My dad left and hasn’t thought about me.
Even if I told my driver I’d be at a friend’s house, checking if I’m okay shouldn’t be the very last thing on my father’s mind.
“Don’t follow me, Murphy,” I say, storming toward the staircase.
Is this really all the attention I get? I was out all night, for goodness’ sake!
I make my way into my wing and huff my frustration all the way to my bedroom.
Claudia moves from the opposite direction, holding a bundle of towels. “Good morning, Miss Ashworth.”
“Mm-hmm,” I mumble, keeping my head down.
Claudia places the towels on the side table, taking a keener interest in me. “Is everything okay, miss?”
Unable to control myself, I let out a shrill squeal. Angry knots cramp inside me, and I have trouble turning my bedroom door knob.
Claudia closes in on me. “Miss, what’s the matter?”
I turn and slump against the door. When I see the concern etched on her face, my shoulders sag. Is it so bad I expected a tenth of this concern from my father this morning?
“I’m okay,” I tell her softly. “Just disappointed.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Ashworth,” Claudia says with a pout. “Is there anything I can get for you?”
My heart sinks. “I think I’ll just go to bed.”
“You look haggard,” Claudia says, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t I ask Murphy to call your masseuse? You look like you need it.”
I pull myself up. “Okay, thank you. That would be lovely.”
After a piping hot shower, scrubbing away the hurt from my father’s obliviousness, my masseuse sets up in my bedroom. New-age music is playing, and the scent of the essential oils is pleasantly calming.
Tonya, my masseuse, welcomes me in, asking me to lie down on the massage bed.
“How’s the pressure, Miss Ashworth?” Tonya asks as she melts her palms into my back.
“It’s perfect,” I murmur, closing my eyes.
I let the hardening of my muscles tell her how hard she’ll need to work. I can’t stop thinking about my father. I took such a risk last night, and none of it paid off.
For a brief moment, my muscles loosen.
It wasn’t a total waste. Kisses with Dax flood my mind. What a wonderfully unexpected experience.
Miserably, my mother forces her way into my mind. I don’t want to imagine what she’d do if she found out about my time with Dax.
“You feel tense,” Tonya says softly. “Do any muscles hurt?”
Does my heart count?
“No, I’m okay,” I whisper.
A headache builds from the collision of warring thoughts. I’ve angered my brother by pointing out our parents are doomed to stay separated. But I can’t live in make-believe with him.
Dad is mad at me for disappearing on that plane with Mom. We gave him zero notice, and Mom made it worse by limiting the time I could speak with him on the phone.
But what good will come from acting like I’m still away from home?
