AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dinner was uncomfortable as expected. Trev and I mostly talked sports with his dad to avoid the silence. Every time I tried to include Thea in conversation, she’d change the subject and address someone else. Because no one really knew what to say, the food was gone in no time, so at least that was a plus. I want to get Thea out of here to talk.
I push away from the table first, trying to speed up the goodbye process. “Well, that was delicious,” I say, grabbing my plate to bring to the kitchen.
Thea stands as well. “Let me grab the cake from the garage. I put it in the fridge.”
Trevor gets a call from Brooke and walks toward the living room so we can’t overhear the conversation. I grab the restof the dishes from the table and bring them into the kitchen. Their dad follows me in, grabbing another beer. I’m ninety-nine percent positive he started drinking well before we arrived, which is another reason I want to get Thea out of here. I hate how many chances she gives him, but I try not to push the matter with her.
I know that’s the reason Trevor tags along for these random birthday or Christmas celebrations. If he didn’t have Thea, he’d probably never talk to his dad again. I know he wants to be around to protect her. It’s a big reason I wanted to tag along today as well. She’ll always be the bigger person, and who am I to tell her no? Not when he’s the only parent who’s still around.
He leans back against the counter, tipping back his beer as I rinse the dishes off in the sink. “So Mack, you’re still hanging around my kids, huh?”
I don’t turn around right away. Even his voice makes my skin crawl. I force a half smile and nod at him. “Guess so.”
“I see the way you look at her.”
“Sir?” I ask, my defense immediately up.
He shakes his head at the ground. “It’s exactly how I used to look at her mother. You’re only screwing yourself, son. Don’t let some woman get to you. They’re all whores.”
Thump.
I whip around, finding Thea dropping the cake onto the counter.Fuck.
“Happy birthday, dad,” she says, shaking her head and walking away.
“Oh, c’mon, Thea!”
He tries to go after her, but I block his path. “The only reason you’re still standing is because I don’t want to upset her more.”
I don’t wait for the scum to respond before going after her. “Thea!” I call after her, following her out to the garage.
Her dad comes stumbling out. “Stop being so sensitive, Thea.”
“Go sit in my truck,” I say, grabbing her shoulder and making her acknowledge me.
She scowls up at me. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Get in the truck, Thea!” I raise my voice. “Now!”
She stomps away, slamming the truck door when she gets inside. I turn to her dad, making sure he can’t get past me. “Go back inside, sir.”
“Don’t you try to tell me what to do in my own home!” he yells.
I don’t want to escalate this further, so I step back. “We’re leaving.”
“What’s going on?” Trevor asks, coming out to the garage.
“Nothing,” I say, trying to diffuse the situation before it gets worse. “I’m leaving with Thea. I’ll get her home.”
Trevor knows something happened, so he just nods. “I’ll call you.”
I tip my head back in acknowledgement before jogging over to the truck. Thea doesn’t look at me, sitting there with her arms crossed as I start up the truck and back out of the driveway. I know she’s not angry with me. She’s embarrassed. So if she wants to pretend I’m the worst guy in the world right now, then so be it.
“You didn’t need to do all that,” she spits out.
“Of course I did,” I say, gripping onto the steering wheel and driving way too fast. I need to get her away from that place. I shouldn’t have let her go back. I should have protected her.
“It’s okay, Mack. I don’t need you to take care of me!” she shouts.
