“I’ll wait all night.” I planted two long pecks on her lips before I rose from the bed and held out my hand.
“I’m proud of you, Jack.” My chest constricted at her easy smile before she took my hand and stood from the bed.
I kissed the corner of her mouth and rested my forehead against hers. “I’m proud of you, too, Danielle.”
“I guess I’ll see you later.” She backed away with the same goofy grin I felt spread across my lips.
“You better,” I growled, drawing out a sexy giggle from her before she left.
I walked outside and stepped into Uncle Evan’s car.
“I knew it was about a girl.” He chuckled as he drove away.
I stilled before buckling my seat belt. “How did you know that?”
He cocked an eyebrow at me. “It’salwaysabout a girl. Ready to go home?”
I laughed and nodded, an unfamiliar flicker of hope sparking in my chest. “Let’s go.”
37
PJ
“PJ,”Beth sighed as she pulled the rag out of my hand. “Go home.”
“No.” I yanked it back and continued to scrub the table. “You need help.”
“It’s a painting table; it’s not supposed to be clean. Class was cancelled so just. Go. Home.” She grasped my arm. “I love you to pieces, but you can’t hide out here. Isn’t your brother coming home today?”
Beth knew all about my family shitstorm after my boyfriend and I had gotten caught coming out of my bedroom. Dylan had still been keeping his distance like my mother had requested, but I couldn’t help wondering if maybe he had given up. Our texts had been sporadic and short over the past few days. What if he had come to the realization we—orI—was more trouble than it was worth?
I was lonely and upset, the distance doing nothing to quell my longing for the one man I wasn’t allowed to want. I’d rather scrub years-old paint stains from a metal table than stare at the walls of my bedroom and think about the horrific fallout. Dad wouldn’t even look at me at first, but lately, I’d sensed the weight of his stare whenever I’d venture out of my room for something quick to eat. Words unsaid dangled between us, and as angry as I was at my father, I missed him so much it hurt. Nothing would ever be the same again—for any of us—and that was all my fault.
I tried to reason that his reaction would’ve been this terrible regardless of how he’d found out, but if we had at least come to my parents and told them before they’d found us, I’d still be able to look my dad in the eye. Now, I was too ashamed and too heartbroken to be anywhere near him.
“Yes, and I’ll see him tomorrow. I can’t be at a family dinner right now.”
I guessed I got my wish. He’d never call me Peanut again.
The alarm chirped and made us both jump. Beth must’ve set it but then had forgotten to lock the door.
“Sorry, sir. Class is cancelled and we’re closed.”
“Oh.” I winced at the familiar voice. “I was hoping to see my daug—PJ. Is she here?”
“She is,” Beth replied before raising a quick eyebrow at me. “I’ll straighten up the back. Take your time.”
My father owned any room he walked into. Even at his age, women still swooned, and his mere presence commanded people to take notice. It’s what had made him a born chief. His tentative steps and sheepish stare as he came closer were completely foreign to me.
“Hi. Can you pretend like you’re talking to me for a minute?” A tiny smirk curled his lips as he motioned to the seats at the table.
I nodded and sat down, finally lifting my gaze to his for the first time in days. His features were tired and pained with dark circles around his eyes, and a sad smile stretched his lips.
“I hate this.” He exhaled and leaned his elbows on the table.
“Me too, Dad.” So many emotions had rushed through me when we’d fought, but shame was the only one coursing through my veins now. It twisted my gut and my heart. Remembering my mother’s stories of how he’d never put me down and how the sun had risen and set on me filled my eyes with tears.
“I don’t like it, PJ. The age difference, the sneaking around; if you had said something … anything, it would have been better than finding …” He trailed off, and I thanked God he couldn’t complete that sentence.
