บททั้งหมดของ I Let My Father's Best Friend Taste Me : บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 29

HARLOW'S POV The Grindstone was crowded for a Wednesday afternoon. I squeezed into the corner booth beside Sage, who immediately grabbed my arm."You told your mother," she said."I told my mother.""And she did not kill him?""She threatened to break his legs. But no, she did not kill him."Iris laughed. Soleil smiled behind her tea cup. Sage shook her head."Your mother is terrifying," Sage said."You have no idea."I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. Kael had been texting me all morning. Little things. Miss you. What are you wearing? Send a picture. I had ignored most of them. It was fun to make him wait."He is obsessed with you," Iris said, looking over my shoulder."He is something.""He is in love with you."My cheeks warmed. "I know."Sage set down her coffee. "Have you talked to your father?"The question made my stomach clench. "No. Not about Kael.""He is going to find out.""I know.""Soon.""I know, Sage."She held up her hands. "I am just saying. The longer y

HARLOW'S POV The drive back to the penthouse was silent.Kael kept his eyes on the road. His hands gripped the steering wheel. I watched the city lights blur past the window and tried to breathe.My father had not thrown us out. He had not screamed. He had not disowned me.But he had looked at me like I was a stranger.Kael parked in the garage. He turned off the engine. Neither of us moved."Come on," he said finally. "Let us go inside."I followed him to the elevator. The doors closed. We stood side by side, not touching."You were right," I said."About what?""He did not throw us out.""He loves you."The elevator doors opened. Kael walked to the penthouse door and unlocked it. I stepped inside and kicked off my heels.My feet hurt. My chest hurt. Everything hurt.Kael poured two glasses of whiskey. He handed me one. I took a sip and coughed."That is terrible.""It grows on you."I set the glass down. He set his down too. Then he pulled me into his arms."I am sorry," he said."

HARLOW'S POV The holiday party was two weeks away.My mother had been calling me every day. What should she serve? Who should she invite? Should she put Kael on the guest list as my plus one or as Julian's business partner?I told her to put him as both. She laughed and said that would cause a scandal."I am already a scandal," I said."You are a love story. There is a difference."I hung up and looked at Kael. He was sitting on the couch, reading something on his phone. His hair was loose. His reading glasses were perched on his nose."You look old," I said."I am old.""I like it."He looked up and smiled. "Come here."I walked to the couch and sat on his lap. He set his phone aside and wrapped his arms around my waist."Your mother is planning the party," he said."She is planning the guest list. She does not know whether to list you as my date or my father's business partner.""Both.""That is what I said."He kissed my shoulder. "Smart woman.""She learned from you."He laughed.

HARLOW'S POV Kael's brother lived in a high rise on the other side of Pittsburgh.The building was newer than Kael's. Glass and steel and sharp angles. The lobby smelled like lilies. A doorman in a gray uniform nodded as we walked past."You have never been here before," Kael said."You have never brought me."He took my hand. "I am bringing you now."We rode the elevator to the top floor. The doors opened into a private foyer. A single door stood in front of us. Kael knocked.The door opened. A man stood in the doorway. He looked like Kael but softer. Same dark eyes. Same sharp jaw. But his hair was shorter. His face was smoother. No tattoos that I could see."You must be Harlow," he said."You must be Silas."He smiled. "Come in."We walked into the penthouse. It was different from Kael's. Brighter. More modern. White walls and colorful art and plants everywhere.A woman stood by the window. Her back was to us. Long dark hair. A simple black dress."Harlow, this is Sierra," Silas s

HARLOW'S POV The night before the party, I could not sleep.Kael was beside me, his breathing slow and even. His arm was draped over my waist. His face was relaxed in sleep.I slipped out of bed and walked to the window.The city was still awake. Lights flickered in buildings across the skyline. Cars moved along the bridges. Somewhere out there, my father was probably awake too. Thinking about tomorrow.My phone was on the nightstand. I grabbed it and walked to the living room.One new message. From my mother.Mom: Your father called me tonight. He wants to make a toast at the party.I stared at the screen.Me: A toast to what?Mom: To you. To your future. He did not say.My stomach churned. A toast from Julian Vance could go anywhere. He might welcome Kael. He might humiliate him. He might do something in between.I heard footsteps behind me. Kael appeared in the doorway, shirtless, his hair mussed."You are awake," he said."I cannot sleep."He walked to me and wrapped his arms aro