Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
I lean forward to catch her mouth with my own before palming a big breast in my hand.
“I’d be more than happy to support you, honey,” I rasp against her plush lips. “Say the word and the money will be in your bank account.”
Then, we descend into a flurry of gasps, moans, and frenzied lovemaking because this is how it always is with the gorgeous girl. She drives me nuts while all the while soothing my pain, and I want to do the same for her. I want Emma to be plump, happy, and potentially even pregnant with my baby. I just have to get her to leave medicine because it serves no one’s purposes ... including her own.
13
Emma
“Hi sweetheart,” my dad greets as he walks into the restaurant. “How’s my best girl?”
I shoot him a smile.
“I’m good,” I say. “But you have three best girls now, right? Me, Jenna, and Katie.”
My father sits down, looking handsome, if a bit disheveled at the moment. Rick generally presents well, with pressed clothes and his black hair coiffed perfectly. But today, he looks a little off-kilter. It must be the new baby because forty-six is pretty late to become a father for the second time. Still, he has a warm smile for me.
“You’ll always be my best girl, Emma,” he says, reaching for my hand before giving it a squeeze. “I love my girlfriend and my new daughter, don’t get me wrong. But you were number one, and will always be number one.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet,” I smile. “But I don’t mind sharing the spotlight with Katie and Jenna. If anything, Katie needs you more because she’s just a few months old, while I’m an adult. I think you can focus on the baby,” I wink.
My dad beams like the proud dad he is.
“Thank you, Emma. I always knew you were incredibly mature and reasonable for a young woman. But first, if you’ll excuse me honey, I need to wash my hands before we eat. I’ll be back in a sec.”
Then, Rick gets up and disappears into the back while I take a deep breath, collecting myself. My dad adores me, and even more so because he missed a lot of my childhood. When I was nothing but an infant, my parents divorced and Vivian moved us miles away to pursue her career. Rick was enraged, frustrated, but ultimately stuck because as a young doctor, he’d just been placed with a hospital in Minneapolis. The matching system for junior physicians is a once-yearly thing, and he didn’t have a choice. As a result, I didn’t see my dad much growing up, and now, Rick’s trying to make up for lost time. His efforts are cute, if unnecessary. He texts and calls me a lot, although it’s fallen off a bit since my little sister was born. But again, I don’t mind because I’m an adult with my own life. I don’t need my dad hanging over my shoulder, even if he has the best of intentions. Meanwhile, Rick arrives at the table again with a smile. I see he’s fixed his hair in the mirror, and pulled his shirt straight.
“So where were we?” he asks, picking up the menu. “How’s school?”
I take a deep breath, trying to maintain my equanimity.
“Well, that’s the thing I wanted to talk to you about. You know how you’re always encouraging me to do something other than medicine? Because it’s a difficult path, which sucks your life away from you?”
“Yes, definitely,” Rick murmurs, still staring at the menu. “Goddamn, I could use a steak right now, with mashed potatoes and some greens. Yeah, that’s gonna hit the spot.” Then he turns back to me, his blue gaze casual. “Why? Are you having trouble with your classes?”
I bite my lip because the moment is here. Should I drop the bomb? Yes. I’m going to rip off the band-aid in one fell swoop.
“My classes are okay, but I’ve decided to change course. I’m going to quit pre-med and find something else to do.”
My dad snaps to attention.
“Really,” he says.
I nod.
“Yes, really. I’ve decided that pre-med isn’t right for me. At least not right now.”
The silence is so loud that you could hear a pin drop. Finally, Rick speaks again.
“So are you switching majors?” he queries. “To what, may I ask?” My dad’s expression is neutral, but I can sense danger in the air. I feel pinned to the table by that electric blue stare, and force myself to sit up straight in order to project confidence.
“Well, that’s the thing,” I say in an even tone. “I’m not switching majors. I’m actually dropping out of school to focus on other things.”
That does it. My dad’s eyes bulge.
“Dropping out of school?” he hisses. “What are you talking about? I’ve already paid two hundred thousand dollars for your education!”