“You have a male housekeeper?” It slips out before I realize how bad that must have sounded.

“Yes, what’s wrong with that? Graham is great. I’ve had him for five years. He used to work at one of the hotels but got old enough that he needed to slow down. So, I offered him the job here, and it’s perfect for him. Nothing too hard, a few hours a day, and I pay him well. I trust him and don’t have to worry.” Forrest is trying to explain his decision.

“Oh, nothing wrong at all. I think it’s great and love when I see people breaking the molds in jobs. Look at Felisha, the number of times people said she couldn’t do this, and now she is proving to every one of those old farts, who were ready to tear her down, how wrong they are.”

“Before I knew her properly, I still knew she would be a kickass CEO. She was born to do it. Regardless of her awful upbringing by her asshole father. Just goes to show that you can push through trauma that has come from parents. I mean, look at you, tackling this head-on, even though it is bringing up some past hurt, I’m sure.” Forrest is talking while he wipes down the kitchen countertops, not even looking at me.

If only he knew what I mess I am on the inside. I totally have daddy issues, compounded with the fear of letting anyone get close to me, and let’s not forget the problem I have with anyone trying to hug me. I’m so fucked up it’s not even funny, but I have managed to hide that for years, until this brought it all back up again.

“Yeah, but I’m not letting it get to me. It’s all in the past, and as soon as we deal with this guy, I won’t even think twice about it again,” I say, trying to bluff my way through it, and take the last mouthful of my breakfast so I don’t have to talk anymore.

I stand to clear my plate, but Forrest is right beside me. “I’ll take that. You grab your things, and we can get going down to the cars. Another busy day I’m sure for both of us.”

Thanking him, I brush my teeth, and we are out the door. It’s not until I’m halfway to work driving in my car that I realize neither of us said one thing about the other night, and it’s like it never happened.

Maybe it’s for the best. Just pretend that I didn’t get fucked within an inch of my life.

Yeah, like I’ll ever forget that.

FORREST