The Rockstar's bodyguard { A Bethanny Mcnarie novel }

Chapter 46: The Father and the FBI

He shot the eight ball into the hole, and I took a long drink.

"Nice try," I said. "But you owe me fifty bucks."

Joel shook his head, sighing.

"I used to be so much better at pool. I swear, I've gone blind with madness. It's all these damn children."

"Well, you're children are all happy," I said. "Even Blake dumped the country singer."

"So how are things between you and Beth," Joel asked, trying to be nonchalant.

"Aw, well, we're great," I said, leaving out any hint at all of the carnal activities I was having with my friend's daughter. "She is busy with school. I mean, I am busy too, I've been studying for the detective's exam."

"What inspired that," Joel said.

I let out a laugh as I shook my head. I really had one main source of inspiration these days.

"Beth, actually," I said. "I mean, she'll probably be working for the FBI by the time she's twenty-three, so I figured I might as well try to have a career. I mean, I am not match for her. But I figured it sounds nice, the FBI profiler who is dating the detective."

"FBI?" Joel asked, a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah," I said. "I mean with this summer internship, she is a shoe in for getting hired right out of Berkeley. I mean, her professor has some pull still."

"I thought she was going on tour," Joel said. "And you're telling me my baby daughter wants to work for the FBI?"

"Did you not know that?" I asked. "She tells you everything, so I just assumed."

"Well she sure is good at keeping secrets these days," Joel scoffed. He stood up and walked out, and my heart sunk a little bit.

Blessing or not, Joel was still pissed off about Bethanny and me. I followed him outside to alley, where he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"You must hate me," I said.

"I could never hate you Aaron," Joel said. "I just, I don't know. I always knew she'd grow, but I figured Beth and I would always be close. She is so busy with school, and you. Out of all the kids, she was always the one who leaned on me more than more. She was my little girl, you know. I know she thinks Blake is my favorite, but..."

"Look, I get it," I said. "But she loves you. She probably just didn't know how to tell you about the FBI. You can be a little bit overprotective, you know."

"I have my reasons," Joel said. "When she fell in love with you, she should have told me. Fuck, you should told me. Do you think I would have freaked out?"

"Yes, you would have freaked out." I said. "I was freaked out, Joel. I spent about a year of my night not sure what to do, what to not do. It was impossible, and felt wrong. I just, I didn't mean to fall in love with your daughter. But I couldn't help it, it was like a reaction. But once I realized it, I couldn't turn it off or will it away. Believe me, I tried to get rid of her. I loved her so much, it made me into an idiot, you know."

"I do know," Joel said with a chuckle. "Angie was young when we first kissed. She was so cute, in her pajamas with this Nirvana t-shirt. She had this perfume that smelled like sunflowers, and I just, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to spend all of my time with her, because she was so much more than some girl. She was everything. I was three years older than her too, and she was in high school."