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Ella’s only got a few days before she starts at her new school. Maybe I won’t send her for the next few days. She’d miss saying goodbye to her teachers and her friends—they were gonna have a cupcake party on her last day—but if it’s between her safety and⁠—

“Oh, and in case you’re thinking maybe you’ll keep her out of school to get around me, just know that I also followed your friend earlier.” He leans on the word friend in a way that makes it sound gross. “To a swanky condo building down by the beach, so if you can’t get me the money, I’ll make sure he can.”

My father lifts the edge of the loose work shirt he’s got on, showing me the handgun jammed into his pants.

There’s a weird moment where the world around me wobbles and I’m back in the trailer, trying to block his foot from coming at my ribs. His own kid.

If he’s willing to threaten me, threaten his own granddaughter, he’ll have no qualms about hurting Mike.

I can’t let that happen either.

I already regretted the things I said to Mike. Now, I’d do anything to take them back. And I can’t do it now, not until I figure out how to take care of this situation.

Whatever my father asked, Mike would probably do. For Ella. Or worse, he’d try to deny him and risk getting shot. I won’t risk either of them getting hurt.

Eve’s right. Mike and I did love each other. Do.

But it’s too late now, isn’t it?

“I’ll need time,” I manage with numb lips. “Can’t get that kind of money easily or fast.”

“Better figure out how.” My father narrows his eyes. “And don’t try anything cute. We both know you’re not smart enough for that.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Michael

Eve: Hey, I don’t know what’s going on with you and Dean and I’m not trying to get in the middle or anything, but I thought you should know his father’s been around. He mentioned you two weren’t talking right now, but… You guys have always been close. I thought you’d want to know.

Michael: Thank you.

Eve: Is everything okay?

Michael: I’ll have to get back to you.

It’s honestly painful to kiss the state senator from district seven today. It was painful even working up the nerve to get out of my car and come inside.

Then again, everything’s been painful since the last time Dean talked to me. I’ve been walking around stiff and sore, as if my blood is motor oil and my joints are rusty.

I spent so much time trying to convince myself I wasn’t too attached to Dean. Meanwhile, I can’t shake the feel of his back against my chest at night, or the smell of coconut and spice on his pillow.

Clearly, I’m a liar.

“Good to see you,” the senator says in his oily voice when I walk inside. Guess I’m not hiding things as well as I could be, because his smile falls off his face. “Is everything all right?”

This is good, though. It gives me the opening I need. “Uh, actually? There’s something I need to tell you…”

The entire drive over here, I told myself I was going to fuck the old man and fuck what Dean thought. He told me to stay away from him, told me I made him a terrible father, for fuck’s sake. I don’t owe him a damn thing.

Still. Even after the way we left things, the idea of sleeping someone who isn’t Dean makes me limp.

Stepping backward beyond the foyer to put distance between us, I hike my overnight bag higher onto my shoulder. I’m still hopeful I won’t be staying.

“The thing is, I have an injury.”

“An injury?” The senator’s bushy white eyebrows draw together. Looks like two of those fuzzy poisonous caterpillars kissing. Read about them in one of Ella’s animal books. Their sting can put a person in the emergency room. If only.

I clear my throat. “Honestly, it’s pretty embarrassing. See, I have this friend who’s an exotic dancer.” Sort of. Eve used to be one before we met.