But why now. Why me?
Why Lucy and me?
Slumping down into the chair in my room after thumbing the door lock, I hear her dad bustle into the suite.
Lucy wanted a minute or three alone to deal with her dad arriving out of nowhere so I’ll give her that much.
If I show myself now it’ll only make things worse, but I always figured I’d have to face off with her dad at some point.
The way I have things planned in my mind already, I’d be a fool to think I could just pluck her for myself and have no explanation for him or the rest of her family if she has any.
His only daughter as far as I can tell right now.
My curiosity is piqued, and almost gets the better of me as I crane my ear closer to the door once I hear him moving around inside our suite.
Our suite.
And she’s mine, dad.
I fight the reflex to get caveman defensive. It is her own dad after all.
I’ve agreed to stay out of sight, and so I will, if only for Lucy’s sake.
Scanning my own nakedness I figure it’s wisest to get dressed, and skipping the shower I crave I slip into jeans and a fresh shirt, smiling at the recent memory of Lucy on my body when I catch the scent of our shared essence on me as I feel myself stiffen again as I think about her.
The best cologne I know, and a new favorite. I vow silently to never run out either.
Going near my door again once I’m decent, I can hear Lucy moving her dad into the kitchen slash lounge area of the suite.
Her voice is low and I can’t quite catch everything she’s saying, but her dad’s voice is louder.
No problems hearing what he has to say.
“As we speak! My boss our boss has contacted Marie with the ultimatum: Come back to work and pick up the slack you’ve created or else,” I hear him booming, laughing with satisfaction.
A satisfaction I know Lucy probably shares a little, but not to the point of laughter right now.
“I’m just sorry I trusted her to look out for you, Lucy. Having heard she dropped you like a stone for some guy she only just met? Well never mind that. Dad’s here now and we can have our own weekend of fun. How about that?” he asks her with gusto, making me groan.
This is not going well so far and I can already feel my own impatience rising.
I’m a man, not some boy she’s hiding in her room.
It’s what she asked for, a little time to get her dad out of our hair…
There’s only so long I can tell myself this though, even when I start to hear her dad talk even louder about the rooms.
“If you show me my room I can freshen up, then we can grab a bite to eat,” he says matter of fact, noting her in her robe still and asking if she’s even been to the book convention yet.
“Why are you dressed like that? You’re not sick are you, Lucy? You look… different somehow. Tell me all about it right after I-” he starts to say, and I can hear him by my door before Lucy almost screams out loud.
“Not in there, dad! That’s my room, yours is in here,” she tells him, and I hear them moving further away again.
I growl to myself under my breath.
I hope you know what you’re doing Lucy because you have about two minutes before I come out and have a little chat with your dad.
Done with eavesdropping, I can’t help but hear Lucy explaining his room hasn’t been made up yet before she bundles him into the bathroom.
I flip through my phone once I hear a shower running, messaging the conference promotor until my phone rings in my hands.
It’s the man himself, and as I pick up I hear Lucy rapping on my door too, begging me to let her in which I do.
Motioning her in before closing the door again, I hold up a finger to let her know I just need one second to talk on the phone.
“Before you say it,” I explain to him. “I’ll be back later to finish the meet and greet. Give everyone their money back who wants it, and a free signed copy to everyone else, including the second sitting tonight...Well make a second time slot for tonight.” I almost bark.
I figure that should calm him down, but he’s already trying to talk over me. Talking lawyers and compensation.
I sigh heavily, but not without surprise.
“I’ll call you back in a minute,” I tell him, hanging up the phone and dealing with the one thing that actually matters to me most, Lucy.
“I’m not just gonna hide in here, Lucy,” I smile at her, noting how wound up she is but still needing to make my own point.