Daphne Vs. Daddy

by Mona Cox

  A tiny – minuscule – part of my brain realizes that my dance lessons aren’t important here, but I’m having a hard time focusing on any one thing at the moment.

  Her chest is heaving and she’s glaring at me so hard, I’m surprised my hair doesn’t catch on fire.

  “You, Kaden Charles, may be a genius on Wall Street, but you’re a fucking retard when it comes to women. Erica, get me out of here.”

  And the three women walk arm in arm out of the bar to the clapping and whistling of onlookers, while I simply wish for death to come find me, and quickly.

  84

  Brittney

  I’m staring down at my tequila shot, the amber liquid saying nothing but “Drink me.” Not exactly helpful advice, but I take it anyway and toss back the shot. I feel the warmth of the alcohol spread through my veins, but it doesn’t make me feel any better.

  Nothing makes me feel better.

  Lisa leans over and gives me a one-armed hug. I snuffle into her arm. I probably sound like a two-year-old crying to her mom, but I don’t even care right now.

  “Whhhhhyyyyyyy???” I wail. Lisa quickens her patting pace until it’s almost a fan, cooling me off. “Why do I fall for these assholes?!”

  “I know, honey,” she says comfortingly. “Guys just can’t help but be assholes sometimes.”

  She knows what she’s talking about – Diesel had decided for her that she wouldn’t want to move to Long Island, not even bothering to ask her until his broken heart had finally driven him to stop being an idiot.

  Somehow, I don’t have as much faith in Kaden. He really is a genius in the boardroom, and an idiot outside of it.

  But dammit, he was an idiot I happened to be falling for.

  The waterworks display is seriously getting out of control here. Even I realize that. I try to snuffle my tears back. Lisa hands me a tissue and I honk my nose.

  God, I’m so ladylike. I roll my eyes at myself.

  “The thing is, I’m not even so sure that I mind that he stalked me. Okay, so really, greasing some palms and finding out how much vacation time I have on the books is just totally beyond the pale, but he did it because he wanted to impress me. That’s kinda flattering, really. The fact that he took that much time to really learn about me…I wish he’d taken the time to ask me instead of sending out a team of investigators to discover this stuff, but god, he was just trying to make me happy.”

  I’ll admit it – this realization took me almost a week to really wrap my mind around. At first, I’d just been too pissed to think straight, and then I was too depressed.

  The good news is, I took that week of vacation that my boss has been hounding me about.

  The bad news is, I spent that week at home in my PJs, eating Girl Scout cookies, watching every variation of Pride & Prejudice that I could get my hands on, and crying.

  I really shouldn’t have any tears left in me. I don’t know how I can still be producing any at this point.

  “So why are you so unhappy?” Lisa has changed her pats over to strokes up and down my arm, and I sink into her side even further. This. This is what I need. A balm to soothe my soul.

  “Because he didn’t fight me at all. Last week when I was yelling at him, or this whole past week when I’ve been at home.” Getting fat eating Thin Mints. “He just let me walk on out him and hasn’t said ‘Boo’ to me since. No flowers, no texts, no phone calls…I don’t think he cares. He’s probably off, stalking some other girl at the Bungalow 8. I’m worth less than nothing to him – not even worth fighting for.”

  I mean, you’ve watched all the same chick-flick movies that I have. The guy goes after the girl and apologizes. He holds a boombox up in the air. He makes an ass of himself on national television. Something.

  But not Kaden. He doesn’t even seem to realize that I’m gone.

  And that hurts more than anything.

  85

  Kaden

  I stare down into my tequila shot, hoping for answers, but the alcohol doesn’t seem to be delivering any.

  “I lost her,” I say dully to Diesel. “I lost the only woman who’s ever made me feel alive. Who’s ever lit up my life and made me chase after her and made me think and made me want to be a better man.” I toss the tequila back, feeling the burn down my throat and into my stomach. It’s the only thing I can feel right now, and above all else, I crave the ability to feel something.

  Diesel, a friend since high school, claps me on the back. “Kaden, you’re being a dumbass.”

  Sometimes, I’m not sure if knowing someone since high school is such a bonus after all.

  “She’s testing you. And you’re failing. Just like our high school English class, you’re getting your ass handed to you on a silver platter.”

  All right, fine, I’ll admit it – numbers are my thing. Words? Not so much. As is evidenced by my apparent complete inability to say the right ones to Brittney.

  I know that I’d been bored a month ago and that’s what started this whole debacle, but I’m way past that now. A small part of me wishes for boredom again, because at least boredom isn’t painful.

  But another, larger part of me, welcomes feeling alive. Pain equal life, and for a long time, I wasn’t living. I was just going through the motions. Throwing that brick through the windshield of the cop car was the best thing I’ve ever done, although I’m not sure my lawyer agrees. He’s still trying to haggle the courts down to a simple fine, but I keep telling him that I want to do community service at the local library branch. He keeps telling me that I’ve completely lost my mind, and maybe I have.

  “Kaden!” Diesel snaps impatiently, and I jerk my head up, pulled out of my musings. “I don’t know if she realizes that she’s testing you, or if this is a surprise even to her. But I promise you, she’s sitting out there somewhere, waiting for you to come talk to her. To come after her. Tell me – that night in the bar, how hard did you fight for her?”

  “She didn’t want to hear anything I had to say!” I protest half-heartedly, but inwardly, I know he’s right. I had let her say her piece, and then walk out on me. I didn’t chase after her, I didn’t make her hear my side of the story; I just let her go.

  “And if you asked her, she’d probably say that’s right. I’m sure she didn’t think she wanted to hear anything you’ve had to say…right then. But Kaden, it’s been a week. She will have calmed down by now. You need to at least go try. If you don’t, you’re going to regret this for the rest of your life.”

  “Yeah,” I say so quietly, I can hardly hear the word myself. It’s more of an exhalation of air than a word. But he is right. I’ve already spent the last week regretting this. I can’t imagine feeling this fuck-awful for the rest of my life.

  “Yeah, you’re right,” I say louder, with more confidence.

  “There’s the Kaden I know,” Diesel says, smacking me on the back with a broad grin. “Now, I just happen to know where Brittney is tonight, since she’s out on the town with Lisa.”

  “Hold on, Lisa and Brittney are hanging out tonight?” I ask, surprised.

  “Yeah. It was Lisa’s job to talk sense into Brittney, and it was my job to talk sense into you. We’re both sick of the moping. Whoever succeeds gets a blowjob from the other person. I figure that I’m a winner either way, but for fuck’s sakes, you hold a Lisa Blowjob in the palm of your hands. Go on and win it for me!”

  “You know that sounds really bizarre, right?” I ask, laughing.

  “Listen, it’s either gonna be you or Lisa, but someone is going down on me tonight,” Diesel warns. I think he’s joking, but it’s hard to tell in the dark lighting of the bar.

  “All right, all right, I’m going!” I shove back my chair and gesture to the waiter for my bill.

  “I’ve got the bill,” Diesel says, shoving me towards the front door. “You need to go win me that blowjob.”

  Not our normal parting goodbyes to each other, but for tonight, I’ll take it.

  86

  Brittne
y

  After letting me water the front of her shirt for a while, Lisa finally suggests that we head up to the rooftop. Since this is what 230 Fifth is known for, I happily agree. Maybe some fresh air will do me some good. After a quick stop in the bathroom to fix my makeup, we make our way up to the roof, where we can admire the view for miles. Or at least a few city blocks.

  I breathe in deep and smile. I really do feel better. Lisa is such an amazing friend. I’m lucky to have her.

  “Listen, I was thinking that you ought to give Kaden another chance,” Lisa says casually, leaning on the railing as we look out over the city together. It’s a view that the New York City girl in me will never tire of.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right. But that means that he has to come after me! I mean, I can’t go after him. How weak and needy will that look?”

  Lisa looks uncomfortable, as if she’s inwardly debating something, when I suddenly spot Kaden coming through the door. “He’s here!” I hiss, turning away and staring off into the distance intently, as if I’ve never seen this view before.

  “He is?” she says excitedly, craning her neck to look towards the door.

  “Don’t look!” I hiss, elbowing her in the ribs. “We’re going to play this cool.”

  “But…” The protest dies on her lips and at my stubborn look, she sighs. “Okay. Fine. No looking. But—”

  “No buts. Oh!” I see a cute guy walk up and lean against the railing just a little ways down from us, and I instantly form a plan. I’m going to flirt, and make Kaden jealous, and then he’ll have to actually work to get me back. No pathetic whining Brittney, no siree bob. I’m going to make him realize that he wants me, and only me.

  I stride confidently over to the cute guy’s side, ignoring the hissing sounds of Lisa behind me. God, I’m not shitting you, she sounds like a tire losing air. I don’t know why she’s acting so weird tonight, but whatevs. I’ve got to make Kaden regret waiting a whole week to come after me.

  “Hi,” I say with a sexy smile as I get close. Now that I’m here, I realize that he’s not nearly as cute up close as he was far away. His eyes are too close together and his nose is too big and his jaw is too small and he’s not Kaden, dammit.

  I plunge on, anyway. Determined. “Isn’t it a gorgeous view?”

  “It is,” he says with a too-high voice. He sounds closer in pitch to me than to Kaden. I am starting to seriously regret my coming over here but now this guy’s eyes are lit up and he’s holding out his hand to shake. “I’m Jake McDonald, and you are?”

  I reluctantly slide my hand into his, not able to stop myself from noting that his hands are on the tiny side. Which we all know what that means. What the hell did I see in this guy??

  “Brittney,” I say, pulling my hand back as quickly as I can without appearing rude. Where is Kaden? I want to look around the rooftop restaurant and see if he’s noticing this little interlude that I’m having with this guy, and if he’s on his way over to stop it in its tracks. Isn’t he supposed to be jealous?

  I send a big smile up at Jake. Where are you, Kaden??

  “What are you drinking? I can send for another one.” He gestures down at my empty glass. I hadn’t realized I’d finished my drink, but I also don’t want to accept a drink from this guy that I have no intention of fucking, let alone kissing.

  “I’m good,” I say, looking around for a place to put the glass down and finally awkwardly end up ditching it on a nearby table. “I don’t need to drink anymore tonight, thanks.”

  If Kaden doesn’t show up by my side soon, I’m going to cry again.

  No, actually I’m not. I straighten my back proudly. Goddammit, if Kaden doesn’t choose to go after me, then that’s fine. If he won’t fight for me, he isn’t worth wanting anyway.

  “Where do you work, Jake?”

  I’m going to carry on a small-talk conversation with this guy if it kills me. As I realize that his eyebrows could be more accurately described as a uni-brow, I can’t help but think that it just might kill me after all.

  He leans in a little too close for comfort and says, “I’m a banker over on Wall Street.” He slides his hand up my arm and I draw back uncomfortably.

  “Which sector?” I ask, trying to get him to focus on our conversation instead of my body. He follows me, pressing me against the railing with his body, his hand caressing higher and higher, closer and closer to my tits.

  I abandon all pretense and shift my stance so I can knee him in the nuts and run like hell when—

  “Brittney, there you are,” Kaden says in my ear, sliding his arm around my waist.

  87

  Kaden

  It took me forever to find Brittney. First, I wandered around in the restaurant on the main floor and then made my way up to the rooftop. I was about to give up when I finally spotted Brittney talking to some pencil-necked jackass.

  I mean, I don’t know him, but right now, he looks like he’s making Brittney extraordinarily uncomfortable, pinning her to the railing of the rooftop restaurant, and that makes him a jackass.

  “Brittney, there you are,” I say, sliding my arm around her waist and looking down at the jackass in question. He stumbles back in surprise, finally giving Brittney some breathing room. “You can go away now,” I tell him.

  “Excuse me?!” he yelps. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “I’m the guy who can get you fired. Now leave.”

  “Get me fired?! Are you smokin’ something? You don’t know a damn thing about me.”

  I feel the curves of Brittney’s body pressing up against mine, and a part of me realizes that she’s not pulling away. In fact, she’s leaning further in. Victory! She really hadn’t been happy to have this guy all up in her face.

  It’s time to make him pay for it.

  With a sigh, I say, “You’re wearing a money-clip tie and a Brooks Brothers suit and yet you have all of the style and personality of a wet wash rag. At this point, I’m willing to bet next month’s income – a very substantial amount, mind you – on the fact that you work for a local financial institution. Carter Jeffries?”

  I feel Brittney stiffen beside me in surprise, and I realize that I can cross “Met him at work” off the list. She obviously didn’t know this guy worked at the same place as her.

  With a glare, the jackass nods and crosses his arms across his chest.

  “So?” he asks sarcastically. “That doesn’t mean you could get me fired.”

  “Last chance to save your job,” I say warningly. He just glares harder. I shrug, pull out my phone, and hit the number for William Kane, the CEO of Carter Jeffries. I put him on speaker phone.

  “Hello?” he rumbles.

  “Hey William, it’s Kaden Charles.”

  Mr. Pencil Neck’s eyes are bugging out of his forehead. I’m assuming that he probably recognizes William’s voice…and my name.

  I warned him, right?

  I pull Brittney closer to my side.

  “Hey Kaden! I’ve been meaning to call you and set up a golf game. Your secretary says you’re taking it up?”

  I try not to laugh. Good ol’ Gweny, helpful to the end.

  “I might, yeah, but listen, I need to ask you a favor.” I look up at Mr. Pencil Neck and ask, “What’s your name?”

  He’s shaking his head in terror when Brittney pipes up, “Jake McDonald.”

  “Hey, I’ve got a Mr. Jake McDonald here. He needs to be fired Monday morning. Can you take care of that for me?”

  “Sure can! I’ll tell HR on Monday. He’s a jackass anyway.” Jake is shaking his head so hard, I’m afraid it’s going to go flying off. I just smile placidly at him.

  “Yeah, that’s exactly my opinion on the topic. You have a good night, and I’ll call you about that golf game.”

  “Great! Thanks for the phone call.”

  Right as I hit the red button, ending the call, Jack starts screaming, “You bastard, how dare you!” He goes swinging for my face, and I pull Brittney with me to the sid
e, letting him spin past me and into a table of customers.

  “Sir, it’s time for you to leave,” a bouncer says, hurrying up to us, grabbing his elbow and dragging him from the restaurant, kicking and screaming like a little girl.

  “I was totally going to just punch him, but, you know, we’re on a rooftop and all,” I say, finally able to smile down at Brittney like I’d been wanting to for ages. What felt like years, really. “I’d hate for him to fall off.”

  “Very practical of you,” she says, grinning back up at me. “He deserved to get fired; I don’t think he deserved to die, though.”

  “Yeah, it seemed a little extreme.”

  Enough words. They aren’t my strong suit anyway. It’s time to show Brittney how I feel. I stroke her hair away from her forehead and then dip my head down to kiss her. When our lips meet, it’s like fireworks and the band starting up and winning the lottery, all rolled up into one.

  Except, in this case, it’s even better, because kissing her feels like home.

  “Want to take me home?” Brittney asks when we finally pull apart, snuggling into my side.

  There’s nowhere else I’d rather take her.

  88

  Brittney

  Kaden Charles loves me.

  I’m not making this up, I swear, he actually said it to me. Finally.

  He finally showed he cares about me. I can’t stop repeating the words in my head: Kaden Charles loves me. Have I ever been this happy?

  I don’t know if Lisa or Diesel pushing him is what made him finally pay attention and stop being so blasé. But it doesn’t matter now. Kaden came for me. And hearing him saying those little three words… It changed everything. Every single thing.

  Nothing will ever be the same now.

  We catch a cab back to his place and I don’t know how I kept my hands to myself.