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He throws me a flinty stare, hands on his waist. My father is a walking time bomb. Anything can set him off. Maybe he and Theo’s father can take anger management classes together and discuss whether their kids are the problem or them.
Dad’s brows knit together, and he’s huffing, his breaths shallow as if he’s trying to rein in his fury.
What have I done this time?
“Hi, Dad.”
“You’re late! Do you want to make an entrance? I told you repeatedly not to embarrass me. And what the fuck are you wearing?” He’s pointing an accusing finger at me. His voice is hushed, but it’s clear to anyone watching he’s reprimanding me for something.
Before, I used to wish the ground would swallow me whole. Unfortunately, he’s done this so many times I only want to get it over with.
I can’t stop myself from flinching when he steps forward. He has never hit me before, but then, there’s always a first time. So I mentally brace myself even if I know he won’t cause a scene at a public place where his friends and colleagues can see.
“She’s not late. It’s still 6:45.”
Theo’s voice is deep and cold. Even from his tone alone, it’s easy to tell my father won’t be able to push him around that easily. Unlike me.
Relief comes in a deluge, and the knot in my belly starts to unwind. He’s here. Theo’s here. I’m safe. There’s no way he’s going to let my father do something to me.
“Who the fuck are you?” my father hisses. He’s so close that his spit lands on my cheek. I will my hands not to wipe it.
“Her boyfriend.”
The laughter spilling from my father’s lips is bitter and sharp, his eyes crinkling with a biting edge. One hand rubs his jaw and he flicks his eyes from me to Theo. The sly smile chills me and makes dread pool in my stomach.
With a subtle shake of his head, he tuts. “If there’s one good thing about you, Tess, it’s your consistency. You’ve always been a disappointment. Always. Whether it’s at school or social events, you’ve never met my expectations no matter how low I set the bar.”
He cuts his icy gaze to Theo and scoffs at me. “Your sister married one of the most powerful men in the country. Someone who can buy her diamonds for breakfast without going bankrupt. But you…” He points at Theo. “You’re with this?”
He loosens his tie and shoots Theo a hostile look. “What are you, boy? An ex-con? Where did you get that scar? Prison? I won’t be surprised if your rap sheet is as long as my arm.”
That’s it.
I step in between them, holding out my hands. “Stop it, Dad.”
His features contort in a grimace, nose wrinkling. “Get out of here, Tess. You’re done embarrassing me tonight. You are not walking around and socializing on his arm. Message me when you’ve dumped him. Then, we’ll talk.”
With my eyes on the floor, I shake my head. “No.”
“No?”
I will not cry. I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me break in front of him. No. But I’m done bending over backward to please him and make him proud. I’m sick and tired of living my life constantly seeking his approval and validation.
This ends now.
Tears prick the back of my eyes, but I blink them away, swallowing past the massive lump in my throat. My hand seeks Theo’s and he clasps it, sliding his fingers through mine. “You’ve always looked for reasons to hate me. My hair, my makeup, my friends, my clothes, my course, my grades. Now, my boyfriend.”
He glares at me with a disdainful twist of his mouth. “Well, you can’t really blame me, can you? If you had half your sister’s sense?—”
“I am not her!” My composure slips, and I raise my voice for the first time … ever.
His eyes stare at me in astonishment, quickly scanning for people he knows behind me. He opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.
“No, Dad. You’ve told me enough already. It’s my time to talk.”
“You can, daughter. Doesn’t mean I have to listen to it.” With one last sneer, he turns his back to me.
“You hate me because I look like my mother.” This stops him in his tracks, but he still refuses to look back, his shoulders tense. “You told me I was worth nothing and would amount to nothing when I was eight. Eight! For years, I tried so hard to please you, but nothing is good enough. No matter what I do.”
