Emily nodded, her jaw set with determination despite her wobbling legs. Sophia reluctantly handed over the phone, hovering nearby like a protective mother hen.
Taking a deep breath, Emily pressed the phone to her ear. "Hey daddy," she managed, her voice cracking slightly.
"f**k," Lucas swore, his deep voice rumbling through the line. "Emily, baby girl, are you okay?"
Emily let out a strangled laugh, running her free hand through her tangled hair. "I'm in shock, if I'm being honest," she admitted. "This is some seriously messed up shit."
Lucas chuckled, the sound both familiar and strange in this new context. "It sounds like you're a bit drunk too, baby girl."
"Yeah, well, tequila seemed like a good idea at the time," Emily muttered, sliding down to sit on the kitchen floor. Her head w
