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CHAPTER26
Evie
I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. My father’s apartment is close enough to the city center that we walked here instead of taking his truck. On the way back to his place, I keep expecting him to start laying down the law. Perhaps even trying to ground me—despite the fact that I’m way too old for that kind of thing to stick.
Hecouldrefuse to pay for college. While the first year is paid up, I’d have to find a job that earns me enough to pay for the rest of my studies, and I have a feeling those types of positions aren’t in massive supply around here.
ButHagansays nothing. In fact, there’s this faraway look in his eyes the whole way home, like he’s looking way back into the past.
Or, possibly, the future.
I’m not sure if he likes what he sees.
I keep trying to muster up enough courage to say something, but by the time we reach his apartment, all I can manage is a weak, “Listen… Dad…”
He glances over at me for a second and then opens his door and walks inside. I half-expect him to slam it in my face, but he leaves it open.
I close it behind me even though I get the feeling I won’t be here that long.
“Who is he?” Dad asks as I’m heading for my backpack by the dining room table.
I stop, turning to watch him move around the kitchen as he puts on some tea. My heart melts a little when he takes out two cups, not just one.
Is it possible he’s taking this better than I thought? Maybe he had enough time on the walk over to realize that I’m a grown-ass woman, and I can make my own decisions.
And my own mistakes.
There’s a hard lump in my throat now, and it refuses to budge no matter how much I swallow. I slide onto one of the barstools by the breakfast nook, watching my father prepare us each a cup of tea.
“His… uh… his name is Owen.”
My father nods. “Is he a troublemaker like Brent?”
At the sound of my ex-boyfriend’s name, my soul shrivels a little. “I… don’t think so.”
I’ve never really stopped to compare the two. Honestly, I haven’t had much time to consideranything. Until I said something in the park today, I was of the opinion that what happened last night would never happen again.
One of the reasons for that is the elderly man standing in front of me, pouring sugar and cream into our tea.
“I’m not even sure we’re going to see each other again,” I say, eagerly picking up my tea and inhaling its scent. “I was just… I guess I wasn’t expecting you to have moved on so soon.”
It’s a dick move, mentioning Lana, but shifting blame away from me is the only move I have. Father stares down into his cup as he stirs, a slight frown puckering his brow.
“Moved on?” He looks up at me with a half-smile on his face. “Evie, she’s a friend.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Mmm-hm.”
He lets out a small laugh. “That’s why you mentioned this boy?”
I look out the window by the dining room, shrugging as I take a sip of my tea. “It caught me off guard.”
Dad lays his hand over mine and squeezes. “Darling, your mother and I are still married. I would never break that vow.”
I glance over at him, frowning. I’m a shit daughter. Not once since we’ve moved here have I bothered to ask him how he’s doing. How he’scopingwith everything that happened.
How could I, when I was the one responsible for it all? Every time I think about it, I feel like shit.
“She hasn’t signed the divorce papers yet?”
