“I have a dinner to get, too,” I added.
He nodded. “Yes, you said with your dad. Is Ilsa going?”
I nodded. “Yes. We will be home later.” As I stepped away from him, I felt my skin on fire, a sudden ache for his touch. I didn’t understand why my body reacted this way when my mind knew better. I knew better.
The relationship I had with Brandon was better if we kept our distance. The closer I got, the more I wanted him, and that couldn’t happen.
“I’ll see you later.”
I made my way back to my car with my heart racing. I took several deep breaths to be rational. Everything he was doing was work. It wasn’t because he wanted me. It was to protect Ilsa. I needed to remember that.
I showered as soon as I got home and gathered Ilsa and headed over to my father’s house. My insides twisted up as I drove. I knew how this dinner was going to go. With Kaleb around, my father hadn’t been able to ask me much about how my relationship with Brandon was going, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t bring it up.
My father was going to question me like crazy during dinner, and I had no way to escape. I would be forced to sit there and answer them.
I pulled up in front of my father’s house and felt my stomach bottom out.
Ilsa spoke up softly. “Is Uncle Kaleb here?”
I wished. I was tempted to call him and ask him to join us for dinner tonight, but I knew he had something else planned. He had told me he was going to miss dinner, but to have fun. His exact words. Clearly, he didn’t know our father that well, or he would have used other wording.
I shook my head at Ilsa. “He isn’t, but that’s okay.”
Ilsa smiled at me as I grabbed her hand. We headed inside, and I could smell the aroma of smoked chicken. The space smelled of spices and herbs, and Ilsa jumped on her heels. She was up the stairs the second her shoes were off, and I swallowed.
“Ilsa, look at how big you are getting.” My father’s voice filled the space, and I headed up the stairs, finding my father already had the dinner set out on the table. He had three plates set up, and Ilsa headed to her spot. My father was sipping on a drink; I imagined it was some hard liquor.
“Jade, are you going to join us or just stare?”
I forced a smile and walked over, taking my spot. My father watched me as I cut up Ilsa’s plate and stuffed her napkin onto the top of her shirt.
“How have things been living with Brandon?”
Ilsa took a bite of her food, and her eyes seemed to spark with joy. “It’s good.”
My father smiled at Ilsa before he looked at me, waiting for my answer. I swallowed, feeling my mouth was dry. “It’s going well.”
“And your relationship?”
I paused my fork and glanced at Ilsa, who didn’t seem to be listening. I knew my father was asking in front of her on purpose, so I didn’t say anything or argue back.
“It’s fine. It’s only been a few weeks.”
“He is Alpha, Jade. You want to incorporate yourself into his life. Make yourself useful. At least for once in your life.” My father shook his head as he took a bite of his chicken. “Your mother was useless. She never knew how to cook. Never knew how to keep the house clean. The most use I got out of her was in the bedroom.”
His words came out like a slap, and I looked down at my food. We spoke so little of my mother, and whatever words he did share were never nice. My mother had died when I was three. My father said she’d always been weak, never could keep up. That he wished he’d picked someone stronger.
“Have you two talked about more children? Have you taken on the correct role of keeping the house clean and making sure his needs are taken care of?”
My father looked at Ilsa. “Ilsa, wouldn’t you like a sibling?”
I felt my face grow red and glared at my father. “We are all doing fine.” I didn’t need Ilsa to be confused.
My father didn’t like the answer, and I tried to reach for something else. “Besides, Brandon has been busy with other things. He’s been busy with the training.”
My father rolled his eyes. “Jesus, don’t get me started on that.”
“You don’t think it’s important? Having everyone know how to protect themselves?”
