Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Caleb was a little surprised, but not by the library. Lilly had built a good solid reputation as a hard worker there. Edward did surprise him. After escorting her to class, he promised to be waiting to pick her up.
Aunt Betty had already screamed and cursed him for being a royal pain in her ass and a bad seed. She couldn’t believe he’d gotten into a fight, and worse, he’d put Lilly’s life at risk as well.
He already felt like an asshole before the stitches.
When it came to Jacob, that son of a bitch had stayed away, but the sheriff had said that he’d offered to pay for all damages.
Much to Caleb’s surprise, all of Lilly’s medical bills had been paid.
Arriving back at the garage, he saw Edward waiting for him.
“Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind,” Caleb said, climbing out of his truck.
“Changed my mind?”
He’d rarely spoken to the bar owner. Edward was a quiet man who seldom came to town. He owned the bar and that was all people knew about him.
“About Lilly. You better not fucking fire her. I started that fight because you keep assholes like Jacob as a client.”
“I have no choice but to keep Jacob as a customer.” Edward ran fingers through his hair. “What are your … intentions with Lilly?”
Caleb folded his arms across his chest and stared at the man in front of him. “With all due respect, you’re her boss. I don’t owe you shit.”
He went to walk past, and Edward put a hand to his shoulder and stopped him. “I’m not asking as her boss.”
Caleb stared at him and waited. “I don’t owe you shit.” He repeated the words slowly.
Edward licked his lips. “I’m asking you as … Lilly’s father.”
He looked at the older man and then laughed. “Nice try. Lilly’s mother never goes in that bar.”
“I know. She knows not to come near me,” Edward said. “I … look, it’s not something I’m proud of, but I’ve never been good with women, okay? Lilly’s mom, she was … easy. She was there and available and so long as I paid the right price, she was more than willing.”
Caleb stared at the man. “You’re telling me all this time when Lilly could have had a loving father, you stood by and did fuck all to help her?”
“I didn’t stand by.” Edward cursed and looked up to the sky.
“No one’s going to help you here. I don’t like the shit I’m hearing right now. The entire town is against Lilly. You even make her drop the fucking key off because you don’t trust her.”
“It’s not Lilly I don’t trust. It’s her mother. Fuck. Damn it.” Edward growled. “I didn’t want Lilly to ever find out. Especially like this.”
Caleb frowned. “Why didn’t you want her to ever know you’re her father?” This made no sense. Edward didn’t seem to be an asshole. At least not the times he’d seen him at the bar. “You even offered her a job.”
“Look, her mother and I, once she found out she was pregnant, it went to crap. I’m not a good … I’ve never had kids. I didn’t even know how to raise a child or be part of a family.” He shook his head, rubbing the back of it. “I’m not making any sense. I paid for everything.” Edward sighed. “I’m not a good people person. Her mother knew this. She told me I’d be awful. That I would ruin her life. I wanted to.”
Caleb watched the man and shook his head. “That fucking bitch. She played you, Edward. Damn it. I bet you’ve been paying that woman even now. Do you even realize Lilly doesn’t live with her? Hasn’t been living with for at least a year?”
“What?”
“Yeah, she lives with Aunt Betty. Has nothing to do with her mother. I haven’t even seen that woman around town. You paid for Lilly? She’s been working for herself for as long as I’ve known her.”
Edward stared at him, and Caleb was sure the man was having an internal meltdown. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“You weren’t.” He wasn’t going to lie to try to make this man feel better. He needed to know the truth. “You know, she doesn’t even care about a dad. Her mother told her he was some loser that didn’t stick around.”
“I … I was always there.” Edward looked down at his hands. He was a frail man. From what he’d learned of Lilly’s mom and what he knew himself, the woman had taken advantage. “I wanted to get to know her. When she was a little girl, I’d drop off some presents. I was always told she didn’t want to see me. As the years passed, I just paid extra money.”
“I doubt Lilly saw a cent of your money.” Caleb sighed. “Look, man, you need to talk to Lilly. This isn’t something she should find out from anyone else.”