Page 59 of Crash & Burn

“Well, we kind of got into a fight about it. Right before you came home last night. Which is probably another reason why I was so on edge. He doesn’t want me to go. He has to stay and finish school and we obviously just got engaged and were starting to plan our lives together. So, understandably, he’s upset.”

“I’m so sorry, Dakota,” I whisper as I reach my hand across the table to hold hers. Tears drop silently from her eyes.

“When do you have to go?” I struggle to ask. The idea of her leaving is so hard to think about.

“Next week.” Her answer stings. But there’s nothing I can do about it.

Dakota pulls her buzzing phone from her purse and takes a heavy sigh.

“Ugh, Sterls, I’m so sorry, I’m on call this weekend. The hospital must need me back for the night shift.” She lifts herself up from her chair and I match her gesture.

She pulls me into a hug, and it feels like it’ll be one of our last. I want to soak in this moment, but I need to ask her about the eviction notice.

“Did you know we got an eviction notice?” I pull away from her and meet her eyes. No need to dance around the questions.

“About that, I got an email this morning.” She holds my hands as she speaks. “What happened?” she questions.

“I guess it slipped my mind after the accident. I didn’t even put it together. And all this time, I just totally freakin’ spaced it. I’m so sorry. I’m gonna fix this,” I try to reassure her, but really, I’m the one who needs reassurance. I know she paid her portion on time, there’s no excuse for what I missed it. I got my paycheck and it’s more than enough to cover my bills and more now.

“Well, I called them in the car on the way over here, offering to pay your half but they said it was already paid and the eviction notice was lifted.” It takes me a moment to register what she’s saying.

“It was paid?” I ask behind blinking eyes.

“That’s what they said. Did you not pay it?” She drops my hands at my side as her phone rings. “It’s work again, I better take this.” I give her an understanding nod as she steps away to answer the call.

I definitely didn’t pay it, but if Dakota didn’t pay it, and I didn’t pay it, then who did?

twenty-four

Callan

I’veignoredseveralcallsfrom both of my parents. The way they’ve been hiding this massive secret for years and just expected me to be okay with it, doesn’t sit right with me. If I'm honest, the only person I want to talk to about it is Sterling, but I’m still trying to process it myself.

For my entire life, I’ve always sympathized with my mom. Especially in the last decade and a half, she’s had to deal with my dad’s asshole tendencies and still continued to raise two children with a smile on her face. I never understood my dad’s anger until my mom finally confessed the truth the other night, between sobs and apologies.

My dad isn’t Virginia’s dad.

My mom cheated and got pregnant with another man. And now I understand why the arrangements that were agreed upon have been put into place and why my sister has been acting the way she has. But it doesn't explain why my father treated me as if this whole time I wasn’t his kid, instead of the other way around.

In a way, it makes me think a little differently of him. He had a reason to be angry the whole time. He wasn’t required to stay with my mom or to raise Virginia as his own child, but he chose to take care of them both.

I don’t let myself think about it too much. I throw my shit down on my office desk and close the door behind me. I know Sterling is already in, the light peeking from under her office door down the hall confirmed so. But I intend to stay in my office as long as it takes to shake my head into place.

My head is still reeling after our phenomenal night together. If I’m being honest, it’s the best sex I’ve ever had and that scares the living shit out of me. I don’t want to keep my distance, but I know I should because I don’t know what comes next.

Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door. My pulse quickens. I don’t know if I can handle seeing Sterling right now. I know I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off her. Before I can respond to the knock, the door creaks open, but it’s not who I was secretly hoping it would be.

“Mr. David.” Cora sticks her head through the door and smiles at me with her big buggy eyes. The same eyes she’s used time and time again, in an attempt to seduce me. But as I watch her slide into my office, all I can think about is Sterling bent over in my bed withherbeautiful bedroom eyes as she calls me by the formality that Cora just used.

My dick nudges awake in my slacks just thinking about Sterling. It doesn’t last long when Cora’s shrill voice cuts in.

“You looked super stressed coming in today,” she whines, “wanted to see if everything’s okay?” I’m instantly annoyed. First of all, it’s none of her business. Second, do I really look that bothered? I’ve never been the type of man to be readable. I keep my facial expressions in check

“Cora, shouldn’t you be working on something?” I snap, sounding more bitter than I intended, but I have so much pent-up frustration between my unexpected feelings for Sterling, and this breaking family news, stacked on top of all the work I need to get done. I feel like I’m losing control.

Cora doesn’t respond. She simply backs up into the hallway, disappointment spread across her face. Her expression turns to disgust as she looks to her right. It’s not until I see Sterling appear in the doorway that I understand what Cora is looking at.

“Can I come in?” Sterling gently moves past Cora and makes her way into the door frame as she knocks lightly on the door.