WORKING FOR CAMERON DALLAS *BWWM

Chapter 11: Guess It Wasn't Meant To Be

I wake up to my dad sitting his big muscly ass on the side of my bed. I rub my eyes and sit up.

"No banana oatmeal?" I ask, being a smart ass.

"Can we talk?" Dad's voice is rust and he has to clear his throat.

I cross my arms and sit against my bed post.

"How was your company party?"

"Good. I met a guy and we went to his room."

I watch my dad's eyes widen as he swallows hard trying to keep his cool. Even though me and Will didn't officially do anything, I still wanted to make it seem that we did.

"I want to apologize about last night, yelling at you. Calling you out of your name." He puts his head down. His apology sounds like its coming from an 11 year old.

"What were you thinking?" I snap.

"What were you thinking taking my Ferrari out, Cene?

"I wasn't going for a ride. I had to work that day and my ride bailed on me. I'm sorry. But why did you go all crazy on me like that?"

He sighs and rubs his forehead. "Feel this." 

Dad leans in and flexes his muscle for me to squeeze.

"K?" I ask.

"Have you ever wondered how I've gotten so big, so quickly?"

"Everyday, actually." 

"I've been taking--I took steroids for 18 months."

I push off the bed post. "Dad...why?"

"I had a bad knee and Denise suggested steroids. I injected myself, it worked...and then I began injecting other places. Last month, I stopped cold turkey."

"Does Denise know this?"

"She's actually the one who encouraged me to keep using. But she's not to blame."

"Dad are you really serious right now? What kind of "wife" tells you to change yourself. Especially when it's life-threatening? Mom would never ask you to change a hair on your body!"

"I know, Cene. But love makes you do dumb things...so now I'm trying undo it." My dad's eyes look sad. "I've been take pills to sort of neutralize everything...mellow me out. And with that, I have occasional outbursts."

"I see." Is all I can say.

"Your mom is something. Hell, why am I telling you like you don't know? You're her twin, you do everything just alike." He smiles, I can tell he is reminiscing. "Here."

I look at his hands that dangle a key set. The most noticeable key is the Ferrari one. My eyes widen and get glossy. "Dad no. Are you kidding me?"

He shakes his head no with a warm smile. I jump into his lap and scream, digging my face into his hot neck. "Dad! I HAVE A FERRARI!"

"I know." He laughs. 

I can't stop shaking my head and screaming in my pillows. "You definitely need something to get you around. So do it in style...and don't get a ticket. I'm not paying it." He smiles.

Dad gets up and walks toward the door, chuckling. "Cene?"

I stop to look at him.

"The pill thing..our little secret?"

I nod vigorously.

"Don't forget to thank your mom." Dad winks at me and leaves. I still can't believe I've been handed the keys to a Ferrari that I get to keep forever. This is the world's best gift from the world's best dad. Well not the best, but for right now, he is.