He walks toward me. “That’s never what I’ve wanted for you. I want you out in the world, making a difference. And you have exceptional skills to do so.” He pauses and brushes back a lock of my hair. “But when you came back from Switzerland, I promised myself I’d never lose you again. I never want anything to get between us because those months were far too difficult.”
I let my guard down and lower my voice. “You’re afraid of losing me?”
He smiles, and his eyes grow glossy.
Tears prick the corners of my eyes, and I suck in a shaky breath. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
Dad pulls me into a hug, and silence fills the room. My breathing is quick and shallow as thoughts collide in my head. How will I ever have a proper relationship with my dad if I can’t talk to him about my boyfriend? And is he really afraid of not having me in his life if he’s ordering me to stay away from Dax?
This won’t work.
“I’ve missed this,” Dad whispers, rubbing a circle on my back. “I’ve been so happy to have you home, but I’ve been walking on eggshells. There’s been suchawkwardness between us. Am I right in thinking it’s because you’re still siding with your mother?”
I gasp and pull out of the hug so I can look Dad in the eye. “I never sided with her.”
“But you left.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Because she asked me to.”
Dad smiles. “Ash said the same thing about you.”
“It’s true. If you had asked me to stay, I would have.”
“I would’ve asked if I'd known anyone was leaving. I didn’t realize how hard I needed to fight to keep my family together.”
I bite into my cheek to distract myself from the breaking of my heart. “Is that what you want? Your family back together?”
He rubs my arm. “I just want my kids home and safe. That’s my number one priority.”
I give him a small smile and nod. I’m glad his priorities don’t include Mom, because unfortunately, I know he isn’t part of her plans.
I sniff back my tears. “You know, about that boy…”
Sternness creases his face. “I don’t want to hear about you spending another second with him.”
“Dad’s he’s not…”
“You don’t know what he is.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Vanessa, you’ve been sheltered from the harshness of this world.”
My hands ball into fists. “You have no idea what I’ve seen. If only you’d been there today.”
“Why? What did he do to you?”
I groan and move to the doorway. “One day you need to start listening to me. Dax will never hurt me.”
“If you go near him again, hurt is all you’ll get.”
“You won’t be seeing me at dinner,” I say, leaving the room.
“Vanessa, tell me you heard me.”
I turn back into the room. “Sure, Dad. I’m your good girl, aren’t I?”
Leaving him staring at the doorway, I fly up the nearest staircase and hurry to Ash’s suite. I knock on his door, and there’s no answer. I push the door open and walk inside. There’s a change of clothes tossed on the end of the bed, but the rest of the room is neat thanks to Claudia. She obviously hasn’t been here since Ash got home and changed his clothes for dinner. I head straight for the chest of drawers by his closet. Still with shop tags, I find sweatpants, a T-shirt, and a hoodie, and bundle them together.
