Climb on My Stepfather (Ashley and Alex)

Chapter 64

16: Tristan.

Something is wrong.

The first couple days of my business trip, Lia is her usual, incredible self when I call her at night or between meetings. Her voice is soft and inviting in my ear, she tells me she misses me, asks if I'm taking stress breaks. Late at night, she sends me mirror selfies from our hotel suite wearing nothing but a scrap of yellow material that vaguely resembles panties-and purrs to me over the speakerphone while I jack myself raw in the bathroom.

But at some point, her tone loses its usual brightness. She sounds almost sad? Although she won't tell me why so I can fix it. No amount of gifts sent to her doorstep seems to help. Finally, she stops answering my calls altogether.

I can't concentrate on a single thing. I can't think about anything but her, replaying our last ten conversations, trying to figure out if I missed something. How the hell have I fucked this up so fast?

I miss her. Beyond belief. I'm sick without her.

I was an idiot to think I could spend this much time away from Lia and not go berserk.

For someone so worried about giving me a heart attack, she's certainly got the damn thing firing on all cylinders in my chest. Good thing Eric almost never looks up from his phone or he would notice that I'm sweating bullets, even in the air conditioning of the charter club. As we wait to board my jet, my insides are in shreds. I've pulled some strings and sent a local cop to make sure Lia is safe and she's fine. Swimming in her lavish pool, meeting friends for lunch, going to the gym and the beach. Usual summer activities. Nothing that would prevent her from answering my calls, though.

If I don't hold her soon, I'm going to lose my head.

Unfortunately, a storm keeps us grounded half of Sunday night. By the time we're able to fly safely, it's Monday morning and my assistant calls to remind me of the round of golf I have schedule with John, Lia's father, in just a few hours. There's no way I can make it. I'm tied in knots and my legs feel like lead—not the ideal condition for a friendly golf game.

After we land, I call John to cancel from the tarmac.

My plan is to take Eric home and track down Lia.

I need to understand what's wrong and repair it. I need her to climb into my lap and whisper into my neck and make me feel whole. She's the only one who does.

I'm in love with her.

Jesus.

this eighteen-year-old who's been coming to my house since middle school, who has transformed into a young adult. I'm in love with her unique perspective, the way she cares, her giggle, her touch, her spontaneity and optimism. She's my little girl. She's

ear as I'm handing my luggage to our driver and climbing into the back

throwing the ol' clubs into my trunk as we speak," he says.

slept on the flight, but I couldn't manage to

"Listen, about our game-"

is going to be there later on. They can hang out at the pool while we hit

shut on the news that I can't

be at

today is to get her in front of me. To demand to know what I've done and how I can make it up to her. If the conversation has to happen at the country club, so be it. I don't care who knows about us anymore. In fact, I'm going to tell her father face to face. There will be some outrage and gossiping and a tough reaction from Eric, but Lia is more than worth it. I'm going to have her in my life forever. The sooner people start getting used to seeing this old ogre with his beautiful, young

heart-rending love that I've never experienced

agreement, we land and go straight to the

quickly throws on a pair of trunks and heads to the pool, throwing me a wave. Instead of going in the direction

the shoulder. "Hey, buddy. Ready

turn to find Lia's father there, looking oddly nervous, his cart idling behind him. Given no choice,

golf will give me a chance to explain my relationship with Lia. Getting into her pretty little head will have to wait a few

make small talk while playing the first two holes. It's while we're preparing to begin hole three that I figure out why John

fund's earnings with my own money, make it look like we're above water but the troth is...I'm sinking.

must think I'll be able to come up with

broke?" I ask

nods sadly. "I told her a month ago school might not happen. For some reason, she insists on proceeding as if she'll move out in the fall, attend the university."

No.

She's not in denial.

found a desperate old man to pay her

got enough money together

happened, isn't it? None of

She needed cash. Fast.