One For The Road

Chapter Thirty Two

Looking away from the man who had just entered the cafe, I ignored Just's concerned look. Shaking my head, I urged him to continue and tried to ignore the swirling pit that was forming in my stomach.

It wasn't until Just's voice trailed off that I realized the man was standing right beside me.

"Fancy seeing you here," he said politely, but I easily caught onto the cold undertones of what he was saying. I winced.

"Yeah. Real fancy." I was in no rush to speak to him about anything since our last encounter.

"So." My father looked between Just and I, his face blank. "Who's this?"

"My... friend," I forced out. "Just." Just managed a small wave in his direction, and I was desperately hoping that my father wouldn't recognize him from the few seconds they'd been within close proximity during our trip.

"Friend?" he pushed.

"Yeah." I gave Just an apologetic glance before looking back at my father. "Problem?"

"None at all." He sniffed distastefully anyway, as if he knew I was lying. I wouldn't be totally surprised if he did. If anything, I was surprised that he hadn't gone off about how disgusting it was to be gay. I just hoped I wouldn't have to sit through a lecture like that with the only thought in my mind being that the only disgusting thing here was him.

"Why are you here?" I didn't try to keep my voice even. He was literally the last person I would expect to show up here.

"I'm on a business trip. I'm staying in the hotel nearby. Thought I'd check out this coffee shop since I didn't get to before. You know, when you and your mother bailed on me."

"Don't start," I hissed, shooting him a glare that hopefully said something along the lines of "please go away so I can enjoy my lovely date with my lovely boyfriend".

"It was a small sum—"

"Don't. Start." I curled my hands into fists, uncurled them when I felt my fingernails digging into my palms. "Get your drink and leave us alone. You have no reason and no right to be anywhere near me."

"Watch your tone," he snapped.

I took a deep breath. No way was I letting this ruin my date. No.

I very pointedly looked at Just, trying to keep my tone casual. "Do you wanna go out and take a walk?"

He was quick to nod, grabbing his drink and preparing to stand as I did the same. When I stood, my father grabbed my arm, yanking me close so he could whisper in my ear.

"I think we need to have a little talk," he growled. I tried to worm my arm out of his grasp, but he was persistent. I glared at him.

"I will get the barista to call the police if you don't get the hell off of me," I threatened quietly. "Or I'll call them myself. Leave. Me. Alone."

His angry gaze held the fire of a thousand suns, but he dropped my arm, making a big deal out of it.

"Enjoy your coffee. I hope they put poison in it." I threaded my fingers through Just's, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "I'm going on a walk with my boyfriend. If you try to follow us, I'm calling the cops." It still sounded unfinished, so for a sense of closure, I added a graceful "Burn in Hell."

Thank God we were in the public eye. If we weren't surrounded by people, I think my father would've beaten me to a pulp then and there. But the barista called his name in a chirpy voice from behind the counter, and I flashed him a fake smile before pulling Just out of the cafe as quickly as I could.