Page 14 of Unruly

“Aunt Aria…why is my dad’s truck in the driveway?” I wipe away tears, trying to make myself look less wrecked than I am.

There’s a beat of silence on the other end. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to mention they were coming for Ben’s party. I was going to tell you but it slipped my mind.”

Slipped her mind.

I let out a bitter laugh that cracks in the middle. “Are you kidding me right now? You forgot? I just spent the entire drive pouring my heart out to you and you ‘forgot’ to mention my parents are here?”

“Halle, I’m⁠—”

I hang up on her, not willing to hear anything else as I brace myself for this shitstorm. My hands are shaking so badly I almost toss my phone in my purse while I fix my face a little more. I wipe under my eyes again, fix my face in the rearview mirror the best I can, and brace myself before walking inside.

Dad and my stepmom, Sloane, are already in the living room, actively putting things away and organizing for me. I’ve been putting it off for weeks, but I definitely don’t want them doing it.

There are cushions and picture frames scattered across the floor, every piece of furniture is at some awkward angle, and stacks of books crowd the hallway. I’ve never had a house that has looked this chaotic, and they know it.

They’re going to already think I’m a fucking wreck.

My dad turns, his face beaming as he makes eye contact. “Hey, kiddo! Aria told me that you went to see about a job at the local school!”

“Yeah…I did. Sorry. It must have slipped my mind that you were coming.”

He walks over, pulling me into a hug. I haven’t seen my dad since right after the miscarriage, and his scent fills me with a sense of comfort as he embraces me. “That’s good, baby girl! How was it?”

“I’m just so happy you guys are here!” I say, changing the subject.

“We are too. Though I don’t know if we’re looking at redecorating or if someone came in and ransacked the place,” he says, a smile tugging at his mouth.

“Can’t it be a bit of both?” I pull the bundle of extension cords off the couch to give them both a place to sit down. “Y’all don’t really need that much of a home base anymore, with Sloane virtually retired. You told me I could make it my own. It’s not finished though. Aria and Matt needed way more help than I realized with The Bar.”

Sloane laughs softly and pulls me into a hug. “It’s going to look so lovely when it’s all done. Better than your father and I could have done.”

Sloane sits down on the couch, and Dad points toward the armchair shoved halfway into the dining room. “That’s an interesting choice. Tell me that’s not staying there.”

“No promises,” I say sarcastically, and the two of us giggle before the three of us are all seated.

“So, Miss Tierney is throwing a surprise birthday party for Ben tomorrow—you know we can’t miss that. I’m sorry if you were a little surprised; I figured Aria would have already told you we were coming,” Dad says casually.

“We don’t have to stay here, sweetie, if it’s too much for you,” Sloane adds.

I shake my head. “No…you can stay here. It just caught me off guard.”

As angry as I am at the surprise, having a less-empty home for the weekend may be good.

“We brought you some lunch,” Sloane says, trying to shift the conversation, lifting a paper bag I didn’t even notice. “I know how you forget to eat when you get too busy.”

“That obvious?”

We clear space on the coffee table that’s currently buried under throw pillows, candles, and old photo albums. Sloane divvies out the food to all of us, and we begin to eat. Dad makes jokes about my complete lack of spatial planning, Sloane asks about paint swatches, and I deflect everything with sarcasm.

Dad waits until I take a bite before he keeps his tone casual. “Zach called me the other day.”

I chew slowly, buying time. “Well then, I’m sure he told you I served him papers.”

Sloane’s hand finds mine across the table, warm and steady. “Are you doing okay, sweetheart?”

Dad watches me, eyes the same shade as mine, creased at the corners from years of worry I usually try to ignore.

I let out a long breath. “I know you think I should be broken … but honestly? I’m relieved.”