I stiffen, my features hardening. “Who?”
“The girl. You’re in love, Zane. I just wonder when I’ll get to meet her.”
There’s no way in hell my dad will be cool with me sleeping with my guidance counselor.
“Her name’s Kerry,” I admit, leaving out her job title. “She’s beautiful and funny and sweet.”
“Careful,” he warns. “You’re young.”
“Not every woman is like Mom.” I pin him with a hard stare. “Kerry is different.”
Guilt morphs his features. “It’s not her fault. I’m the one who had the affair.”
“She abandoned me, Dad. If we’re comparing crimes, hers wins as the most heinous by a longshot.”
He nods slowly, vulnerability shining in his gaze. Right now, I’m reminded of the man who singlehandedly was the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, birthday party coordinator, sports dad, and filled a million other roles. When I broke my leg playing basketball, I broke my spirit too. And I took it out on my father. He and I have butted heads ever since, but he’s always been there for me. Always.
“Tell me about the skateboards,” Dad urges, his voice going back to business mode.
I bite back a chuckle. “Not the skateboards, but the logos. Remember I designed the cool as hell skull wearing a halo and hand stamped it on everything I owned?”
“Skalo. Yes, I remember. Even the back window of my Porsche.” He gives me an annoyed smirk. “It looked ridiculous.”
“Yeah, on your lawyer dadmobile, but the logo itself was cool.”
“It was eye-catching and you put it everywhere. All those damn kids at your school started buying your shit.”
“Merch, Dad. It’s called merch.”
He rolls his eyes, reminding me of when I was a young boy. “Right. Merch. You were hustling for a while there until your principal shut that shit down.”
“Mrs. Langford was such a bitch.” I chuckle. “Anyway, I want to own my own shop one day. Design graphics for apparel and all sorts of cool shit. I know you think it’s dumb—”
“I don’t think it’s dumb,” Dad barks out. “In case you forgot, I funded every single one of your endeavors.”
He did.
Guilt weighs heavily on me.
“It’s going to require startup capital,” Dad says, a frown marring his face. “Probably more than what you should access your trust fund for.”
“But, Dad—”
“Which is why I’ll allow you to take out half of what you need. You can borrow the rest from me.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “If it’s profitable and you’re serious about it, we can renegotiate your loan and consider it a gift later.”
I gape at him. “That’s risky.”
“Having kids is risky. You’ll understand one day.”
I glance at the clock again, fighting a smile. “You’re for real? You’ll let me do this?”
“You’re eighteen years old, Zane. I believe my letting you do anything is irrelevant. We both know you’ll do what you want. I’m just happy you’re showing an interest in something. It’s all I want for you.”
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out. “For being such a dick.”
He grins, shaving years off his age. “Apology accepted. Do you have time to grab dinner with your pops?”
“I can make time.”
For the first time in years, I feel like I have my dad back.
Based on the genuine smile on his face, maybe he feels the same way about having his son back too.
Chapter Seven
Kerry
I already miss him.
My hands tremble as I stare up at my parents’ stately home through my windshield. I do this every week. Why the sudden bout of nerves?
I know why, though.
I’m changing and Daddy hates change.
Ever since I took the leap to be with Zane, I have felt as though I could breathe. Like the woman inside me is stretching her limbs and realizing she has the freedom to not just move around, but to run free. It’s both exhilarating and terrifying all at once. Daddy doesn’t like for a woman to think for herself. I’ve witnessed that firsthand with Mom.
I’m not like Mom.
If I stand up to Dad, I never will be.
I know this means, eventually, I’ll be forced to put some distance between myself and my parents. I can’t tell him about Zane, at least not yet, because that’s what he’ll make it about. No, I need to tell him about Sean, that I want him to stay out of my dating life, and that I am a successful, worthy woman who’s tired of him insinuating otherwise.
With a deep, calming breath, I attempt to silence the doubts running rampant through my mind. Once the air is exhaled, I climb out of my car and head toward the front door. With each step, the confidence to go against my father begins to rise like the swelling sea. Zane’s handsome face is forefront in my mind—smiling, encouraging me, kissing me. I’m raising my hand to open the door when a car pulls into the driveway.
The front door opens as I try to peek at who the visitor could be. A familiar man steps out of the car as Daddy’s strong hand clutches my shoulder, squeezing.
“So glad you made it, sweetheart. And look, our guest has arrived at the same time.” Daddy chuckles when I suck in a sharp breath. “Don’t worry. This isn’t a date. He and I actually have business to attend to.”
Sean’s predatory smile reaches me as he joins us on the porch. Daddy releases his grasp on me to shake hands with the man who drugged me this week. I shoot daggers Sean’s way. Rather than being put off, he flashes me a cocky grin and winks.
Asshole!
“Daddy, I—”
“Sweetheart, why don’t you go on inside and say hello to your mother. I’m sure she’s already opened the wine. You could use a drink.” Daddy ushers Sean into his office, leaving me alone in the foyer, trembling.
I should leave.
Turn on my heel and go.
Fumbling for my purse, I grab my phone out to call Zane. I realize I’ve missed a text from him.
Z: I can’t wait to tell you about tonight. Dad is being cool. We decided to grab dinner. Call me when you finish up and I’ll meet you at your place.
He’s having dinner with his dad.
The same dad who he’s struggled with having a relationship with for years. This is important and fragile. The last thing he needs is me asking him to come play hero. My eyes burn with tears as I type out that I’m happy for him and can’t wait to see him later.
Coward.
All I have to do is tell my parents what happened with Sean. So why does it seem like I’ll never get the words out?
It’s just one dinner.
All I have to do is make it through one dinner.
“More?” Sean asks, holding the wine bottle up like an offering.
I shoot him an icy glare. “Nope.”
“Kerry,” Daddy admonishes. “Mind your manners.”
Mom’s face is plastered in the same fake, uncomfortable smile she gets sometimes when a situation gets awkward. I feel sorry for her. Did she ever have dreams before Daddy? Would Brigs Ferry Bay have been good to her if she’d met someone else? Who knows how her life would have turned out.