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“It was on the housing listing. You emailed me the details, remember? I saved all the contact info.”
I nod, remembering that the house-share addidlist Jack’s email on the contact line. I’d emailed that address first, receiving a one-line response saying Lee was handling the details and giving me a number to text instead. Looks like Dad just kept on chatting with “Jackie.”
“It’s not a big deal,” my father says, trying to downplay it. “I told him it was your first time traveling alone and living abroad. Asked him to watch out for you. Keep you out of trouble.”
“And offered to pay him for his babysitting services?” My sarcasm can’t be controlled.
“Abbey.” Dad looks wounded. “It wasn’t babysitting. I only wanted to make sure you were being looked after.”
“He paid you,” I say to Jack, seeking confirmation.
After a beat, Jack nods.
“How much?”
He mumbles something under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Paid my rent for the year,” Jack repeats. He looks as sick as I feel.
My stomach churns. I gulp down the bile coating my throat.
I nod a couple times before turning back to my father. “What, you didn’t feel like offering to pay everyone’s rent? JustJackie’s?” I say the name mockingly.
“He offered,” Jack says quietly. “I told him Lee and Jamie would never accept any payment. They’re both loaded.”
“But you, oh,youwere happy to take my father’s money.”
He bites his lip. “I didn’t know you, Abbey. Seemed like an easy gig. All I had to do was make sure you were staying out of trouble.”
My eyes burn. No. No, I will not cry. So what if I thought Jack was spending time with me because he liked me and just found out it was because my dad was paying him?
I. Will. Not. Cry.
I swallow repeatedly. My throat is tight with tears I refuse to cry. “I see. So our friendship was a ‘gig.’”
“No, of course not,” he says quickly.
“Stop talking, Jack,” I whisper. “Just stop.”
I draw another breath. My lungs hurt from the oxygen I’m trying to force into them.
I coldly address my father. “You are such a hypocrite. You sat there in my dining room tonight telling me how conniving I was! I groveled and apologized while you chastised me about lying to you, and turns out you’re a liar too! An even bigger one. You made me believe I was free.”
“Abbey.” He blanches. “You’re not my prisoner.”
I ignore the denial. “You couldn’t even let me make my own mistakes. You have so little trust and faith in me, you had to insinuate yourself into my story, my adventure. My”—my voice catches— “friendships. You…”
It happens.
The tears start to fall.
Which means I’m not only gutted and enraged, I’m also mortified. I swipe at my wet cheeks with the sleeve of my sweater.
“Okay.” I take another breath. Give my face another aggressive wipe. “I can’t talk to either one of you right now. It’s late and I’m exhausted, and if we do this now, I’m going to say a lot of things I’ll regret. So please.” I can’t even look at my father as I say, “Just go to your hotel.”
“Kiddo— ”
