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A small gasp from the other side of the table makes me look up. A pinched expression comes over Seth as he walks with a slight limp toward the doorway.
“Are you okay?” I ask, jogging after him.
“I’ll be fine in a few days,” Seth says with a reassuring smile. He gently caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. “Just stay away from trouble until then, okay?”
“I’m sorry,” I say in a small voice.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Seth says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “It’s not your fault I was careless and got hurt.”
Guilt settles in my stomach as he leads me into the living room.
“You should sit down,” I say, following him. “It’s best you don’t put too much pressure on your leg.”
“She’s right, Seth-bear,” says Simon. “Relax on that couch while Oli and I work our charm on Mr. Mayor.”
The bell rings the moment Seth has seated himself. Simon grins widely and hurries toward the door.
“Hello, Sir! Mornings!” Simon’s cheerful voice filters into the room. “Sheesh! You look awful. Didn’t you sleep last night?”
Dad mumbles something incoherently. Next moment, he steps inside the room and looks all around the place until his gaze falls on me.
“Rory,” he breathes, hurrying toward me. “Sweetheart!” His arms go around me, pulling me against him in a tight hug.
“Hey, Dad,” I say, forcing myself to chuckle. “It’s great to see you too.”
Stepping away, he stares at me from head to foot. “Are you okay?” he asks, looking deeply anxious.
“Yeah.”
His skin looks ashen and dark circles rim his eyes. He truly looks like he’s been awake all night.
“Dad, didn’t you sleep last night?”
“I was too worried to sleep.”
“Why? I called you last night to tell you I was fine.”
“I had to see you with my own eyes to believe you,” he says. Taking my hands in his, he stares at me with tear-filled eyes. “The last time you disappeared, you didn’t show up for months! And, then when you came back, you looked like you were starved and beaten down by life. I wasn’t going to sit back and let that happen to you again!”
I’m grateful for the long sleeves of my mate’s shirt that cover my wrists and hide the bruises there. Dad looks terribly shaken up from my sudden disappearance last night. If he saw the marks Vaughn left on me, he’d know we were all lying to him.
“Dad, look at me,” I say, opening my arms wide. “I’m fine.”
A moment later, the anxiety in Dad’s eyes slowly melts away and is replaced by anger.
“I’m tired of your irresponsible behavior!” he shouts. “You have no respect for me or your mates. How could you leave the house without telling at least one of us where you were going? Do you have any idea how worried we all were?”
“I’m sorry,” I quickly apologize.
He scoffs. “It’s all my fault. I should’ve been stricter with you. Instead, I’ve pampered you and spoiled you. It was one thing to drive me out of my mind with worry but you cannot do the same with them.”
“She’s apologized to us too,” Seth says, coming to my rescue. “It’s all okay. We’re not mad at her or anything.”
Dad glares at him. “You should be!”
An amused look comes over Seth as he glances at me.
“You must’ve left home early this morning,” Oliver says from behind me. “Did you get a chance to eat breakfast?”
