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“I don’t care. Make him stop. If she finds out, I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly what you were up to.”
He scowled, his nostrils flaring. “That’s none of anyone’s business.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Public appearance is very important to you, isn’t it Dad? I know it’s probably killing you that your buddies and business associates know you’re locked up. Just think what they would say if they knew you carried on an affair with the local pastor. That would be the biggest scandal that’s hit Silver Ranch since I could remember.” I let my words hang between us as he stewed in his thoughts.
His breaths came fast and hot. I could only imagine what scenarios were playing out in his mind. Public image was everything to him.
But me? With the guys and Astrid, I was learning to let it go. As long as we were happy, I was happy.
I was trying anyway.
Standing, I remembered my good manners and pushed the chair back under the lip of the partition. I refused to look at him as I left. He was a shallow man. No father to me. Stan Bennett didn’t deserve any additional attention from me.
“I’ll call him.”
Pausing, I nodded, then continued to the door.
My steps were lighter as I shed all my care for my dad as I left this god forsaken place.
He was finally in a place where he lost most of his influence both in my life, and the community.
And I was finally in a position to ignore him.
For the moment, life was damn good.
April first was kind of surreal. We had five weeks left of our senior year, then we were done. For the last few months, with the exception of a couple tiny hiccups that were practically nothing in the grand scheme of things, nothing wildly outlandish had happened. Dad had even stopped attempting to contact me and Rhys.
His dad must have called mine, because his persistent efforts stopped finally. Sometimes I wondered what he told the church about why I wasn’t attending, assuming they didn’t know I moved out, and where my mother went. But it was more a passing curiosity on if he’d told them the truth, being a holy man and all.
Then again, I didn’t care that much.
“Ass.” Ryan flopped down across from me in the library during lunch. Now that we were getting closer to the end of our senior year, Jonah was busy most days and didn’t have time to eat in the old dusty library with me.
He’d found out he was ranked third in our class. No valedictorian or salutatorian for him. I was crushed on his behalf because he seemed to have his hand in all the appropriate pies at school.
Jonah had just cupped my cheek and kissed my brow. “Don’t sweat it, Astrid. My college resume is plenty full. I’m not disappointed at all. If anything, I think I’m relieved. I want to spend the next few months with you guys getting ready for the next chapter in our lives, not scrambling to get ready for graduation and prepping a speech for the entire school and their closest friends and family.”
When he put it like that, I melted into a warm puddle of goo in his hands. I understood when goals changed. It was unrealistic to think you’d want the same things forever. It was also only hurting yourself to fight for something just because you think you should want it. Jonah was wiser than I’d realize to understand that already.
“Ryan,” I returned with a slight quirk of the lips. I’d miss him over the summer. Somehow, he’d finagled a trip to stay with a distant cousin in New York City. For Ryan, who loved expensive shoes, and quirky fashion, this was his dream come true and he was over the moon with excitement. He was planning to attend the local community college for two years to get his prerequisites out of the way, so I’d see him in the fall.
“What do you think, the classy gold sneakers or the cutting edge red shoes with ‘F’ on the left outside, and ‘U’ on the right outside? A big FU to the school but they’d have to see me walk both ways to really notice the message.” He showed me two different pictures of shoes and toggled back and forth between them a few times, just in case I needed a reminder of what they looked like in the span of ten seconds.
“You know I’m the worst person to ask fashion advice from, right?” I pulled my feet up under me as the old leather chair creaked with my movement. I’d miss this chair. It had been my favorite spot since school started.
“What do you mean? You have that whole boho vibe going on.” He waved a hand to encompass my wide-legged linen pants and flowing scoop neck blouse. It was very breezy and comfortable for our spring weather.
“Yes, but this is literally my only style. I have no concept of other styles or what fits someone better. If I were to give you my opinion, it would be black grungy combat boots.”
He curled his lip, clearly repulsed. “Okay, you’re not the one to ask. For the record, I don’t think those boots you like so much are boho.”
I shrugged. “I like them. I don’t wear the boho stuff because I like the boho label. I think the clothes are cute and comfortable.”
Rolling his eyes, he stuffed his phone back in his backpack he’d slung at his feet.
The bell rang, and he stood up, stretching.
“Come on, Ass. I’ll walk you to Rhys.” He waited until I’d put my laptop in my bag and then followed me out of the library. Outside of a couple tables in the corner of students studying for exams, the space was empty. Between the nice weather and how close we were to the end of school, people were over the library. I didn’t mind it at all.
