I was a coward the next morning. I sneaked out while Jesse was still asleep.

Part of me felt shocked and devastated to be leaving like a thief in the night. My heart felt as if I should stay and tell him the truth. That I wasn’t coming to lunch…. I was leaving for the city and not coming back for a very, very long time. There was no point in staying, as we were never going to work out since it seemed like he would never tell me who he was, or let me into his life the way I needed.

Besides, I could never forget how I had seen him out in the backyard of the club smoking a cigarette with those people where he seemed far more at home and relaxed than he’d ever been the whole time he had spent with me.

That no matter how hot the sex was, no matter how deep our history ran, there was nothing I could do to bridge that gap between us. Especially, if he wouldn’t help. I learned my lesson with Mark. I wouldn’t be the one to do all the legwork again. Either someone meets me halfway, or I was walking away. He had his life—I had mine.

We had fun, but now it was over because I couldn’t go along anymore with his idea of a relationship without any obligations, ties or real sharing. I thought I could do it, but I couldn’t. That was just not me. I want it all or nothing. And it looked like it would be nothing—because he didn’t really want me.

He’d said it himself. He would have jumped in to save whomever it was who was being touched against their will. It wasn’t because it was me and that he wanted to keep me safe; it was because it triggered some primal response in him that he couldn’t swerve.

I threw myself at the town’s womanizer, what did I expect?

I went to pick up my car and grab my stuff from my parents’ place before they woke up. Last thing I needed was to have to deal with them after what had happened. I told the housekeeper to tell my parents I would call them when I got to the city, then I packed everything into my car, but as I was about to turn the ignition, my father came running out toward me.

“Damn,” I cursed and deliberately didn’t turn off the engine.

“Mia, were you going without telling us?”

“Hey Dad. I told Agnes to tell you.”

He leaned into the window. “Can you turn the engine off for a second? I want to talk to you.”

I sighed, but turned it off, and turned toward him.

“Look, I’m really sorry about last night.”

“It’s not your fault,” I muttered.

He looked sad and suddenly older. Maybe because he hadn’t shaved and his stubble had turned white. “It was my fault, honey. I should have stopped Mark. He had no right to do that to you.”

“It’s okay, Dad. Don’t worry about it. It’s over now. I’m leaving so it doesn’t matter. I’m just sorry that you and Mom will have to put up with all the gossip.”

“I don’t give a monkey’s ass what those old birds talk about while they secretly swig their gin at ten in the morning.”

I smiled weakly. “I think Mom does.”

“Your mother will survive. It’ll do her good to see what it feels like when the shoe is on the other foot.”

I stared at my father astonished. I’d never heard him speak like this.

“Now, where are you going to stay?” he asked crisply.

“I thought of asking Cindy if I could crash on her couch while I get a place of my own.”

“You can stay at our apartment. It’s empty. Here are the keys.” He held out a ring with bunch of keys on it.

Something inside me felt like it was breaking. I had held on to my tears all this while, but my father’s kindness was making it impossible to hold it in anymore. My chin began to tremble.

“Oh honey,” my dad said. He came around, opened my car door, and held his arms open.

I got out and fell into his embrace. I could feel the tears running down my face. “No man wants me, Dad,” I bawled.

“Stop that nonsense, right now. You know you’re beautiful.”

“You have to say that. You’re my dad.” I sniffled.

“I’m saying that because it’s the truth. Mark doesn’t deserve you. And that other man? Jesse, was it?”

I nodded against his chest.

“It was a lot for him to take in last night, wasn’t it? Why don’t you give him another chance?”

I pulled away from his embrace. “You don’t understand, Dad. It wasn’t about last night. For him, it was just a fun thing. You know, no strings attached.”

Dad frowned. “Yeah, I know. Don’t say anymore, or I’ll have to go down to his stupid garage and punch his lights out.”

Even I had to laugh at that. The thought of my straight-laced, prim and proper dad punching Jesse’s lights out was the most hilarious thing I’d heard since I witnessed Mark’s little dick inside another woman.

Dad started to laugh too.

I wiped away my tears. “Thanks for the use of the apartment. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t be silly. Do you need money?”

“No.”

“I’ll put some money into your account anyway.”

I frowned. “Don’t do that, Dad.”

“I don’t understand you. Why are you so damn independent? I am your Dad. That’s what Dads are for.”

“Thanks Dad, but I don’t need it. I have some savings.”

“Fine, but you stay at the apartment for as long as you want, all right?”

I nodded.

“All right. Drive carefully and text me when you get to the city, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Get in the car then.”

I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”