Just a Number(33)

“Alan, hey,” I greet. “How’d you get in? I didn’t hear the buzzer.”

“Oh, one of your neighbors was leaving and held the door for me.”

I nod in understanding and secretly curse this unknown person. “So, what brings you to the city?”

“Well, I have the next couple of days off, and I decided to come into the city to take Amy to dinner, but she’s not home.”

Does he know she’s here? The question repeats in my mind, and my heartbeat picks up. I’m certain he’s going to hear it.

He shrugs, stepping past me and into the main entry, even though I didn’t think I’d left that much room for him to do so. “She’s seeing someone,” Alan says. “That neighbor of hers told me that some guy’s been coming and going this past week.”

I relax a little because it seems he doesn’t actually know, and I casually lean against the wall. “Oh, yeah?”

“At first, I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me,” Alan says, looking a little upset. “But then her neighbor told me that this guy looked like he was about fifty.”

I’m going to fuck that guy up.

Down the hall, there’s a low wooden thud, and I very briefly grimace, hoping Alan hasn’t heard it. But he has, and he instantly looks down the hall and then into the kitchen, his eyes widening.

“What the hell’s going on here?” he demands quietly as he absorbs the scene in the kitchen.

We’ve been found out. I stand up straight, shaking my head as I move with him to keep him from going anywhere. He may know, but I can keep him from laying into Amelia. I’ll take the fall for this.

“Listen, Alan, I can explain,” I begin. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, but—”

He turns his eyes back to me, and that’s when I see that he’s not shocked and angry, but shocked and…proud? Now I’m confused. “You dirty dog,” he proclaims in a hushed tone. “You took my advice, didn’t you? You went out and found some hot piece of ass to help you get over Gretchen.”

Okay, so he doesn’t know, but this could turn out to be so much worse.

“Alan, please—”

“Well, where is she?” he asks, looking around me, but I continue to get in his way. “Is she hot?” He laughs. “What am I saying? Of course she is!”

“Alan, seriously…I don’t think now is a good time.”

“You mean you’re not going to tell me anything?” I shake my head, because I’m really not about to get into the details of my “hot piece of ass,” mainly because I value my life, and I can’t be sure he isn’t going to kill me.

Thankfully, he relents, holding his hands up in surrender. “All right, fine. You’ll tell me when you’re ready.” He backs toward the door, opening it. Before he slips back out into the hall, he smirks. “By the way, congrats.” His comment confuses me, and I arch an eyebrow quizzically as he points past me and continues. “Based on her choice of lingerie, she’s got to be a wildcat in the sack.”

I’m horrified as my eyes land on Amelia’s lacy bra in the middle of my kitchen floor, but I try not to let it show on my face. “Goodnight, Alan. If you decide to stay in the city, let me know. Maybe we could do lunch tomorrow.”

Alan’s head bobs. “That’s actually a great idea. Maybe I’ll grab a hotel room…I’d ask to stay on your couch, but…” He waggles his eyebrows suggestively, and I fight the impulse to bury my face in my hands.

“Right,” I agree, hoping my voice is even. “Well, let me know about tomorrow, then.”

“Will do,” he says, and I’m just about to close the door when he stops me. “Oh, and can you do me a favor?” I nod in response. “Check in on Amy every once in a while. I’m not sure I like the idea of her dating someone twice her age. You two have always been close, and I think she’ll listen to you. If I tell her to steer clear of this guy, it’ll just drive her further into his arms.”

I laugh, and I know it comes across as nervous as it feels. “I will, Alan. I’ll, uh, talk to her.”

And with that, he’s gone, and I click the deadbolt back into place before turning and pressing my back to the door. The bedroom door opens and soft footfalls pad down the hall. Soon she’s standing in front of me.

“Well, that was more than I ever needed to hear my father say,” she jokes softly.

I want to laugh—to pretend that nothing has changed, but the truth is, everything has changed. While Alan doesn’t realize that I’m the older man involved with his daughter, he’s already voiced his disapproval of the situation. We won’t be able to win him over, and I can’t tear her relationship with him apart.