—Present Day—

Anchorage, Alaska


..

I kissed Jennie's lips as she rolled over in bed, looking completely exhausted from her second orgasm. I stared at her as she slept in our cabin, feeling part guilty for lying to Hanbin about where I was this weekend and part stunned by how addictive sex with her was.

We'd only managed to visit three out of the twenty coffee shops on my list because she'd slipped her hands down my pants in the middle of a coffee roasting demonstration and I'd immediately brought her back to the room.

We hadn't left since.

"Lisa?" She stirred, struggling to open her eyes.

"Yes, Jennie?"

"I'm glad you were my first."

"You told me that on the plane." I kissed her lips.

"I always wanted it to be you. And I—" Her voice trailed off, and I smiled.

She'd said those lines numerous times tonight, and I was now convinced she was simply talking in her sleep.

Tucking her under a blanket, I got up from the bed and walked into the cabin's living room. I took a seat near the fireplace and picked up my phone—pulling up an email I'd avoided all week.


..

SUBJECT: YOUR PARENTS. Please see attached. (Send check digitally)


Why couldn't they commit a felony this time?

I signed my name on another digital check for the Youngstown, Ohio Police Department, shaking my head at the recent charges. Weeks after I'd bailed them out of the public urination and criminal recklessness charges, another casino sent footage of them stealing petty cash from a gift shop.

Their total take was ninety–seven dollars and five cents, far less than the two thousand I was being asked to pay to restore the cash register and keep their records clean. Far more than what I was willing to give after today since they continued to do this to themselves.

I made sure the amount on the check was written properly and sent it to the police department's bank with my phone. Then I left the chief a voicemail before sending him an email.


..

SUBJECT: THE MANOBANS.

Chief Tomlin,

I've sent the funds to your department's account regarding the most recent matter. If another matter like this should occur within the next six months, please book them into your facilities and make notes of it on their records.

I'm done.

Lisa Manoban

Chief of Cybersecurity

Cyber Security, Data Protection, Trusts


"Lisa?" Jennie stepped into the room, wrapped in a blanket.

"Yes, Jennie?"

"Who were you talking to?"

"Ohio police. It was about my parents."

"Oh." She walked over to me and sat in my lap. "You still talk to them?"

"Only when necessary," I said dryly. "Birthdays, holidays, and whenever they ask me to bail them out of jail. But after today, it'll just be birthdays and holidays."

"Do you think you'll ever forgive them for how they treated you?"

"I have forgiven them for that." I held her close. "It's how they're treating themselves that I have yet to get over."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that hurt people are in so much denial about their own pain, that they can never see how they've fucked up everyone else around them." She looked at me. "You don't have to forgive your mom until you're ready. You know that, right?"

She nodded. "I know."

"And you don't have to cut up the flowers every time she sends them to you, either." I ran my fingers through her hair. "It hurts you to do that, and you know it."

"It does." She let out a breath. "I'll stop, but that doesn't mean I'm giving her a chance."

"Take as long as you need."

She clasped my hand and looked at me. "Can you do me a favor since today will be our last official day here?"

"Depends on what it is."

She smiled. "Can you look at the past business plans for my café, and compare them to the shops here to help me see where I went wrong?"

"Only if you agree that you won't distract me with your addictive sex until I'm finished looking at everything."

She blushed. "I can't promise that."

"Then how about we fuck now and do the work later?"

She practically jumped out of my lap and led me back to the bedroom.

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