Almost Home (NG2)

Guilty

A lazy Sunday was just what Rob needed after being out until early morning. He moved to cuddle close to Cayla. She groaned.

"Don't wake me."

"Sleep."

"Mm. What time is it?"

"After eleven." He nuzzled into her neck and worked down to her shoulder.

She flipped over and their mouths met. One word got stuck in Rob's head - perfect. Being alone with her, away from her father and the business, felt perfect.

Holding her, neither was ready to get up. "What's on tap for today? No, family dinner, I hope."

"No. What a fiasco."

"Your daddy's newest friend served me and Nash at the diner. She looks like the youngest yet."

"He's just friendly. He mentors young musicians."

Rob scoffed. "You can't be serious. He's more than friendly."

"He's lonely. You know his marriage is a farce."

"I've seen something between them. A tenderness."

"It's a farce. The woman is pathetic."

He positioned himself to see her face by lifting up on his elbow. "Cay, tell me why you dislike her so much. I know she's weak and needy."

"Weak and needy is putting it mildly. She never loved me."

"I don't believe that."

She sat up, bringing the sheet with her. "Whose side are you on?" Her voice had an edge.

Soothingly, he said, "Yours. Always yours."

"Fine. You want to know. It started when I was born. It was awful. Something about my position. They should have done a cesarean, but they didn't. She was injured inside."

"That's the doctor's fault, not yours."

"She didn't want to get pregnant again." He had wondered about her being an only child. "But she did and blamed my father for... You know it takes two. The baby was born too early because I damaged her insides. It was a boy. She blames me for killing a baby she never wanted. A son. That's probably why she loves you."

Rob thought it had more to do with the kindness and respect he showed Vivian. "It sounds horrible, but none of it is your fault."

She stood and put on her robe. "Be sure to tell her the next time you visit." Cayla was angry with him. Before he could speak, she continued. "You have issues with my daddy, but she told him never to touch her again. She told him to get it elsewhere."

That explained why Vivian accepted Beau's relationships. He got out of bed and pulled on boxers. He felt exposed, which was stupid.

"I know you judge him and don't like him."

"I understand better, but for the record he has never liked me."

"Why do you say that?"

He laughed. "Now you're lying. It's obvious. He doesn't want us to get married. Seriously, though, at least I go to your father's house. You hate my family so much you won't visit them."

"Not this again." She dismissed him by walking out of their bedroom.

He resisted the urge to follow her. No good would come of it. He gave her time to get coffee and probably bitch to her father. Beau might like him better if Cayla didn't share every complaint she had about Rob with daddy. He felt a kinship with Vivian because the father/daughter bond was so strong. Vivian's physical condition during Cayla's early years explained a lot, but her emotional state over losing her baby filled in the most gaps. He felt annoyed with Cayla. Somehow, their discussion made him the bad guy.

He showered before emerging from the bedroom. She was tapping on her phone. She looked up at him. He gave her a strained smile, unsure of where they stood.

"What did you say about marriage?"

He sighed. "Your father frowned when I told him I wanted to marry you. He said he'd stand by your decision. He didn't say he'd welcome me into the family."

"There is no family. That's why my daddy's relationship is so important to me."

"We could be a family, a team. Am I your number one or is your father? I made you my number one, except for one week a year."

He owned up to his trip before she threw it back in his face. He wasn't sure if he could hold his tongue if she did.

"Of course you are, but I work with daddy, so..."

"I get it. Parties like last night were work. I ignored the drunk drummer even though his hands were all over you."

She waved her hand. "It's the business."

"I've never seen Nash touch you. It's a strange business then. In any other, including Hollywood, women would report inappropriate touching."

"I'm trying to make it in a man's world."

"But they aren't touching men."

"You think women don't use their sexual allure on daddy to get a recording contract?"

He wasn't touching her question with a ten-foot pole. "Tyler has a contract, so what's he getting from you?"

"You sit in an office with numbers all day you wouldn't understand."

"No, I guess not."

He didn't understand anything except he was more concerned than ever. His accounting firm had a sexual harassment policy and touching was prohibited.

She walked past him and emerged almost an hour later, showered and dressed in jeans and a top tucked in to accentuate her tiny waist. "I have some work to do with daddy. I'll be back later."

"Bye, honey."

Rob sat for a long time, staring at nothing. Was he acting like a jealous man? He was with Phoebe, but with Cayla, it was justified. Guilt creeped in. He kissed Phoebe. His guilt had grown because he hadn't forgotten. At random moments, he would remember and wonder about her. How she was? What she was doing? He always stopped himself from texting her. He deleted even innocent text exchanges which only made him feel guiltier.

Feeling lost, he texted Nash.

R: Hey.

N: Hey. What's up?

R: Nothing. Cay's working with daddy.

N: Hanging at Clyde's. You okay?

R: Yeah. Is Tyler clinging to my girl just the business.

N: No. Why?

R: idk. I'm an accountant.

N: A cool surfing one.

R: Ha ha. Later

He didn't want to fight anymore.