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His eyes drift briefly to Hollis, then back to me. “He’s not the guy for you, Mia. Not him.”
Hollis stiffens beside me. I know that has to sting. He respects my dad, and I think he’s grown to care about him. Having my father shun him can’t feel good.
Tears prick my eyes—anger at myself for not telling my dad sooner and putting Hollis in this position.
Steeling my spine, I say, “You need to leave.”
“I’ll do no such thing. But you,” he points a finger, one that’s literally shaking from anger, at Hollis, “you can leave.”
“Sir,” he tries to speak.
“Shut the fuck up, haven’t you done enough?”
“Dad!” I yell, my lips trembling. “Stop it. You’re not being fair!”
“Hayes, I—”
“Mia,” my dad speaks over Hollis again, “if you were so sure about this guy, you would’ve told me. You have to realize that.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You’re wrong. This is the exact reason I didn’t say anything to you! You blow everything out of proportion. Can’t you see you’re smothering me?”
I’m full-on crying now, there is no holding back the tears. I’m hurt—angry at both him and myself.
“Smothering you?” he retorts, rearing back like I’ve slapped him. “How the fuck do I smother you?”
I gape at him. “Do you need me to list it off?”
He runs his fingers through his hair, agitated. “Yeah, go for it, Mia. Tell me what an awful father I am.”
“Dad! That’s not what I—” I shake my head, my cheeks damp with tears. “IloveHollis and he loves me and that should be enough for you. I don’t want to fight about this.”
He snorts like this is oh-so-amusing. “You think this loser loves you?” Out of the corner of my eye I see Hollis flinch. I want to push, shove at my dad for saying anything hurtful about Hollis. He doesn’t deserve that. “He’s going to leave here, Mia. He’s not staying in Virginia. He’s going to go back to L.A. and fuck his way through the city and I’ll be the one trying to pick up the pieces when he breaks your heart. You’re my little girl. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“Protect me?” I snap back. “Or protectyou?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means it’s time for you to face the music—I’m an adult. A grown woman. I choose who I love and I picked Hollis. You have to deal with it and if you choose not to then that’s on you.” His jaw works angrily back and forth. “I can’t … I can’tlookat you right now. I’m too angry, and hurt, and … just go, please, Josh.”
I’ve never called my dad by his first name. He’s always been daddy or dad. But right now … I don’t even recognize him.
He busted in here like a crazy person.
He punched Hollis.
He voided their contract.
He ordered the love of my life to leave. To leave this town, this state. Probably the whole country if he could make it happen.
I don’t know if I can ever forgive him for this, for having the gall to think he can decide who I’m with.
He swallows thickly but doesn’t move.
“Go,” I seethe, my tone deadly. “You need to go.”
I’m just … done. Exhausted. Emotionally drained.
He backs away.
