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Chapter Thirteen
After a lovely evening with Kate and with my head still bobbing to the music, I decided to drop her off, then run home to get some sleep. Our evening was ruined, however, as soon as we turned down Nora’s street.
“Who’s car is that?” Kate asked the moment I noticed a blue truck parked against the curb.
“My dad’s.”
“Your dad’s?” Kate’s eyes widened as I pulled into the driveway. “What’s he doing here?”
I shook my head and white-knuckled the steering wheel. “I don’t know, but whatever his reasoning, it can’t be good.”
With my heart in my throat, I turned off the ignition, then got out of the car. I made it to the passenger’s side when my dad’s voice reached my ears. He wasn’t speaking to me, but his deep rumble was unmistakable against the quiet night.
Fur bristled under my skin as we headed up the sidewalk. Tension built between my shoulder blades as my wolf paced in the back of my mind.
It’s fine,I told myself.Maybe he’s here for a different reason.
“You promised to never bring her here,” my dad said loud enough for me and Kate to hear.
Or not.
Kate looked at me with concern in her eyes. “Her? Who is he talking about?”
I didn’t have an answer for her.
“What was I supposed to do, Charlie? Turn her away?” Nora’s voice was cut short as Kate opened the front door. “Kate, there you are. And Liv as well.” Nora’s face was red, but within seconds, her features softened. “Kate, this is Charlie, Liv’s dad. I don’t think you’ve met.”
Kate took a step and offered him her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Fire flashed in my father’s eyes, but much like Nora, his expression changed as he regarded Kate with the same amount of kindness he gave to everyone else. Calculated kindness. “Kate, right? I wasn’t aware you were in town.” He was lying and we both knew it. “Staying long?” My father didn’t say as much, but considering the way his jaw tightened then, I could tell there was something about Kate he didn’t like.
And it wasn’t just because I’d been hanging out with her, either.
“How was the concert, dears?” Nora asked, cutting through the tension with her warm voice.
“Good,” Kate and I said in unison, her voice uneasy like mine.
“Good. I’m glad.” Nora’s smile was forced.
Not wanting to stretch things out longer than they needed to be, I studied my dad who seemed equal parts surprised and agitated. Surprised to see me, obviously. As for the way he was staring at Kate…
“Dad, what’s going on?” My voice didn’t sound nearly as confident as I would’ve liked.
Then, as though I’d snapped him out of a trance, my dad looked at me with wide eyes and gestured toward the lawn. “Get in the car.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. “What?”Why?
“Just do as I ask.”
“No.” I wasn’t a kid anymore.
Red-faced, my dad took a breath, then said it again, louder than before. “I told you to get in the car.”
“Girls, why don’t you go downstairs for a bit while Liv’s father and I talk this out?” Nora glared at my dad, then ushered me and Kate out of the room.
