I shook my head and laughed. Well, in a world that was always changing and oftentimes overwhelming, at least I could always depend on Whit to make me feel better.
The world needed more friends like her.
Ichecked my reflectionin the mirror for like the tenth time. I’d picked out another sundress and gotten myself done up to go talk to Hux and ask him for a repeat date. One that didn’t involve Georgette, or my dad, or talk of his past.
It was half past six, so I figured he’d be done working by now.
My heart fluttered in my chest faster than hummingbird wings. What if I walked all the way down there and he wasn’t there? What if he said no? I don’t think my heart could take a second rejection in just as many days.
You’ve got this. You’re making it a bigger deal than it is. Just go talk to him.
I blew out a breath, smoothing out the skirt of my dress.
Well, here went nothing.
It was surprisingly nice out as I made my way toward the ranch hands’ bunkhouse. It was still really sunny and warm, but there was a nice breeze that kept it from feeling too humid.
The motor of one of the Gators rumbled up behind me just as I heard a familiar voice shout out, “Hey, Queenie! Queenie!”
I held back a groan. The last thing I wanted was to talk to Dad right now. I was still raw and angry from last night, even if he hadn’t specifically done anything. But in this case, doing nothing was just as bad. At least Georgette wasn’t with him. I wondered where she was. Probably hot yoga again or something.
With a loud, outward sigh, I turned to face him. “What Dad?”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his face full of concern.
I waved him off. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You sure?” His blue-gold gaze pegged me in place. Looking into his eyes was like looking into a mirror. They were the same as mine.
“Yep,” I replied with a curt nod.
Maybe he’d just leave it alone, not push for answers, but when his head cocked to the side and he quirked his eyebrow, I knew he wasn’t going to let it go.
With a sigh, I placed my hands on my hips. “I don’t like what happened last night.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“You know, after Hux got mad and walked out, he broke things off with me and even though he’ll never admit it, I’m pretty positive it has something to do with your gem of a fiancé.”
“Queenie, I’m so sor—”
I cut him off. “Dad, what she said was absolutely fucking horrible. How are you okay with that? Like, that was mean and ignorant and completely unacceptable.”
“I know, I know.” Dad lifted his hands in a placating gesture. “She was drunk. Not that—” he said over me when I tried to cut in once more “—it makes it okay. We got into it last night and she feels awful. She plans to apologize.”
I snorted. “That’s the least she can do. Maybe she can spend a fraction of her time meant for working out trying to learn how to not be so damn ignorant and rude.”
His gaze filled with sadness. “I don’t want you to hate her.”
A little ember of guilt welled inside me. Not for her. God, no. But for my dad. I knew what it was like to have someone I cared about not like my significant other. I didn’t want him to feel that way, but I couldn’t help it. She was horrid. “I don’t hate her, Dad, but I can’t really say I like her either. She hasn’t given me much reason to.”
He hung his head, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, and when he looked up at me, he looked so much older than normal. Weathered and beat down, like all the fight had left him. “I know. I don’t know what’s going on with her. I’ve never seen this side of her before.”
Maybe if you didn’t jump this marriage so quickly you’d have noticed and thought twice. I bit back the urge to clap back. It wouldn’t do any good.
Seeing Dad so sad and lost and beaten down hurt my heart. I wanted him to be happy, he deserved to be happy, and I hated that he was suddenly having problems with Georgette now that I’d come around. I couldn’t stop myself from pegging him with a questioning look though. I found it hard to believe that Georgette was anything other than awful.
He huffed a weak laugh. “I’m serious. I’ve never seen her act like that before. She’s usually warm and fun and lively. She’s the light of every party. She makes me laugh, a lot. Makes me feel young.”
