“You mean your birthday in June, two months ago? Two months and you never said a word?” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, but his entire body was rigid, and if my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, almost shaking. He was either trying to process what he’d seen or hold himself back from going ballistic on the both of us. My guess was a little of column A and a little of column B. “You’ve been lying to us all this time? I don’t even know my own daughter anymore.”
I bit the inside of my cheek as my vision clouded with unshed tears, the sting from my father’s words. My worst nightmare was realized, and all I could do was watch it unfold before me.
Dad inhaled a long breath and glanced at the ceiling with his hand clutching the back of his neck. He dropped his gaze and leveled his eyes at me before either of us could respond. “This … this needs to stop.”
My jaw dropped before I popped off the loveseat. I expected his hurt and his anger, but his dismissal infuriated me.
“Stop? What do you mean stop?” I closed the distance between us and stood before him, pissed off Latin glare to pissed off Latin glare. “I’m sorry I had Dylan over when you weren’t home. I know that was wrong. But telling us this needs to stop—”
“He’s a twenty-six-year-old man.Man,”he sneered.
I had no clue how to handle this unreasonable and mean version of my father.
“You’re just starting college and still a kid. I can’t allow this, Patricia Jane.”
I sucked in a breath as my blood boiled in my veins. “Can’tallowthis? I’m not a kid, Dad. I’m eighteen years old—an adult.”
“Nick, come on.” Dylan pleaded from behind me. “You know me.”
My father let out a humorless laugh. “No, I most certainly donotknow you.” He pushed off the couch and marched up to Dylan. “We all knew she had a crush on you, but taking advantage of it wasn’t something I ever thought you’d do.”
“Take advantage?” I yelled so loud I squeaked. It was humiliating enough to know my crush on Dylan had been such common knowledge, but I hated having it thrown in my face. I had a temper as short as my height, and the devastation over disappointing my father lifted as rage filled me instead. “Dylan didn’t lure me into a van with candy. No one took advantage of anyone. We fell in love.”
Dad put his hand up, shaking his head at me. “You’re too young to know what love is. You’re only a kid, and you’re living in my house so you’ll live by my rules.”
“Stop saying I’m a kid! I’m on a full scholarship and can go out on my own. I don’t need to stay here and pretend I’m five years old for the rest of my fucking life to appease you.”
“PJ, stop it.” My mother reached for me but I yanked my arm away, seething at my father and his ridiculous reaction. Last night, I had been happy, content, and was planning on finally telling them both. But it wouldn’t have mattered if I had told them first. We’d still be having the same exact backward conversation.
“I’ve always treated you like a son.” His voice quivered as he stepped up to Dylan. “She’s almost a decade younger than you, and … this,” he motioned back and forth between us with his finger, “probably started when she was still underage.” Dad’s tone was low and menacing. “Don’t force me to take action on that.”
He had plenty of cop friends in high positions from all his years with the fire department. I hoped this was an idle threat, but if he wanted to make it real, he could in a heartbeat.
“Take action?” My voice screeched so loud even I winced at the shrill sound. “We aren’t lying, and I don’t care if you believe it or not. If you try to get Dylan in trouble you will never. See. Me. Again. Got it, Chief?”
I stormed down the hall, vaguely registering swift footfalls behind me but not turning to find out whose they were.
“I’m leaving!” I yelled, stuffing whatever I could grab into my duffel bag as I met Dylan’s worried eyes. “I’ll stay with you. I’m not staying here and being treated like a child for the rest of my life.”
“PJ, please stop and think about this. Maybe give your dad—and you—a few minutes to calm down.”
“Did you hear him?” a hysterical laugh snuck out through the tears I tried in vain to hold off. “He’s perfectly calm and not listening to a damn thing we say. The only choice is to leave.” I slammed my dresser drawer so hard, the handle came off.
“No, it’s not. I don’t think you really want to leave.”
My head jerked up, the sobs now hitting me hard and setting off a coughing fit. He came closer and rubbed my back until I caught my breath.
“Fine,” I spit out and pushed him away. “I can stay with my cousin Lucy until I find a job, or Ryan at the studio said he was looking for an extra roommate. You remember him, right?” I forced an evil smile. “I’ll move in with him if you don’t want me around—"
“The fucking hell you will!” Dylan bellowed as he grabbed my forearms. “Stop this, Patricia,” he crooned, feathering his hand down my wet cheek. “You’re upset. This all came out in the worst possible way, but you don’t want to give up your family. Leaving will just make it worse. But if you leave this house, you aren’t moving in with strangers. You’re living with me.”
“Living withyou?” Dad roared as he charged into my room and snatched the bag out of my hands. “Have you both lost your goddamn minds?” He threw my bag across the room, spilling everything I had haphazardly shoved inside.
“All right, that’s enough!” Mom stepped in front of me and shoved Dad and Dylan toward the door. “I need to speak to my daughter. Alone. Both of you,get out.”
Both uttered not one peep as they left. My mom was tiny like me, but when she meant business, no one dared argue with her.
Sniffling, I plucked my bag off the floor and gathered all the clothes Dad had spilled out.
