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The flush crawls all the way to his cheeks. “I was hasty in saying that.”
“Then apologize.”
“Of course I apologize. I’m sorry, Tess. I did not mean it.”
“I accept your apology.” Even if I am mildly stunned. I don’t think he’s ever apologized to me for anything.
The silence in the room stretches as the seconds tick past.
Uncle Josh, likely coming from a long shift down at the police station, tiredly rubs his scruffy jaw.
My father, a big man who seems to be shrinking before my eyes, stares down at his feet, for once at a loss for words. He might be truly sorry. Or he might be preserving his own interests, aware of how it will look if his own daughter abandons his campaign only a few weeks before the election.
The antique grandfather clock chimes in the dining room and I stand up slowly. “We’re a family, aren’t we? Let’s take the weekend off and remember that. Micah is coming over later and bringing some pizza. Dad, you know Micah and I trust that you’ll be civil. Uncle Josh, I hope you’ll stay for dinner.”
My uncle nods. “You bet.”
“Micah is always welcome here,” my father says, meaning he’s going to pretend he didn’t say the things he said.
It’s news to me that he and Ethan Lyonne had any serious issues but my memories of Micah’s father are vague. He told jokes, had a nice smile that he passed on to his son. He would hang out here often with my dad and Uncle Josh.
Olivia’s obsession with the Lyonne men might have something to do with my father’s resentment but that’s not a topic I’m going to touch.
“I’ll be upstairs until Micah arrives.”
Leaving them behind in the kitchen, I feel like I’ve won a small victory.
Chapter14
Tess
Micah rings the doorbell five minutes early with two pizza boxes casually balanced on one open palm. He grins and once again I’m startled by the depth of my own delight at the sight of him.
If we were alone I’d jump right into his arms and kiss his face until we were both breathless, but with Uncle Josh and my father standing somewhere behind my back, I settle for squeezing him around the waist.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
He returns my hug with his free hand and then lets that hand idly brush across the back of my jeans. “So am I.”
“Micah.” Uncle Josh steps forward first with his hand out.
Micah’s not real big on formal manners but he shakes my uncle’s hand after unloading the pizza boxes on the dining room table. My father is slower to approach, silently watching in the background with a cautious expression.
However, Stuart Ballerini hates to lose and he understands what this situation requires. He pastes on his dazzling grin and coats his voice with paternal friendliness as he pumps Micah’s hand. “Hello, son. Good to have you in my home again.”
Micah shows me a raised eyebrow. I wrinkle my nose as a sign that I’d like him to play along.
“Hello, sir. Yes, it’s beenyearssince I’ve been in your house.”
A flashback to my bedroom. The origin of the crack of the wall.
I squeeze Micah’s arm.Please behave yourself.
He might. He might not.
If my father sticks to his polite act then there won’t be a problem. But Micah’s unlikely to hold his tongue if challenged by any openly rude comments.
Micah waits for me to sit and then takes the chair to my right. He’s not a fancy dresser and he didn’t break code tonight, choosing a plain black tee and battered jeans. It occurs to me that our styles match for once, as I’m dressed more casually than I ordinarily would be for a dinner guest.
