Page 65 of Open To Negotiation

“Who called you?”

A weariness had settled over me. I couldn’t tell Theo, we were just getting started and my father could never learn who he was.

“I have to go.”

He didn’t move and we glared at each other in the small hallway in a silent standoff.

“Not until you tell me what the fuck is wrong with you.” His voice was low.

I hated how well he knew me already.

“Can you just let me go? Please?” I pleaded, the tears threatening to spill out.

“Not happening, Love, tell me what happened that’s made you look pale and lost and on the verge of tears.”

“No.”

“Fine, then I’m coming with you wherever you’re running off to. Not ending the date that easily.”

I could tell by the stubborn set of his jaw and the tension in his shoulders that he wasn’t going to let this slide, not going to let me leave here alone. If I didn’t get there soon, my dad would just keep racking up his bill.

“If you come with me you get no questions and you stay in the car.” I crossed my arms over my chest willing him to agree with me. I would need to drive Dad home anyway, since he always drove himself and then got too drunk to drive. At least he did that well.

“I’ll call Arthur and settle the bill.” He started to move me out of the hallway.

“I need to stop at the bank across the street. Why don’t you pay and I’ll—”

“Not happening.” He threaded his hand through mine, leading me to the hostess stand.

It was smart, I was considering abandoning him. I hardly registered anything as he paid and we maneuvered out of the restaurant. I racked my brain trying to figure out how to stop Theo from seeing this.

17

Quinn

Neither of us spoke as I grabbed the cash I needed and then Arthur pulled up front. I didn’t look at Theo as I rattled off the address and turned my gaze to the windows, blinking rapidly to try and keep the angry tears from surfacing again.

I hated my dad for this. But I didn’t know how to say no. He had no idea if I could afford it and yet he asked anyway. I carried a damn cheque book around like an old lady in case something like this came up. Every time I paid, I said it would be the last time.

But here I was running to deal with his problems, again.

The drive went by quickly with me lost in my thoughts and before I had a chance to calm myself down, we were pulling up outside the casino. It was busy, people going in with excitement in their eyes and others leaving holding their friends up.

We were on the edge of downtown, a bit of a seedier place, because my dad wouldn’t go anywhere else. It was more run down than I’d like, the paint peeling on the side of the building and it looked like a layer of grim covered the place.

“Love?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before looking over at Theo. “Is there anything I can say to convince you to stay in the car?” I asked, sounding defeated.

I had told him he would have to stay in the car, but I knew he wouldn’t do that, not when he saw where we were.

A loud sound pulled my attention. I turned to watch as a group of people came bursting out the door, being dragged by security, looking like they just had a fist fight.

“Not a bloody chance in hell,” he grumbled as he pushed his own door open. His British accent always got stronger when he was pissed, even in this situation I found it charming.

He opened up my door and the second I was standing he had his arm wrapped around me, pulling me into his side. His shoulders were back and his face pressed into a thin line. He gave off a menacing, pissed off air that people noticed and stepped out of our way. This was a side of him I rarely saw, but I was grateful for it tonight.

The carpet under our feet was old and stained with years of wear. Slot machines were lighting up, making obnoxious noises both to attract people and get them to keep playing while dice rolling and people cheering filtered through the air. It was all topped off with loud music that made it hard to think.