Secret Love (Love Stings Series Book 2) Read Online Free

“screwing up orders.” It doesn’t matter what I do because to him, I did it wrong.
    “That’s crazy. He’s always been such a nice guy to the rest of us. I think you’re doing great. The customers love you, and you interact great with them. I don’t know what his issue is, but don’t let him bother you,” Taylor said before leaving me alone to get myself together. Then she headed back out there.
    My breath left me in a whoosh before I grabbed the handle of the door, pulling it open to head back onto the floor.
    My mind shifts back to the present. As I drive toward the diner by the dance studio on Main Street, I can’t help but wonder what my dad needs to talk to me about. I wasn’t surprised when he called me and “requested” my presence at lunch, because over the past two weeks I’ve hardly talked to them. Between both jobs, I’m exhausted, and honestly if I’m not at work, I’m home, sleeping. Abby and I have barely seen each other since she’s started sort of talking to the hot deputy.
    I park my car in front of the dance studio and walk down the brick sidewalk toward Sam’s diner. Up ahead I see my dad leaning against his truck, typing on his phone. My dad is so handsome, especially for a guy in his early fifties. His blond hair is mostly gray, but it’s a pretty gray. Somehow the tiny lines around his eyes really show off the green of them. He’s still in great shape. My mom, who’s a personal trainer, works him out.
    “Hey, old man,” I call out. He pushes away from his truck as I run toward him.
    “Hi, my beautiful girl. I’ve missed you.” He wraps me in a bear hug, squeezing me tight against his chest. “You feel thinner. Are you eating?” He lets go of me and wraps an arm around my shoulders as we make our way to the diner.
    “I’m eating, Daddy. I’ve just been working a lot lately, and I’m still trying to get used to working third shift. My days still get all screwy.”
    A waitress seats us in a booth, and we both order iced tea before she leaves us.
    “How is it being a nurse? You know, your mom and I are so proud of you. You worked so hard to get where you are.”
    Oh God, I hate lying to my dad. “It’s going good. I’m learning a lot.” I keep it brief, which I know is going to set off red flags with my dad. I usually don’t ever stop talking. “How’s Wukey?”
    Both my dad and my brother share the same name, Luke. My parents said I’ve been calling him Wukey since he was born and I couldn’t say my L’s correctly, and it just kind of stuck.
    “He’s doing good. Just busy getting ready for graduation. His coach from LSU wants him there after the fourth of July to start training.” My brother got recruited and offered a full scholarship from Louisiana State to play baseball and plans on studying construction management. I’m sure he’ll start interning at our dad’s and uncle’s construction and restoration company during the summers, when he’s not training.
    “How’s Mom going to handle having her baby boy gone?” Sarcasm laces my voice. I swear my baby brother can do no wrong in their eyes. Ugh, I hate when I sound whiney, even if it’s in my own head.
    My dad’s hand shoots across the table and grabs mine. “Hey, your mom misses you a lot. Why don’t you call her? She’d love to hear from you. She would’ve been here too, but she had a client and they couldn’t reschedule.”
    When I was younger, my mom and I were really close, but then when I was around ten I noticed that my mom went into this weird sort of depression, even though I didn’t know what depression was. It was always on February eleventh, and my grandma and grandpa Carter, or grandma and grandpa Carmichael, would pick me and my brother up and keep us for the day. We’d get home and there was always this heaviness in the air, and Dad would ask for us to be quiet and good. He’d disappear into their room, occasionally coming out to check on us, but then he’d go right back