Page 62 of Primary Seduction

Trent didn’t want Max paying for food all the time, but tonight he relented. “That would be amazing. I have a few things to talk to you about.”

Max laughed. “That sounds ominous, not sure if I want to come over now.”

It was Trent’s turn to laugh. “No, everything’s fine, I promise.”

“Okay, I’ll take your word for it. Chinese sound good?”

“Fantastic, thanks.”

“Okay, I’ll be over in an hour or so.”

“See you then.”

Trent rung off and turned his engine on. He’d ring Harper when he got home.

****

After a shower, Trent sat on the sofa and called Harper. He was not looking forward to this conversation. Harper was still living at home with Trish, and so far, every time he’d spoken to Harper, she was angry and quoting what he believed was Trish’s thoughts, not her own.

“Dad,” she answered.

He was surprised. He thought she’d make it go to voicemail. “Hey, sweetheart. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. What do you want?”

Trent sighed. “I need to ask if you still had the key I gave you to my apartment?”

“Of course I do. Why?”

“Are you sure you have it, and you haven’t lost it?”

“It’s in my drawer in my room. Why, Dad?”

Trent closed his eyes, thinking he understood where Trish got access to his apartment. He wondered how many times she had let herself in, in the past.

“I just wanted to make sure you still had it and knew you could use it whenever you needed to. That’s all.” He wasn’t going to explain the truth, not when she lived with Trish.

“Yeah, I know. Is that all?”

“No, I wondered if you wanted to come over for dinner this week?” He didn’t hold out much hope.

“Sorry, I’m busy.”

He shook his head. “I’d really like it if you could come over, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

She was silent. “Like who?”

“A close friend.”

“You mean a new girlfriend.”

“Not quite.”

“Just spit it out, Dad.”

“Fine, a new boyfriend.” He waited for her to blow up at him, but it never came. “Harper, you still there?”

He heard what sounded like a sniffle. “Yeah,” came the quiet reply.