Reba stepped closer and spoke in a lower voice; she seemed to want to calm Dad and ease me into whatever they were going to say. “We’ve noticed how much you’ve been gone. We’re worried about you. Is everything okay, SJ?”
I knew my face was the color of Dad’s deep-red tie. He’d heard a rumor about me sleeping with the guys. Had Logan worked that fast? He hadn’t even waited to see if I would sleep with him. “Um. Everything is fine. Sorry, I’m just a little thrown off. Can you tell me the rumor you heard?”
“Are you working for Dominic Rose?” Dad’s chest heaved as he planted his hands on his hips. “I need to know, right now.”
Relief was sweet as I managed to escape having my father accuse me of sleeping with three men. “Yeah, I am. I thought I told you. I got a job working with their marketing team in their office downtown.”
Dad’s neck turned a shade of maroon that was far from natural and very concerning. “You’re quitting. Call in right now and quit, Sugar Jane. Call in, or I will.”
Reba held her hands up between me and Dad. “Whoa. She’s working a good job, Bill. That was the goal, right?”
I crossed my arms under my chest. “What’s your problem with Dominic? Why would I ever quit the best job I’ve ever had?”
“You’ll do it because you are not working under that man! No daughter of mine is going to be linked to him!”
Grandma stepped forward and rolled her eyes at her son. “Honestly, Bill, leave her alone. She’s not doing anything wrong. Why make a fuss out of nothing?”
“That man is adeviant!” Dad met my gaze and watched as the color drained from my face. “He’s a pervert and I won’t allow him to be near you, SJ. That place isn’t for nice girls like you. Do you understand me?”
“What are you talking about, Bill? Are you joking?” Reba seemed unsure of what was happening as she watched her husband’s head attempt a spontaneous combustion. “You sound crazy right now.”
The words Dad was using triggered something at the back of my brain and I dropped my purse on the counter. “Did you do business with Dominic at one point, Dad?”
“Yeah, and it almost cost me a pretty penny. He was exposed as a sexual sadist, or something, and people couldn’t get away from him fast enough. I had to cut him out of a deal to make sure my name wasn’t connected to his.”
“Wow.” I kicked off my heels and picked them up. I didn’t know what to do with my hands as I processed what Dad was telling me. “You helped ruin him.”
“Oh, he’s fine. Clearly. People forgot all about his sexual problems and he’s richer than god now.” Dad shrugged one shoulder, the way he did when he was writing something off without giving it any thought, because it wasn’t important enough. “I didn’t forget, though. I still remember the things I heard. You can’t be around a man like that. I’m not going to let him get his hands on my daughter.”
Grandma and Reba were both as still and silent as a tomb as they waited for my response. I wondered if they both already knew.
I walked over to the fridge and got a bottle of water. I didn’t look back at Dad, or speak, until I’d chugged half the bottle. “Dad?”
He braced his hands on the island, staring me down. “What, SJ? I don’t want you arguing with me on this.”
“I’m not going to argue with you. I’m going to do what I want. I’ve been seeing Dominic.” I continued over Dad shouting my name. “I’m seeing Barrett Taylor and Holden Notaro, as well. We’re…together.”
Grandma whistled under her breath and winked at me behind Dad’s back. Reba looked like a gentle breeze would carry her away. Dad, on the other hand, looked like a raging bull.
“Tell me again what you just said.”
“I ran into the three of them a while back and I’ve been seeing them. They’re amazing men and—”
“Do you hear what you’re saying to your father right now, SJ? You’reseeingthree men at the same time? They could be your father! That’s disgusting!”
Reba flinched. “Careful, Bill.”
“It’s different forus. You know that. They’re passing my goddamn daughter around like a plate of wings at a superbowl party! I think I have a right to be upset!” Dad jerked back around to me. “Is that why they gave you the job?”
Grandma slapped the counter. “Excuse me! Did you just say that to your only child?”
“She’s putting out for those three monsters and suddenly she’s an expert in social media? Put two and two together, Mom! They gave her the job so they could use her. God only knows what they’re doing to her.”
He shuddered and tugged at his hair. “This isn’t happening. You’ll quit and stay away from those men. Can you imagine, Sugar Jane, if people heard that you were whoring yourself out like this?”
I stumbled back like he’d slapped me. I didn’t even have to react, because Grandma and Reba were both instantly talking over each other to yell at him.
“Your mother and I didn’t raise you to be a slut, SJ. Think about what you’re doing to yourself!” He paced to the other side of the kitchen, muttering to himself. “I told her mother that naming her Sugar would end up like this. Did she listen to me? Of course not.”