I smiled ear to ear and leaned over to kiss him madly. I didn’t care that we were in a restaurant and who could possibly be watching. I could have matched his words but instead, I showed him.
As the night came to a close and Wyatt followed me home to make sure I got home safe, we stood on my porch and kissed like there was no tomorrow. I didn’t want to pull away from him, but I didn’t want to bring him in. I felt too weak and didn’t want to show him I was caving in the physical department. I had done so many things wrong in the past, and that was not going to happen this time. Oddly enough, Wyatt never tried, always keeping me wanting more, and wanting more I did. I was enjoying all the hot and heavy moments, and the slow burn of letting it cool down as I thought of him. I could put my hand to my lips and still feel his pressure, the sweet taste he always had. He was all I could think about.
Did a twenty-eight-year-old woman get butterflies still? ‘Cause that was what I was getting from him.
16
BREIGH
I was meeting my father for dinner tonight at Rusty’s, a place in town he had picked. I needed to get to the bottom of why he was trying to give me extra attention and see if there was an ulterior motive. I felt in my bones there was, but I needed to know for sure. Or more realistically what he wanted.
I hated to think negatively about anyone. When you grew up like I did, it was easy to think of life that way. You either looked at the world as glass half full or glass half empty. I preferred full, as a younger woman I would have said empty.
I waited for fifteen minutes before my father arrived to a place that he had recommended. Needless to say I was madder than a trapped dog.
“So nice for you to show up…” I smarted off, ready to leave.
“You have once again wasted my time, Dad. I had a busy day and I have things to do tonight for tomorrow at work. You have five minutes.”
“You are giving your father five minutes?”
The slur in his voice said it all. No wonder he was late, he was drunk. You have got to be kidding me.
“You are unbelievable. You are drinking again, already?” I was disgusted.
“Why would I stay sober?” He held his hand in the air with his finger up to get the waitress’s attention.
“You are not going to drink with me right across from you, Dad. That ship has sailed.”
“You can’t tell me what to do, Breigh.”
“What did you want?” I tapped my fingers on the table and drank a sip of my water that was nearing the bottom from me waiting so long.
“I need your help.”
“What’s new?”
The waitress placed a large beer on the table in front of my father and walked away, not waiting for a response from us.
“I need money.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry, Dad, I don't have any to give. I paid your mortgage last month since you were three months behind, and I didn't want you evicted. Again. So now I have to work extra so that I can pay my bills. Seems fair, doesn't it? A daughter paying her father’s bills.”
That wasn't exactly true. I had money saved but not money I wanted to spend on my father. I was the one working and it irked me I had to pay for his debt.
“Breigh, I wouldn't ask you if I didn't have to. It should show how desperate I am.”
“I don’t have it.”
“You have someone you could ask though, don't you?”
The nerve. How would he know? The creep. My father had done a lot of low things, but this was low even for him.
“Sorry, I’m not really sure I know what you are talking about. You know damn well I can’t ask Grammy. She wouldn't let you borrow enough money to buy a piece of gum.”
“Not Helen.” He took a long gulp of his beer. “I tried to get my job back, several times in fact.”
“So? How is that my problem?”
“Because you don't have money for your alcohol or because you have bills? I am betting you getting drunk is more important than the bills.”
“You think so little of me, don't you?”
“Dad, you have never been there…you want to pretend like you were, then fine. But when you are with me, you can stop the charades. I don't have the energy to play the game any longer. I love you because you are my father, but that is about as far as it goes. Grammy is who took care of me, not you.”
“I lost the love of my life when she gave birth to YOU, Breigh.” His voice rose in volume, “It isn't something I will ever get over.”
“So instead you have wasted your life drinking over losing yourself. You could have done a lot of things differently, and I wish you would have, but you didn't. There isn't anything you can do about that now. And you know what…that is okay. I don't need you to. But I can tell you I will not lend you another cent, and I sure as hell cannot give you money. I work hard for what I earn and I am not going to dismiss that.”
“Can’t you ask Galloway?”
“Excuse me?”
“He is loaded. He wouldn't even notice a little bit of money for your dear ole’ father.”
“Wyatt? I don’t know anything about him having money. As far as I see it, he works like I do, nonstop. Everything he has he’s earned.”
“I doubt that. Charles said he had money!”
“Who cares what Charles said. I knew when I heard you had met with him that…”
He interrupted me, “Just like you say, but Helen helped you…”
“Yes, she did. That is what
