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Just the mention of him spikes my blood pressure. “What now?”
After my mother left years ago, my father has relied on his children too much, especially Liz. He moved to Florida after meeting a woman on Match.com, and they broke up a year later. Instead of coming home, he decided to stay there—a smart move. He doesn’t do well in Blue Beech. There are too many memories of my mother.
“He has a new girlfriend, and things went south.” She sighs. “Okay, maybe not another girlfriend.”
“You’re losing me.”
“He got married.”
“What?”
“He eloped without telling anyone.”
“Let me guess; shit fell apart?”
“You know it.”
“So, he needs help cleaning up the mess, and you’re running to his rescue?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing new there,” I mutter.
Her face softens. Liz is protective and the biggest cheerleader of our family not falling apart. “He’s a heartbroken man, Maliki.”
“He’s a grown-ass man who’s beenheartbrokenfor over a decade, and might I remind you, hisheartbreakis from his bullshit actions. It’s time for him to quit whining over the past. He doesn’t deserve pity from anyone. He was a dick to Mom, chose his career over the family, and didn’t realize his mistakes until after he lost her. Fuck, I take that back. He still doesn’t own up to those mistakes.”
“Give him a break, okay? Don’t you care? He’sour father.”
“It’s not that I don’t care. We can’t change him, and our only choice is to either continue to worry about it or move on.” I stand up from the chair and head toward the door. “Me? I’m choosing to move on.”
“It’s not as easy to move on for some people as it is with you.”
“Let me know if you need any advice on learning how to.”
“You’ll be the one askingmefor advice when Blondie ruins you.” She taps my shoulder. “Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone, and stay away from her the best you can. The chick was trouble back then and more trouble now.”
* * *
“You’re making progress,”I say.
Sierra smiles up at me with a shirt and a hanger in her hand. “I’m working on it. Ellie gave me a ride to the restaurant to get my car, so I at least have the clothes I took yesterday. I’ll start rental-hunting tomorrow but will most likely have to search out of town.”
I’m in no rush for her to leave, but that can change. I’ve spent time with her in the bar, but nothing more than that. She might be messy as fuck or do some weird shit.
“Oh!” She snaps her fingers. “How much is rent?”
I rest my back against the wall. “Zero dollars.”
“I can’t live here forzero dollars.”
“Sure, you can.”
“Give me a number to write on a check.”
“Zero dollars.” I smile in amusement. “I wouldn’t waste the paper, but if you want, I’ll take that and that only.”
“That’s takingnothing.”
