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His brows jogged up his forehead, and his calloused fingers found the tip of my chin. “Did I say you could call me by my first name?” He leaned in, his intense chocolatey gaze twisting my insides and commanding my focus on him.
I shook my head and dropped my stare to my lap.
“What’s my name?”
I licked my lips before answering. Something about making him work for it sent a shiver crawling down my spine. “Trying to change the subject?”
A sly laugh rolled off his tongue, and his chest deflated. “Can we at least eat over it?”
I dangled my legs in the seat and clasped my hands together. “Sure… Daddy.”
My words rippled the muscles in his jaw, forcing them to harden along with his cock. We pulled into a fast-food restaurant, and my stomach grumbled as fresh grease seeped into my nostrils. I stole a glance at the dashboard. We’d be pulling into my driveway soon.
* * *
The rest of the ride home was dipped in silence. Brett told me what happened between him and my dad all those years ago, and just replaying the conversation in my head cast a heaviness on my shoulders. My dad had always been stubborn, but Brett wasn’t any better, in all honesty. They were both pig-headed and bone-headed when they wanted to be, and dad couldn’t relay his emotions if someone paid him a million dollars to do so.
Once the truck slowed and exited the freeway, my limbs became a flighty mess. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this nervous, but I’m sure Brett felt the same way. As the truck inched closer to my street, my heart sank into my stomach. As much as I wished for him to be passed out on the couch, the kitchen light let me know he was probably just getting around to his dinner as we pulled into the driveway. Although both of us were sitting on pins and needles, it became real once Brett killed the engine.
“Ready?” Brett asked as he pushed the door open.
I tugged at the handle and hopped down. He walked to the back of his truck to unhitch my car, leaving me to face the shaggy-haired man leaning in the doorway all by myself.
“Dad,” I said, waving in his direction.
His brows hitched to the center of his forehead, and he took a swig of his beer. Keeping his gaze locked on mine until I stood inches from him. “Back so soon? What happened?” He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.
A mountain of words piled on the edge of my tongue, but before they could drop off, Brett approached from behind. A beat of silence stretched between us before Brett cleared his throat.
“Can we have a word?” He shoved his hand into his front pocket and rocked on the heels of his boots.
Dad’s eyes tightened at the corners, and he stood upright as he sliced his gaze between the both of us. I inhaled before vomiting the words he didn’t want to hear out in the open.
“Excuse me?” He choked out before following my movements. “What do you mean you’re moving to California with Brett? Am I missing something?”
With heavy footsteps, I charged to the kitchen in need of some chocolate and pistachio ice cream to weather this shit storm. Rummaging through the cabinets, I snatched the chocolate and tore it open. The lingering scents of beer seeped off my dad’s breath, and I gave him an unyielding side-eye.
As if he just saw a ghost, all the color drained from his face, and he took a step back, and then another until his lower back slammed into the sink. I didn’t want him to hate me over a decision my heart made, but the look in his eyes made me believe he’d probably hate me forever.
“Is that why you really went to the cabin? So you could—“
“No. Not at all,” Brett interrupted before my dad could finish his sentence and I was grateful.
A laugh rippled through my dad’s throat, and he raked his fingers through his greasy hair. It had only been twenty-four hours, but God, he looked like shit. Long hours, paired with a suddenly broken heart, was not a good look. I set the chocolate down and turned to walk over to him. Placing my small hands into his, I lowered my chin to his shoulder.
“Yeah, like I’ll ever believe anything you have to say.”
“I love Cora, Dylan. I really do, and that’s why we’re here. I was called back to work for an emergency, and honestly, I should be hightailing it back this moment, but I couldn’t leave her, and I sure as fuck wouldn’t dare take her from you without your blessing.” Brett’s words came out shaky, and I knew it took every ounce of courage he had.
“So, you skip out on me with our amazing business idea, move to California, never call, and then steal my nineteen-year-old daughter. Damn, you're a great friend.”
Brett’s muscles tensed, and he took a step forward. Unsure of his actions, I stood between the both of them and folded my arms across my chest. Perching on the edge of a stool, Brett placed his elbows on the center island and rubbed the back of his neck.
“First of all, I’m not stealing Cora. I might be many things, but a kidnapper, I am not. Secondly…” He trailed off and rested his eyes on me.
When I nodded gently, he released a shaky breath before combing his hands down the middle of his face. He promised on the ride back that he would be honest with Dad and finally tell him why he drove a wedge between them.
“Something got your tongue?” Dad snapped.
