“I want to say hi to Dad first.” I’m not about to leave Dash without introducing them, and even then I don't want to leave him at all.
“Fine.” Charlotte rolls her eyes. “Meet me in the kitchen.”
As soon as she’s gone, I whisper to Dash, “She doesn't even cook.”
“Doesn't look like she eats either.” I snort, but Charlotte would take that as a compliment.
“Are you going to be okay if I leave you with my dad for a little while?” I ask before we walk into his office.
“I’ll be fine.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “I want a chance to talk to him.” Before I can ask about what, my dad is coming out of his office.
“Brooklyn.” He opens his arms as he walks toward me and wraps me in a hug. Dash lets go of my hand this time so I can hug him back.
“Hey, Dad.”
“You brought someone.” He smiles over at Dash, holding out his hand. “Dash Belmont.” Dad says his name, clearly already knowing who Dash is.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Tanner.”
“Call me John.”
“Thank you for having me, John.”
“Anyone who is a friend of Brooklyn’s is welcome in our home.”
“We’re more than friends,” Dash says, and my face heats. I’ve never brought anyone home before.
“Right. Come into my office and we’ll talk. A few of us are already having drinks.” Dash looks down at me, and I think he’s waiting for me to agree. I smile up at him and nod.
He knows I don't want to stay long and is silently telling me if I give him the word he won’t leave my side.
“I’ll be in the kitchen.” Dash gives me a quick kiss on my lips right in front of my father before I rush off.
When I enter the kitchen I only see Charlotte and a few people dressed in all black with aprons on. They’re plating food while she sits and drinks a glass of wine.
“Dash Belmont. Really, Brooklyn? You know pregnancy makes you fat.”
What the hell does that even mean?
“You know Dash?” I say instead. I’m not talking to her about Dash and me having babies.
“Everyone knows the Belmonts.” She gives me a dramatic eyeroll.
“We don’t run in the same circles.”
“Because you’re just an innocent schoolteacher. You’re so pathetic.”
I’m living my life and somehow that makes me pathetic.
“Why is that? Is it because I landed someone like Dash, you have to find a way to belittle it? You can try all you want. I know he loves me.” Even though we haven't said the exact words, I feel it. He loves me and I love him.
Charlotte throws back her head and laughs. “This is worse than I thought. I was sure you were in on it.” She keeps on laughing and my stomach tightens. She’s too excited about this. “You think he loves you? Let me guess. He wants you to have his baby too?” She stops laughing, leveling me with a stare and a happy smirk.
She picks up some paper from the kitchen counter and I realize everyone in the kitchen has gone quiet. I’m sure they’re hanging on to every word.
“Have a look.” She walks over and drops the stack of papers in front of me.
“What is it?” I look down, thinking they’re legal documents.
“Nothing much, just the Belmont Trust.”
My eyes scan over the first page and I know I should push it away because I have no right to look over this. But the way she’s laughing and how smug she is, there has to be a reason.
“In ten months he has to produce an heir or he loses it all.” She points at the date on the paper and I see Dash’s birthday is the expiration date.
I shake my head. This can’t be right. “I thought maybe you were in on it and doing some sort of marriage of convenience, but you actually bought it. Brooklyn, honey, you’re so trusting. You really should know better.” She shakes her head at me.
She’s right, I should know better. Dash really is the jerk all my friends thought he was. I bet when he saw me so desperate for love and willing to trust anyone, he knew I was a perfect target. Why else did I fall for all of this? It must have been written all over my face that first night and he knew I was an easy mark.
“Are you gonna cry? Come on, let's not make this more pathetic than it already is.”
One of the servers tries to hand me a napkin. “Are you okay?”
“Get back to work,” Charlotte snaps at the woman and snatches the napkin from her hand. She tosses it down onto the counter and scoffs.
“There’s no need to be rude.” I look over to the woman. “Thank you.” I give her a small smile and she nods at me before grabbing a tray of food and leaving the kitchen. The others follow her out, leaving me alone with Charlotte.
“So, are you going to scream at him or run out of here crying?”
“I feel sorry for you.” I sniff as I pick up the napkin and wipe my tears away with it.
“For me? I’m not the one being made a fool of.”
“I’d rather be made a fool than be someone who enjoys watching someone else’s pain. I’ll be a fool any day over what you are.”
“What am I?” she shrieks, and I realize my words hit a little too close to home.
“A miserable person.” I turn around and slowly make my way out of the kitchen.
I’m not running out of here, but I’m leaving. I’m going to my apartment with my real family who love me without conditions and limits.
Chapter Fifteen
Dash
I stand up and shake Brooklyn’s father’s hand and we say goodbye as we exit his office. I didn’t want to talk to him in the other room with everyone else in there. I wanted to speak to him privately and our conversation
