her. She smiles. “What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m glad to see you are getting your appetite back. Don’t get me wrong. You’re always sexy, but I miss your curves.”
“You’re a perv.”
“No, I’m just honest.”
“Yeah, well, if I’m being honest, I miss my curves, too. None of my clothes fit. I feel like a slob in my jeans. I am trying to put some weight back on.”
“Good. Now come down here with me.”
She moves, leaning back against me and pulling her couch throw over her legs. “Cade?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you sure you really want to try to do this again? This thing with me and you.”
“Yes. Daria, I love you and I let my insecurities get in my way before, but I can’t do that again. I can’t live without you again.”
“Okay. Well, my dad called today. He’s going to be in town this week and he wants to have dinner with us.”
“Us? As in both of us?”
“Yes. If you don’t feel comfortable with it, I understand.”
“No, I want to go. I’m just... I just... I don’t know if I can be nice to him. With everything that he put you through.”
“I understand and I love you for feeling that way, but he’s my father. Please just try for me. Okay?” I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll try. Glad to see that you haven’t retired Betty.”
She giggles. “I know you have a thing for cartoon strippers.”
~*~*~
I walk into the restaurant, prepared to meet Sam Broxton officially for the first time. I was in such shock the first time I met him that I just shook his hand and went into Daria’s bedroom. I was so angry. I’m still angry, but this time it’s at him for what he’s done.
This place is straight out of an old gangster movie. It’s called Tony’s. The inside has red high back semi-circle booths. I’m waiting to see some old guy with a mustache trying to make me an offer I can’t refuse. I am definitely not surprised when we are taken to a table in a quiet part of the restaurant, all to itself.
As Daria’s dad stands up to hug her, he doesn’t look like a gangster. He’s in his mid-fifties with a pot belly. I’m pretty sure he’s wearing an Eli western shirt and Wrangler jeans. But he’s a desk cowboy, you can tell. His hands don’t look like they’ve worked outside.
He breaks me from my thoughts when he sticks his hand out. “Sam Broxton, nice to officially meet you, son.”
I shake his hand. “Cade Johnson.”
We sit down and the waitress comes to get our drink orders. Normally, I would just order a beer or a sweet tea, but tonight is going to call for something stronger. “I’ll have a Jack and Coke.”
Daria glances at me.
“ So, Cade, I see you guys are shaping up to be a pretty good team this year. Both of those Addison boys comin’ back?”
“Yes, sir. We have quite a few experienced guys returning.”
“Do you have any intentions of going pro?”
I shake my head. “No, sir, not re ally. If they approach me, I’ll talk with them. Right now, though, I’m just concentrating on my education. I would like to continue on into sports medicine.”
“I have some friends involved with the NFL. I know a couple of the owners. An opportunity with the NFL could bring bright things for your future.”
Who does this asshole think he is to give me career advice?
I look at him, seething. “So could a career in sports medicine.”
Daria tenses beside me. She changes the subject. “Are you guys ready to order? I’m starving.”
Chapter 17
Daria
To say there is tension between my dad and Cade is putting it lightly. I can tell Cade wants to rip my dad’s head off. Meanwhile, my dad is too busy trying to recruit Cade for the NFL because of the money. He doesn’t see how much disdain Cade has for him.
Cade blames my father for a lot. In most cases, he’s justified, but it’s like my therapist said. “It’s not a good idea to think that way. Blaming him is looking for an out in being responsible for one’s own actions.” Hence, my snorting coke up
I shake my head. “Nothing. I’m glad to see you are getting your appetite back. Don’t get me wrong. You’re always sexy, but I miss your curves.”
“You’re a perv.”
“No, I’m just honest.”
“Yeah, well, if I’m being honest, I miss my curves, too. None of my clothes fit. I feel like a slob in my jeans. I am trying to put some weight back on.”
“Good. Now come down here with me.”
She moves, leaning back against me and pulling her couch throw over her legs. “Cade?”
“Hmm.”
“Are you sure you really want to try to do this again? This thing with me and you.”
“Yes. Daria, I love you and I let my insecurities get in my way before, but I can’t do that again. I can’t live without you again.”
“Okay. Well, my dad called today. He’s going to be in town this week and he wants to have dinner with us.”
“Us? As in both of us?”
“Yes. If you don’t feel comfortable with it, I understand.”
“No, I want to go. I’m just... I just... I don’t know if I can be nice to him. With everything that he put you through.”
“I understand and I love you for feeling that way, but he’s my father. Please just try for me. Okay?” I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll try. Glad to see that you haven’t retired Betty.”
She giggles. “I know you have a thing for cartoon strippers.”
~*~*~
I walk into the restaurant, prepared to meet Sam Broxton officially for the first time. I was in such shock the first time I met him that I just shook his hand and went into Daria’s bedroom. I was so angry. I’m still angry, but this time it’s at him for what he’s done.
This place is straight out of an old gangster movie. It’s called Tony’s. The inside has red high back semi-circle booths. I’m waiting to see some old guy with a mustache trying to make me an offer I can’t refuse. I am definitely not surprised when we are taken to a table in a quiet part of the restaurant, all to itself.
As Daria’s dad stands up to hug her, he doesn’t look like a gangster. He’s in his mid-fifties with a pot belly. I’m pretty sure he’s wearing an Eli western shirt and Wrangler jeans. But he’s a desk cowboy, you can tell. His hands don’t look like they’ve worked outside.
He breaks me from my thoughts when he sticks his hand out. “Sam Broxton, nice to officially meet you, son.”
I shake his hand. “Cade Johnson.”
We sit down and the waitress comes to get our drink orders. Normally, I would just order a beer or a sweet tea, but tonight is going to call for something stronger. “I’ll have a Jack and Coke.”
Daria glances at me.
“ So, Cade, I see you guys are shaping up to be a pretty good team this year. Both of those Addison boys comin’ back?”
“Yes, sir. We have quite a few experienced guys returning.”
“Do you have any intentions of going pro?”
I shake my head. “No, sir, not re ally. If they approach me, I’ll talk with them. Right now, though, I’m just concentrating on my education. I would like to continue on into sports medicine.”
“I have some friends involved with the NFL. I know a couple of the owners. An opportunity with the NFL could bring bright things for your future.”
Who does this asshole think he is to give me career advice?
I look at him, seething. “So could a career in sports medicine.”
Daria tenses beside me. She changes the subject. “Are you guys ready to order? I’m starving.”
Chapter 17
Daria
To say there is tension between my dad and Cade is putting it lightly. I can tell Cade wants to rip my dad’s head off. Meanwhile, my dad is too busy trying to recruit Cade for the NFL because of the money. He doesn’t see how much disdain Cade has for him.
Cade blames my father for a lot. In most cases, he’s justified, but it’s like my therapist said. “It’s not a good idea to think that way. Blaming him is looking for an out in being responsible for one’s own actions.” Hence, my snorting coke up
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