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“I worry about him.” She chews on her bottom lip. “He’s so intense and grouchy recently. He used to laugh more.”
Drew leans an elbow on the bar top, but his eyes immediately move back to Sophie. As if she can feel his gaze, she looks over at him, and then away again just as fast.
“He’ll be fine,” I assure her. “He’s made of tough stuff.”
“Because he was turned tough.” Maddy sighs.
I pull her into my side, pressing a kiss to her hair. “That’s all in the past now, baby.”
“I know.” She settles into me, melding her body against mine as she presses her palm over my heart. “But he’ll never have the kind of relationship with Dad that he deserved.”
“That’s your dad’s fault. Not Drew’s.”
I hold her closer. I know it still pains her to talk about what happened. She hasn’t been able to confront her dad over it yet. Drew would rather she leave it altogether. But I know her. She’s carried this hurt around for years from that time in her life. She needs to let it go completely. And she will… when she’s ready.
Maddy’s brow creases as she looks down at the floor. “I can’t believe Mum’s acting like everything’s fine. If this wasn’t going to hurt her more, then I’d have talked to Dad already. But…” She lets out a deep sigh.
I bite back the choice of words I’d like to use to describe her father. It won’t help her to hear them. No words will help Maddy feel better about the fact that her mum has been confronted with further evidence about her dad having an affair but has ignored it. And the fact that his actions are holding Maddy back from healing make me despise him more.
“I want her to be happy. She deserves it.” Maddy’s shoulders drop. “Maybe Dad didn’t do anything.” There’s a tiny shred of hope in her voice. She adores her father. Or at least, she did. If I could, then I’d put him back on that pedestal she had him on, just to see her look happy again when she talks about him.
But I can’t.
“Let’s go talk to Sterling.” Maddy’s voice brightens as she sees him.
“You going to make me jealous again, Smiles?”
“What?” She laughs.
“That first meeting? He couldn’t hide the fact he thought you were hot.”
“Shut up.” She giggles.
“You know it’s true,” I murmur as we close the distance to him. “It’s why he invested more.”
“He invested more because you were a moody dick and kept increasing the buy-in.”
A smirk forms on my lips. “You’re good for business, baby.”
“Whatever.” Maddy pouts.
“And you’re an incredible negotiator,” I add, earning myself a flattered curl of her lips.
“Charmer.”
“I love you,” I whisper.
She shakes her head, her smile spreading. “I love you too.”
I tighten my grip on her waist as I steer us to where Sterling is standing talking to Magnus Grant, owner of Atlantic Airways. The two men slap each other on the backs like old buddies and part before we get there.
“Sterling?” I grasp his hand.
“Logan.” He shakes it. “Maddox.” He takes hers too. “Impressive turnout.”
“Thank you,” I reply, assessing the crowded ballroom. “All made possible by our investors.”
Sterling’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “Nothing to invest in if it weren’t for your idea.”
