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“Do you want an honest answer?”
“Always.”
I shake my head. “I feel like I’m being a big baby. I feel like I should suck it up and deal with it, but I’m sotired. My Dad. Annabeth. Trying to figure out the whole med school situation… It’s too much, Hunter. I’m stressed as fuck, and I don’t know what to do about it.” My head hangs low as I attempt to take a deep enough breath. “Why couldn’t I have normal parents? Ones who didn’t abandon me or make me worry every damn minute of every damn day? The only easy thing about my life right now is…”
“Is?” he prompts gently.
“Being with you.” I chew on the inside of my cheek, on the verge of bawling my eyes out. “Being with you is easy, Hunter. Right up until some asshole snaps our picture and then I’m reminded that it’s not.”
Hunter is silent for a long time. Completely still.
“I want you to take tomorrow off,” he says. “Matter of fact, take the whole of next week.”
I blink up at him and frown. “What?”
“You need to be with your father right now.”
“But what about the movie? I need to be there to—”
“I’ll be fine, Eden. Right now, I want you to take care of Thomas and yourself. Make sure Thomas recovers, take the time away to study. If you need space to concentrate, you’re more than welcome to use my mansion.”
“But—”
“This isn’t a suggestion, sweetheart. Do as I say and take the time off.” And then, low against my ear, “You deserve it.”
I shiver. I don’t understand how he’s able to turn me into a puddle simply listening to the sound of his voice. I want to protest. I really do. But then a nurse turns the corner in search of me.
“Ms. Spencer? Your father’s awake. You can see him now.”
I take a deep breath. Maybe Idoneed some time away from work. Just to refocus, to regroup.
“Do you want to come in with me?” I ask Hunter. “He’ll want to thank you.”
“I’m the last person on Earth Thomas would ever thank. My being there will only piss him off. Go ahead without me, Eden.” He leans forward and presses a chaste kiss to my forehead. “Call me if you need me, okay?”
I nod, missing the warmth of his lips the second he pulls away. I turn and follow the nurse without looking back.
Dad looks like shit. The doctors gave him a clean hospital gown to wear in lieu of his ruined shirt. Nothing but regret and exhaustion exist in the look he gives me. I’m torn between pitying him and yelling at him.
“Eden…” he croaks.
I shake my head. “Don’t.”
“I’m so sorry, Eden.”
“I saiddon’t.”
“How did I even get here? What happened?”
“You tell me. Why the fuck have you started drinking again?” Dad turns his head to look away, but that just pisses me off more. “Don’t try to hide, Dad. I’m not letting you off the hook until you tell me what the fuck is going on.”
“Watch your language, young lady.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do. You’re in no position to condescend to me. Now, tell me what happened.”
Dad sighs. “I’m a failure, that’s what happened. I’ve been in San Fran trying to raise money for my movie, but I couldn’t get enough interest. Bills started piling up, so what little money I did manage to collect…”
My mouth drops open. “You dipped into it,” I realize.
