Page 57 of Bad Habits
“Good. So what’s the problem then?”
I couldn’t tell him the truth: that being there for him meant I couldn’t be with Knox. He’d tell me there was no way I was putting my life on hold to play nursemaid to him, but he didn’t get a choice. I was going to help take care of him whether he liked it or not. We were family and he was the one who’d always taught us to be there for each other. No way would I let him down when he needed me the most.
“Things are complicated.” I shook my head. “But it’s nothing for you to worry about. Knox and I will figure things out.”
“You wanna marry him?”
I sucked in a breath. There was no way I could think about that now. As much as I wish I had that to look forward to, our relationship was still up for grabs. “Sure, I do—”
“Good.” He seemed satisfied, like that was the end of the story, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him our story was far from over.
“Did I tell you that Charli got to meet Dade Jarvis the other day?”
I’d been trying to distract him with small talk all day, but few topics piqued his interest with his surgery looming. I knew this one would. As much as Daddy liked Knox, I knew he’d have his reservations about Dade. My friend had been divorced twice, with one broken engagement. Daddy believed marriage was forever and men who bailed on their commitments that easily couldn’t be much of a man.
He shook his head. “She still hangin’ on to that stupid fantasy? I’d say it’s time for your sister to grow up and find arealman.”
I didn’t want to argue with him, but I couldn’t let him tear Dade down either. “Daddy, Dade’s a great guy. He has lousy taste in women. That’s the reason he’s not happily married.”
“Whatever.” He crossed his arms, his weathered face a mask of insolence. “If a guy picks the wrong woman once he made a mistake. He picks the wrong woman three times and he’s an idiot, far as I’m concerned.”
I knew there was no changing his mind. If Charli had her sights set on Dade, and by some miracle he got over his hang-ups and decided to give her a chance, convincing Daddy would be my sister’s problem.
“He offered her a job,” I said, testing the waters. “As his assistant.” When he twisted his lips, looking unimpressed, I added, “It could be a great opportunity for her. A lot more money and a chance to work in the music business, with one of her idols.” I patted his hand. “I know it would make her happy.” And even though I had my reservations about the arrangement, Charli’s happiness was my top priority. If she didn’t pursue this chance, she just might regret it forever.
“She take it?”
“No.” I shook my head, knowing that Daddy would be the only one who could convince her she should. “Not yet, but I hope she will.” I peeked at him through my lashes before glancing at the monitors hooked up to him. Everything looked stable, which meant I wasn’t upsetting him. “Think about it, she could travel all over the world and not have to worry about paying her bills anymore. Wouldn’t that be great?”
“I guess.” He paused. “I do worry about how she’s takin’ care of herself, that’s for sure. And those unemployed bums she keeps getting mixed up with… well, your rich friend couldn’t be worse than any of them.”
With Daddy it was all about the baby steps when you were trying to win him over. “It’s not like she’s a contestant on a dating show,” I said, giggling to lighten the mood. “She’s not auditioning to be his wife. She’s applying for a job as his assistant, nothing more.”
He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “This is the same guy she had plastered all over her bedroom walls as a teenager, right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“That’s what I thought.” He shook his head. “She may not be applying for the job as his next wife, but something tells me she’ll be fieldin’ the offer anyway if she goes to work for him.”
* * *
Knox
I was shocked when Aidy called and told me her husband wanted to see me before his surgery. It meant having to cancel a few shows, but I didn’t care. I’d had the jet fueled up and ready to go within a few hours and I was stoked to see my girl again.
I didn’t know what Chee wanted to talk to me about. If I knew him it was to issue a warning about doing a number on his baby girl, but he didn’t have to worry about that. I’d cut my own arm off before I hurt that woman.
Aidy told me she’d do her best to keep her daughters away from the hospital that afternoon so we could have some privacy, but she couldn’t make any promises, since it was the day before Chee’s surgery and they all wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.
After getting directions from the nurse’s station and telling a little white lie about being his son-in-law, I tapped on Chee’s door and prepared myself for the worst. This dude had always been a beast of a man, larger than life, and I’d hate like hell to see him looking sickly and trapped in a hospital bed.
“Come in,” he barked.
I poked my head in, grinning. “Hey, old man. You up for a visitor?”
“Get your ass in here, boy.”
He offered his hand, surprising me with his grip strength. “You know I would’ve been here sooner, right?” I pulled up the chair beside his bed and sat down. “But your daughter was pretty adamant that I continue on with the tour. Can’t tell you how happy I was when Aidy called and told me you wanted to see me.” I gave him a once-over. “Gotta tell ya, you look pretty damn good.”
