Page 74 of The Good Girl Effect

“You told me to!” I bark at him as I sit up and get in his face.

He only laughs at my outburst. “I know I did, but most girls would be too embarrassed, but you…you’re exceptional.”

“Great, you think I’m weird now,” I reply with a huff.

“I think you’re amazing.”

I roll my eyes at him, but it’s impossible to keep the smile from my face. He drives me wild. But the more I sense the real Jack coming through, the more I like him. He is at times coarse and rude, but only when he needs to be—like that night in the club when a fight broke out. But he’s also playful and kind, and I get the feeling he was far more the latter before his wife died.

As sad as that is, I take a sense of pride in knowing that I helped to bring that part back out.

“Any chance you’ve got another one in you?” he teases as he climbs over me, and I’m starting to get the feeling that my day offwill be spent with my boss when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I wince. Nothing could be more important than this right now.

Jack stands as I pull my phone out of my pocket and see Elizabeth’s name on the screen. She’s never called me before. I’m sure it’s nothing.

But what if it’s not?

“Something wrong?” he asks.

I don’t want to worry him, not when I’m so close to getting what I want. So I silence the call and toss it aside. He’s giving me an expectant look, and I hope he’s ready to pick up where we left off.

Only a few seconds go by before she calls again.

Filled with concern, I swipe the call to answer it. “Allô?”

“What on earth took you so long to answer?” Elizabeth snaps at me over the phone line.

“I’m sorry. What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Bea fell in ballet class and busted her lip.”

“What?” I reply in shock as I sit up. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. She’s just crying for you,” Elizabeth replies, sounding annoyed.

“For me?” I ask.

“What’s going on?” Jack asks in a panic.

I glance up at him, suddenly realizing that I’d have to lie to him if I didn’t want him to find out how Bea hurt herself. I can’t do that. I can’t lie to him anymore, especially about his own daughter.

“Bea fell. She’s fine, but she wants…” I let the words trail off as he stares at me. None of this feels right. I don’t finish my sentence as I turn my attention back to the call with Elizabeth. “I’ll come get her right now.”

“Okay. We’re at the studio. I’ll send you the location.”

Shit.

“I’m on my way.” When Elizabeth hangs up, I feel sick. Standing from the bed, I shove the vibrator in the drawer. “I have to go get her,” I say to him, moving toward the door.

“No, I should go,” he replies as he follows me. “She’s my daughter.”

“We’ll both go,” I say, not looking him in the eye as I throw on my coat and slip on my boots.

“How did she hurt herself?” he asks as we walk through the front door. There’s something different about his voice, a subtle worry in the tone.

“Umm…” My voice fades as I look down at the directions on my phone. “They’re at the dance studio,” I say, walking down the street.

“I know where that is. I’ll call us a car.”