Read Online Rotten by JL Brooks - Free Book Online Page A

me and David…God, we’re going round and round. I was so wrong, Daddy; I had no idea. He didn’t mean to hurt me. I’m sorry I did that to you. I know I can’t change it, but if I could, I would take it back. I would take so much back. I have been so rotten. Please wake up so you know I am sorry.”
    My chest started to rattle as I cried my heart out. I wanted nothing more than my father to wake up and know I loved him. When Father Joseph told me to come back here, I thought he was crazy, but now I knew why he told me to do it. This is where it started, and this is where it would end. My broken marriage hadn’t even crossed my radar since I arrived, which was a sign something more was at play. I confessed I thought about other men all the time, and nothing even came close compared to the lust racing in my veins every second I spent with David. Those daydreams that tortured me now seemed like commercials playing during a movie…nothing more than a fragment of the big picture.
    “I think I’m in trouble, Daddy.”
    Resting my head against his chest, I didn’t hear David walking through the door and into the room. His hand rested on my shoulder and squeezed lightly.
    “You ready?”
    Startled and scared that he heard my conversation, I looked wide-eyed at him for a moment. If he had, he gave nothing away.
    “Yeah.”
    Kissing my daddy on his forehead, I grabbed David’s hand as we made our way to the elevator. I leaned into him while riding down and closed my eyes, thanking God for this moment. I could be doing this alone, but I wasn’t. He gave me someone who knew exactly what I was feeling when I needed it the most. I squeezed his hand and brought it to my mouth, gently pressing my lips against his thumb. He squeezed back, knowing what I meant.
    The ride back was quiet. We pulled into his driveway, and I retrieved my bags, then crawled back into bed after turning on the swamp coolers. David crawled into the bed with me. It was Saturday, which meant that tonight The Spur was going to be packed, and I needed all my energy. We napped in each other’s arms until seven o’clock when the alarm on his cell phone woke us up. Digging into my bags, I pulled out one of the outfits I bought and got dressed. When I walked into the living room, he gave a low whistle as I circled around.
    “What exactly are you trying to prove in that, woman?”
    I winked and picked up my purse while heading to the door. “That I know what the fuck I am doing.”

 
     
    I walked into the Spur feeling like a rock star. No longer were there questions of who was in charge. Something unfamiliar and intoxicating came over me. I trailed my fingers along the patrons sitting at the bar as I made my way past to the opening at the end. Smiles followed me all around as the new queen bee took her place. The girls grinned as I picked up my bottle opener and shoved it in my back pocket while finding my spot. The coolers were empty, not a good sign so early in the night.
    “Who is the bar back? There’s no excuse for this shit!”
    Kelsie pointed in the corner to a young girl making out with her boyfriend at the end of the counter. Frustrated, I made my way over and stood in front of her, waiting for her to notice I was there. When it didn’t happen, I picked up the soda handle and sprayed them both with water.
    “If you work here, then work. If not, get the fuck out.”
    Both of them just sat there, shocked that they were soaked. Disgruntled, the girl hopped off her boyfriend’s lap and slinked under the bar. Obviously irritated, she started to stock the dispensers with a large pack of cocktail napkins.
    I walked behind her and yelled in her ear, “Loose the ‘tude, baby. I can replace you in a heartbeat.”
    She suddenly smiled and picked up the pace. Grabbing the boxes of beer from the back cooler, I went to help her get caught up.
    “I don’t know what you’re used to here, but shit’s going to change.”
    I knew she thought I was a major