Diary of a Bad Boy(96)

“Unless, you’re still caught up on that guy we talked about? Did you meet up with him when you got back to the city?”

I hang on her answer, knowing fully well that Foster is talking about me. Sutton takes that moment to sip from her drink, avoiding all eye contact in my direction. Talk about the perfect opportunity to open up the conversation about us dating. However, she says, “Things are complicated with him.”

When she quickly glances at me, my brow quirks up. Complicated, huh? Last I knew, we were anything but complicated, but I get it, we’re in a public place and she’s nervous.

But, fuck. I know her intention is not to treat me as her dirty little secret, but it feels like she is. It fucking hurts.

“Well then, should I bring that guy over here, introduce him to my beautiful daughter?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Roark is here, and I don’t want to make him uncomfortable.”

Foster laughs and grips my shoulder. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind, he can help me scope out the guy.”

Over my dead body.

Why is he pushing this? She said no, for fuck’s sake.

I send death beams over to Sutton, trying to communicate with my eyes that she needs to deter her father from his terrible idea and quickly.

“I’m really not ready, Dad,” she says with more force, cluing Foster in to drop it.

“Right. Good.” I’ve never seen Foster like this—uncomfortable. Awkward. He clears his throat. “You could get his number—”

“Dad,” Sutton groans, which causes him to laugh.

He pulls Sutton into a hug and kisses the top of her head while glancing toward the door again. His eyes have been dodgy this entire time, which makes me wonder . . .

“Oh my gosh. Look, it’s Whitney,” Sutton says when she pulls away from Foster.

No wonder he’s been one foot out of our conversation the entire time. Foster was meeting Whitney here. His distance makes so much sense now. And it looks like things are about to get interesting. “Hey Whitney, over here.” Sutton waves to her.

Foster tenses next to Sutton and quickly glances in my direction as if begging for help. Even if I knew what to do, I don’t think I’d help out because honestly, Sutton is an adult, and if her dad is dating someone, she should know.

And vice versa, but I’m not going to go there again.

Whitney cautiously approaches, looking stunning in a fitted red dress and black heels. Her hair is curled in waves cascading over her shoulders, and her lips match the hue of her dress. I glance over at Foster, who has a searing look of appreciation on his face.

Christ. If it isn’t obvious now, the look on Foster’s face bellows that he’s in love.

“Hey, you guys.” She avoids all eye contact with Foster—not obvious at all.

“Wow, Whitney. You look amazing,” Sutton says. “That color is gorgeous on you.”

“Thank you.” Whitney fidgets with her clutch and tries to smile, but it looks incredibly forced.

Still oblivious, Sutton says, “What are the odds we’re all here together at the same time? Kind of weird, huh?” She gives her dad a once-over. “You look like you’re here for a date, and Whitney, what’s the occasion? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so dressed up besides at a work event.”

Foster and Whitney glance at each other, a worried look in their eyes.

Now if I were Sutton’s boyfriend in this moment, rather than being hidden, I’d step up next to her and explain what’s unfolding in front of her. Instead, I lean back on my heels and take a sip from my tumbler, watching the wheels start to spin in Sutton’s head.

“You’re both here, looking really nice.” She twists her lips to the side, thinking. “There was nothing important on the calendar for tonight.” She looks up at her dad and then to Whitney. Back to her dad. “Are you . . .” I think she’s almost there; she’s putting the puzzle pieces together. “Are you two seeing each other?”

Whitney bites her bottom lip and looks like she’s about to throw up, while Foster stuffs his hands in his pockets and thinks over his answer.

“I didn’t want you to find out like this, sweetie. I wanted to sit down and tell you, but with your new job and everything going on in your life, I didn’t want to make things weird.” Straightening up, he wraps his arm around Whitney’s waist, who quickly melts into his side and says, “But since it’s kind of obvious, Whitney and I have been dating for a while now. We’re, uh . . . we’re in love.”

Slowly, I turn toward Sutton, a squint in my eyes as I wait for her reaction.

She blinks a few times as her mind processes, but once it does, a small tear slides down her cheek, and it takes everything in me not to reach out and wipe it away for her.

“Dad, that’s . . . that’s so amazing. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner.” Sutton reaches out and pulls Whitney into a hug. “Gosh, I’m so happy for you two.”

And if I wasn’t in love with the girl already, I would be right now. This could have gone so many ways, but instead of freaking out, she instantly accepts the new information with open arms, making her dad and Whitney both look at ease.

Sutton’s not only beautiful on the outside, but she’s absolutely gorgeous on the inside.