Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

The next fewdays passed with nothing but good things. Aside from greatly impressing my bosses with my new marketing campaign plans for the new quarter, Daddy and I were settling into our new, and very official, dynamic quite nicely.

Daddy had given me a list of tasks and chores to complete every day. While I hated some of it — mainly the journaling and positive self-talk — the rewards I got when I completed all my tasks were, well, in a word, delicious.

I was excited to get off work and go get off with Daddy. Why did the work day have to be so long? It was brutal, being away from him. But it pleased Daddy that I was doing so well at work, and honestly, I was quite proud of myself, too.

A knock sounded on my office door as I was settling down to respond to the last email of the day.

“Come in,” I hollered. I glanced up to see Alyssa walk in.

Oh great. Please, please, please, do not let this end in a fight. Not here at the office!

“Hey, Willow. I know you’re probably busy, but I was wondering if we could talk.” I could feel the nervous energy coming off of Alyssa in waves. While I knew exactly what she wanted to talk about, all I could think about was her screaming at me that night. Regardless, I had put this off for long enough. I had avoided her, refused to take her calls, and at the end of the day, my mother had been right. I needed to face the situation head on if I was ever going to truly have a relationship with Adam. And that meant it was time to face the music.

“I’m actually about to finish up for the day,” I answered.

“So, we can talk?” she asked softly.

“Yes, but not here. Want to join me down the street at Crema? In, say, half an hour? I promise not to ghost you.” I suggested, glancing at the clock on my wall. That would give me enough time to finish up this project and still give me a few minutes to collect myself.

“Sounds good. I’ll see you there.” With a nod of her head, her lips pressed tightly together in a thin line, she left my office, leaving me to my raging anxiety once more.

As soon as my project was complete, I picked up my phone to text Daddy.

Alyssa asked to speak to me.

Oh really?

Yes.

Are you going to talk to her?

Yes. We are meeting at a coffee shop in a few minutes. I’m nervous.

I know, but I promise you, it’ll be okay. Take three slow, deep breaths for me, princess. No matter what happens, I’ve got you.

Thank you, Daddy.

Always, princess. XOXO, Daddy.

I took my slow, deep breaths as Daddy had commanded, reminding myself that we were all grown adults, and it was time I started acting like one. For this situation, at least. Playtime with Daddy was a different story.

Finally finished with my work, I shrugged on my coat and grabbed my purse, heading out into the blustery, mid-February wind. Crema wasn’t too far, and luckily, it wasn’t horribly busy either when I arrived. I spotted Alyssa at a table towards the back. I was thankful for the bit of privacy it would allow us, especially not knowing if I was about to make up with my former best friend, or have my ass chewed by her.

“Willow, I don’t even know where to begin,” Alyssa said after the waiter had brought each of us our drinks. I had no appetite at all, but that didn’t stop me from ordering a salad. Daddy would not be happy if he found out I skipped my lunch.

I cringed as I thought about Daddy. Alyssa being fully in the know changed things. And I wasn’t yet sure where this conversation was going, even with Daddy’s reassurance that he had handled it.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” I used my mother’s wisdom to guide me through the awkwardness. She sighed heavily, and I braced myself for the outburst of fury I was sure was headed my way.

“Willow, I need to apologize to you.” Alyssa’s hands stayed folded in her lap, her head lowered in what looked to be shame.

“What?” Confusion muddled my thoughts as I tried to figure out what she was apologizing for.

“Barging into Dad’s house and finding you there —” She paused, her brow furrowed as she searched for words. “It was a shock, you know?”

“I know it was, Alyssa, but —”

“Let me finish. It was a shock, but I handled it really badly. I should never have started screaming at the two of you, but most of all, you. You didn’t deserve that.”

“I am not sure I would have handled it any differently,” I muttered with a small smile, which she returned. Instantly, I found it a little easier to breathe.

“Willow, I can’t pretend to understand the relationship, or — I can’t remember the word Dad used, but whatever the two of you have together. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. But I’ve realized that it doesn’t need to,” she explained, reaching across the table to take my hand.

“It’s a big deal, Lyss, and I don’t want to come between you and him. I truly don’t. I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I pled with her.

“That’s just it, Willow. You aren’t coming between me and my dad. You have been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. I know we sort of went our separate ways after high school, but you have always been so important to me. And I hope we can rekindle that friendship after how horribly I treated you.”

“I want that too, Lyss. I truly do. But me and your dad…” I trailed off, not knowing what to say exactly.

“Dad was really clear with me. You are both consenting adults. After everything went down that night… Willow, I’ve only seen Dad like that once before — after Mom died.”

I sucked in a gasp at her statement.

“He was beside himself with worry for you. It’s what got me to shut up with all my bullshit and listen to him, finally. And when he talks about you — oh my God. I know he’s my dad and all, but if I ever find a man who talks about me like that, I swear to GOD, I will marry him on the spot. I can’t stand in the way of what the two of you have, and I don’t want to.”

“Thank you, Lyssa,” I said, choking back unshed tears as I squeezed her hand.

“Just, maybe don’t give me all the details on this one, yeah? I’ve always loved sharing our escapades with one another, but I don’t think I can handle you telling me about my dad in the bedroom. Or... playroom? Yeah, I’m going to stop talking now.” She waved her hands as she grimaced. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I can promise you, I will not divulge any information about your Dad and I in the bedroom, or anywhere else for that matter. Best friend promise.” I held my hand out to her, hoping beyond hope she would take it.

And she did.

Like absolute lunatics, we both stood from the table, flailing about as we executed a perfect rendition of the infamous best friend handshake we had perfected back in eighth grade.

As I satin my car afterwards, my phone buzzed.

How did it go, princess?

Better than I could have thought, Daddy.

I won’t say I told you so, but…

But you absolutely told me so.

Where are you now?

In the parking lot at work. Getting ready to drive to you.

That’s a good girl. Come home to me, princess. I need you.

I’ll be right there, Daddy.

I can’t wait. I love you. XOXO, Daddy.

With a smile on my face and more hope than I knew what to do with, I made my way home. Not to my own house, but to Daddy’s.

My true home.

Right where I belonged.