Page 52 of Battle Scars

“I’m going to kill him.”

“No, Dad,” I say quietly. “You’re not. You love Bobby like a son, and you’re going to keep on doing that. I probably shouldn’t have told you what happened between us, because we’re both competing for the control of DHR. Per your wishes, I’ll remind you.”

“And why shouldn’t you tell me?” he asks a little irately. “I’m your father.”

“I know you are,” I say with a smile on my face. “It’s something that gives me great joy, but you’re the reason why Bobby and I are competing this season, so me telling you we had an altercation is a little like going to the principal because a boy pulled my hair on the playground.”

“I’m your father,” he repeats sternly.

“You’re also my boss and deciding who will be your successor, so complaining to you as a daughter is not evening the playing field,” I remind him gently.

“Fuck the playing field,” he snaps.

“Dad, this situation is of your own making,” I reminded him once more.

“I knew it was a stupid idea,” he mutters.

“It’s never stupid if you think it’s important and has a purpose,” I say softly.

“You know I love you, right?” he asks.

“I do. You know that I love you?”

“I do.”

“So, you’re not dating Bobby?”

“Probably not,” I reply, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth and then letting it go. “We grabbed dinner, that’s it. One date and it didn’t go very well.”

“Good,” he says.

“Really?” I ask, surprised. I’ve spent so much time thinking that being with Bobby was exactly what my dad wanted for me.

“Yeah, why do you ask?”

“Well,” I say, knowing I sound like an immature child. “I went out with him, because I had it in my mind that pitting Bobby and me against one another was because you really wanted to see us together, working together.”

“God, no,” he blurts. “I never imagined you with Bobby. If anything, I figured you’d end up with a man like Gabe.”

“What?”

“You know, a real man,” he answers. “One who’ll stand up to you but not beat you down. One who will encourage, not hold you back. Someone who will be a tough nut to crack but if you give them the chance will really love you.”

My lungs burn as I hold my breath, because Gabe is all of those things. I thought Bobby was the safe answer. I thought he’d be my happily enough even if he wasn’t my happily ever after, but I was wrong. Gabe encourages me, and he pushes me without holding me back. But my dad is still heartbreakingly wrong, because Gabe will never love me. I’m not even sure he can.

“That’s really sweet to say, Dad,” I whisper.

“How’s everything going with Gabe?” he asks like it’s no big deal. Which makes me feel weird, like my skin is two sizes too small. It’s too tight. I don’t fit inside it, and all of my internal organs are being crushed.

So, I do the only thing I can in this scenario. I lie. “Things are good,” I softly singsong.

“Uh huh,” he says. “Are you halfway in love with him yet?”

I know he’s joking. He has to be, right? Still, his offhanded comment catches me off guard. I’m not in love with Gabe. I can’t be.

Falling for a man like him would be a recipe for disaster. He’s cold and cut off. He can often be cruel with his words, but he can also be caring and attentive. And that’s not even considering whatever last night was, because while I have no idea what it meant, I know it was different… somehow more.

But I can’t fall for him, can I?