“Ready,” she squealed.
We were off and I couldn’t wait to get her home. I missed her when she wasn’t around.
Being a father changed my life, and my daughter was everything to me. Somedays, I didn’t know how I would make it from one day to the next. Was I scared? Fuck yeah, I was. I worried about everything. Life was good as a real estate investor, and the bills were always paid. But the dream of one day owning a bar wasn’t going away, and I wanted to give it a go. Living in South Beach the clubs along Ocean Drive were the pulse of the city. I wanted a piece of it.
And now at thirty years old, I sank most of my money into the Goat, and I needed this to work.
Life was hard though, finding love and companionship was a no-go.
Chaos, headaches, and utter madness were a part of my regular routine and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The life of a single father left me little time for love.
EIGHT
PENNY
“I bet no one could make you come as hard as I can.”
“You did,” my mind screamed.
For the next two days after the club incident I never left my apartment. I cleaned, and cleaned some more. Sweeping, mopping, and scrubbing every part of the tile floors—anything to keep my mind occupied. Anything to not think about the look on Theo’s face when I told him about my boyfriend. When he slammed his hand against the wall I felt the devastation pour off him.
I avoided Dex’s phone calls. He called a few times over the past few weeks, and every time I asked about coming home he would have to rush off the phone. Confusion over everything took up residence deep within me. As much as I tried to think about anything else, Theo’s hurt expression kept rolling through my overactive mind. I was a bitch for not stopping it sooner.
Having his hands on me was something I never thought I’d experience again. Or want, to be honest, after the way he treated me at the bar. My body pulled to his, fucking traitor, and I needed to stay far away.
I was the worst girlfriend ever.
When Saturday morning arrived, work was on the agenda.
As I finished getting ready, smoothing lotion down my legs, Margo threw herself on my bed.
“Fuck my life,” she complained as she covered both arms over her eyes. Her blonde curly waves splayed over the bright orange pillowcase.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking over at her.
She propped up onto her elbows and glared. “Hottie fighter has a whore girlfriend.”
I sat down on the bed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Mar.”
“It’s ok. I’ll figure it out or find someone new to stalk.”
“Yeah,” I whispered, barely listening.
“What’s wrong? What happened with Theo at the club the other night?” She sat and waited for my answer.
“Nothing happened. Nothing at all.” Part truth. He didn’t touch me, but I felt the ghost of his hands everywhere.
I hated myself, completely hated myself. I hated how turned on I was. It was wrong. Dex should have been on my mind, but I couldn’t focus with Theo’s hot breath saying those things to me.
His filthy mouth I loved on the beach, now dripped with poison.
Once I arrived at work my stomach filled with butterflies. Dread set in at seeing Theo. Saturdays were busy, and I couldn’t wait to drown all my nervous energy with tending to the happy guests who would need some liquor to enjoy their day further.
“Ready for a hot day?” Seth asked as I set up the bar.
“I heard it’s going to be a scorcher.” I threw my hair into a low ponytail.
“Yeah.”