His eyes narrow at me. “She said you were with him last night too. At that… sex club.” He spits the words like they’re toxic. “Is that true?”
Silas doesn’t flinch. “She wasn’t alone yesterday. That’s all you need to know.”
Chad ignores him and looks at me. “Care to explain why I got a phone call in the middle of the night from Abi, hysterical, saying you two accosted her in a parking lot, screaming, threatening her, accusing her of abuse? She’s distraught with Minxy missing from school, and you two when caught, decide to attack her? That’s not like you, Penelope. It’s beneath you.”
My pulse kicks hard. Heat crawls up my neck. I take a few steps away from the parking lot so he won’t notice Gideon and head toward a bench tucked between two trees. It only takes maybe fifteen steps before I whirl on him.
“Did she mention she locked Minxy in that school? Why, as her mother, she can’t pull her out even for your wedding? Why in the year you’ve been together you’ve never even spoken on the phone, had a Facetime, wrote a damn letter or even an email?” I ask.
He blinks once, confusion flickers. “She said you were being dramatic over not meeting Minxy. She’s in trouble at school. Ican't help that you can’t meet her. I’ve not spoken to her for the same reason; she’s a bit of a troublemaker.”
Silas exhales through his nose, a controlled release of fury.
“That’s all bullshit,” I spit. “Dad, she institutionalized her.”
“That’s not what Abi said.”
“No,” I say. “Because Abi lies.”
His expression hardens. “Enough! I didn’t come here to talk about Abi or Minxy. I want to know why you were at an adult club. Why were you seen leaving with a man way older than you?”
That lands like a slap.
Silas goes still beside me.
I step forward. “Dad,” I say quietly. “I was at the adult club because I am an adult, in case you forgot. And as an adult, I have a healthy sex life. I’m safe, which is all you need to know because I’m grown. I was there with Silas because I’m seeing him. Actually, I’m seeing him and Gideon and Talon. I’m dating all three men.”
His face drains so fast it’s almost comical. He steps around me and drops onto the bench.
“You’re…you’re what?” he stammers. “Penelope, that’s—That’s not—You cannot be serious.”
“I’m completely serious,” I say. “And before you say anything, I’m not asking for permission.”
Dad shakes his head. “You’re seeing three men. Three. All of whom are related. Dominic’s brother and Abi’s? Talon?” His voice climbs. “This is exactly what Abi was talking about. This impulsive behavior. You’re acting out. This isn’t normal.”
Silas steps forward, but he doesn’t cut me off. He stands at my back like a quiet warning.
“This has nothing to do with Abi,” I say. “And it has nothing to do with you. It’s my life.”
He scoffs. “You want me to take you seriously? You want me to hear you about Minxy, about Abi, about anything? And you’re standing here admitting you’re in some kind of—” He waves his hands. “Group relationship?”
“Polyamory,” I correct.
He makes a strangled sound. “This is insane.”
“What’s insane,” I counter, “is trusting a woman who institutionalized her child.”
“We’re not talking about that again,” he snaps. “Abi said you only care about making her look bad because you hate that I’m moving on.”
My chest tightens. My pulse spikes.
Silas’s voice enters the conversation like a blade sliding onto the table. “You’re doing it again.”
Chad stiffens. “Doing what?”
“Choosing the version that requires the least work,” Silas says. “Abi feeds you excuses, and you swallow them because it’s easier than questioning the woman you’re about to marry.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
