Chapter 21

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Giselle's laughter rings out through the restaurant, and I have to fight keep from making a disgusted face

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Giselle's laughter rings out through the restaurant, and I have to fight keep from making a disgusted face. I've completely lost track of the conversation, but it's probably something inane and cringe-worthy, just like everything else that's come out of her mouth—and my Dad's mouth—since we've been there.

"Oh, David," she puts her hand on his arm and tilts her head to the side before laughing again. "You really are too much. I don't know how I've managed so long without having you around."

I roll my eyes before I can stop myself. She's the one who's too much.

She shoots me a look, and I wonder if she caught the eye roll, but my dad is oblivious, looking at her as if she's the only person in the room.

"He is a good guy," Sawyer says, his deep voice soothing my jagged nerves a little. "I can vouch for that. He's loyal to a fault."

Dad blushes a little, and I just want to shake him, to ask him what he sees in this loud, irritating woman. I've tried to give her a chance... I really have. But there's something about her that just gets under my skin, and I can't help but feel that it's going to end badly if my dad doesn't come back to reality at some point soon.

"I'm loyal to my family," Dad says, nodding in my direction, and then in Sawyer's. "Mia is my everything, and you're pretty much family, Sawyer." Then he turns to Giselle and takes her hand. "But I do try. I try to be a good friend, a good dad, a good... boyfriend."

I turn away before I say or do something rude. Like, vomit uncontrollably all over the table.

My stomach really is churning, though, and I know that it's more than just nerves, no matter what little lies I keep telling Sawyer and my dad.

No matter what little lies I keep telling myself.

"And the two of you," Giselle wags a finger back and forth between Sawyer and me. "You work together? Is that right?"

I feel my face flush as I narrow my eyes at her. I don't trust her for a second, and I don't trust where she's going with this question. Sawyer doesn't seem to notice the mischievous undertone in her voice, though. Or if he does notice, he doesn't seem to mind.

"That's right," he says, his voice low and smooth as he looks over at me. "Mia has been my intern all summer, and I honestly don't know what I'm going to do now that her internship is almost over."

Giselle is smiling at me, but her eyes are shooting daggers. "I'm sure Mia has many talents. She does seem like a smart, resourceful girl."

"The best," my dad chimes in, completely missing all of the subtext.

As usual.

Giselle's eyes narrow again as her gaze flicks from me to Sawyer and back again. My stomach turns again, and I feel like I should stand up like I should excuse myself right this moment, before she can even open her mouth to ask anything else.

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