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“Is his nephew playing?”
“No, Miles is out for the season. Which makes me think he was asking for another reason.”
The last thing I want to do is offend my dad, and I know having Vinny here, essentially babysitting him, probably frustrates him.
“Nina’s friends, Lucy and Megan, invited me out to dinner tonight. I’m not going to go, but Lance nearly talked me into it. I’m sorry I called Vinny. I should’ve asked you about it first.”
“I’ve told you before that I don’t need anyone out here watching me. I have the best doctors money can buy. I’m more upset at the fact you think you have to stay here and look after me all the time. You can’t keep putting your life on hold, Scarlet.”
“I’m not.”
His jaw locks against my scalp, but I stare ahead at my mother’s headstone. I don’t know what he expects me to say sometimes. Who wouldn’t care for their dad if they were sick?
“When you came home from university, I told myself I’d never let my health interfere with your life again. I’ve failed on that promise, and I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Dad—”
“—you don’t have any friends, Scarlet. You don’t go out. And I can already see you putting blocks in front of yourself with Lance. Likely because you’re too worried about me, and I don’t care if it was just one night. I know you. I’ve seen it time and time again with people coming and going from your life.”
I swallow, gritting my teeth. My eyes burn, and I know it’s because I’m overtired.
I need sleep.
My dad continues, and I contemplate blocking him out, but it’s impossible when his voice reverberates around his chest, settling in my ear. “I’m here, and that’s about all I am. Anything else is because of you. I love you for it, sweetheart, I do. Butyoucan’t just be here. You’re more than this estate. Go out with those girls tonight, okay? Tomorrow we can sit here, and you can tell me all about it.”
My stomach twists into knots just thinking about going into the city, leaving him here again for another night.
“I don’t know…”
“I already told Vin to come by at four when the game starts. Did you plan to drive in?”
I look up at him and shrug.
He just smiles back at me. “Figure it out and let me know. I can arrange a driver for the night.”
My eyes well up, and I nod. “I love you, Dad. I’m sorry.”
He wipes my cheek, catching my tears with the back of his finger as he has for the past twenty-nine years. “You never apologise for being you. Ever. You’re Scarlet Lowell, and you’ll let the whole world know it.”
SIXTEEN
Scarlet
I should have known going out for a meal with Lucy and Megan would lead to drinks at a bar. I guess my friend etiquette is nonexistent after years of not having a social life. After a meal at Groulx, we moved on to The Pearl, one of the girls’ favourite spots to drink at. It took me five drinks before my body grew loose and my ass was on the dance floor with them. We danced for hours, laughing like schoolgirls over stupid, meaningless stuff.
The night hasn’t been about hookups or impressing anyone, and I think it’s made me fall in love with these girls even more.
“Luce…” Megan stumbles on air as she approaches where Lucy and I are standing. “Luce, that man is doing damn well fine over there by the quirky lantern lightsabre thing. If you don’t ask him if he needs his balls holding tonight, I just might.”
I pull Megan under my arm and laugh. “Water. You need water.”
“Make it holy. The other stuff won’t fix that monstrosity.” Lucy dips two fingers into her drink and flicks them at Megan’s face. Megan sticks out her tongue to catch the splashes.
My stomach aches from laughing so much. I feel like we haven’t stopped all night.
“I might actually ask him,” Lucy eventually says, and I frown as I watch more alcohol get sucked up her straw.
“I’ll believe it when I see it. But you’ve got this girl.” Megan holds her fist out to bump, and Lucy cups it.
