the most delicious smell of pancakes and maple syrup wafts past me. I look to the kitchen and find Daxton leaning against the island counter with a cup of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other. He’s dressed in a suit, looking sleek and professional, all while I look like a shipwreck. I have flashbacks of him last night with his bare chest on display. Of how defined his muscles are and the ink covering his shoulders. I’m ashamed to say how good the sight was. Ridiculously good. Daxton without his shirt on is a masterpiece.
On the island counter beside Daxton is an assortment of untouched food ranging from fruits and cereals to a hot breakfast. He looks up from his phone, greeting me with a nod. “Are you hungry? I don’t know what you like for breakfast, so I ordered everything off the room service menu.”
He did… what? For me? Why?
I’m starving, but I don’t think I can stomach having breakfast with Daxton. “I should be getting home.”
His lips twitch with the hint of a teasing smile. “To your flooded apartment? Delphine, sit down and have some food.”
The deep way he speaks my name has a hold on me, and I follow his instructions, taking a seat at the counter. I rest my purse on my lap and serve myself two eggs, then peer at the rest of the food, searching.
“What are you looking for?” he asks.
“The condiments.”
Daxton slides a tray toward me and lifts the lid. I choose the tomato chutney, chili flakes, and dried herbs, then drown my eggs in all three.
Daxton’s brows pinch together. “Interesting way to have your eggs.”
“I always eat my eggs like this. You should try it.”
He dismisses my words with a question. “Did you sleep well?”
“Not really. Too much on my mind. And you?”
“What’s your plan, Delphine?”
“My plan?”
“With your living and working situation. Last night you said you have no job. Are you not dancing at Club Noir anymore?”
No time for chit chat, then. I shrug at his question. “They let me go recently. It’s fine. I’ll take more escorting jobs. As for my living situation, I’ve got a friend I’ll stay with.”
Daxton sips his coffee, keeping his eyes on me. His dark gaze is always so intense and heavy. Normally, I have no issue keeping eye contact with people. With Daxton, the way he looks at me sends hot tingles all along my skin.
I stare down at my food to avoid him. The silence is uncomfortable, so I take a bite of my eggs and try to dissipate the tension by bringing back the chit chat. “What are your plans for the day, dressed so formally? It’s Sunday. Surely, you’re not working.”
“You can stay here.”
My gaze shoots back up to Daxton and I almost choke on my eggs. “What?”
