“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t help myself. For years I’ve tried to stop but I can’t. I saw that money and I tried to resist, tried to do the right thing, but I couldn’t. I’m sorry,” my dad pleads.
“Years?”
“Hayley, I... um...” he stammers.
“How long, dad?”
His eyes sink to the floor in shame.
“How long?” I press.
“Since your mom died. That's when the gambling started.”
Realisation sets in, everything falls into place. “The debts. They weren't mom's medical bills, were they?” Tears begin to brim in my eyes, knowing the answer already.
He shakes his head. “No.”
“They were you’re debts. Gambling debts.”
“Yes.” The word was almost inaudible.
“Oh my God,” I gasp as tears stream down my face. My hand flies to my face to cover the sob that is about to break free.
“I’m so sorry, Hayley.”
“You lied to me, all these years.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That's why you were in the members only section, you're a member here. That's why I never saw anything to do with the repayments. All those times you said you were going to the bank and insisted you go alone. You never went to the bank did you, you came here? It all makes sense now.” I feel so stupid.
“I’m sorry.” His voice barely a whisper.
“Stop saying you’re sorry. Dad, you need to realise that every that has happened, has happened because of you. You didn’t have to take Kyle’s deal, but you did so without even a second thought. I can’t believe what you called me just now, I can’t believe you would think of me as anything like that, but when you took that deal, how you exchanged me for money, that’s how you made me feel.”
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hands and turn to Gwen. “Can we go?”
“Yeah, come on.” Gwen puts her arm around my shoulder and begins to steer me away.
I glance back at Kyle. “I’ll call you, okay?”
He nods.
I offer him a weak smile before turning back and allowing Gwen to guide us her back to her car.
Chapter 20
Hayley
“Just call him already. You’ve been putting it off all day.”
“I’ve been at work all day,” I say in my defense.
“That’s no excuse. Now call him, or I will.” She rises from the couch beside me and heads into her bedroom, softly closing the door behind her.
My heart beats so fast it feels like my chest is going to burst wide open. I stare at my phone screen, my thumb hovering over Kyle’s number. My leg bouncing nervously, my foot tapping against the floor. I take a deep breath and click on his number. I put the phone to my ear and wait for him to answer.
“Hello?” That beautiful voice floats through my phone, sending chills up my spine.
“Kyle, it’s me.”
He lets out a soft sigh into the phone. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
“I'm so glad you called. How are you, after last night?”
“I’m okay. All the better for hearing your voice.”
“What are you up to tonight?” he asks.
“Going out with Gwen. You?”
“Meeting my brother, probably going to go for a few drinks.”
“If you have a spare hour or so, we’re going to Terry's, it’s a bar opposite my uncle’s diner, you should come.”
“I might just do that.”
I smile. “We’re heading out soon, see you later?”
“Absolutely.”
“Bye.”
“Goodbye, Hayley.” The line goes dead.
The bedroom door opens, and Gwen walks out in a beautiful navy dress which is a just a little too short, her long toned legs on full display. The neckline runs almost all the way down to her belly button, but only showing a sliver of cleavage, only Gwen could pull off a dress like this.
“So, how'd it go?” she asks eagerly. Perching on the edge of the couch next to me.
“I invited him and his brother to join us tonight, if that’s okay?”
“Of course! Although, I kind of got Aaron to agree to come too.”
My stomach drops. “Oh God.”
“Look, it will be fine, he needs to get over himself and grow the hell up.” She adjusts her ponytail that’s pulled up high on the back of her head. “Wait, brother? Kyle’s bringing his brother?”
“Yeah, Luke.”
She gasps. “Is he hot?”
“I have no idea.”
“Well if your man is anything to go by, he must be."
I laugh.
“You nearly ready?”
“I just need to get dressed and then I’m done.”
“Okay.”
I head into her room and open the dresser draw that she cleared out for me to make way for my clothes while I’m staying here. I rifle through and find a pretty blush pink cami top and a textured black pencil skirt that ends just above my knees. I add a pair of black tights, ankle boots and my mom’s old vintage leather jacket which I throw on top.
Back in the living room, Gwen sat on the couch with her feet on the coffee table, putting on her heels when she looks up at me.
“You look beaut.”
“Thanks, you too.”
I turn to the mirror and adjust my hair which I have curled and left down to hang freely just past my shoulders. I keep my makeup basic with a touch foundation, concealer, mascara, and a little eyeshadow that Gwen insisted I wear.
She finishes putting on her other heel and stands, pulling on her coat.
“Ready?”
“Yep.”
She skips over to me and links her arm through mine. “Let’s go.”
∞∞∞
“Look, I’m sorry for snapping the way I did last week, there’s no excuse,” Aaron says.
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here.” I lean across and take his hands in mine.
He’s sat opposite me and Gwen in a booth in the bar, it’s packed with people, rock music thumps through the jukebox situated in the corner of the dimly lit room.
“Aaron, I… um… I invited Kyle and his brother, I hope you don’t mind.”
His nostrils flare and he pulls out of my grasp, leaning back against his seat. “I guess not.”
“I’m sorry, I did it
