I shut my laptop and slip on my flip-flops before heading downstairs. I’m only wearing my PJ’s but the night’s still warm as I open the door and my dad turns to face me.
“Hi,” I say. “What are you doing here?” My dad is a tall man and whereas my mom has her soft curves, I’m not sure my dad could put on weight if he tried. Somehow though, he still feels like a force of nature. A stubborn immovable post that I am forever trying to bend.
“Why am I here?” his graying brows climb high on his forehead, his anger carrying him forward. “You had a fire, Lola, and you didn’t even call.”
My eyes flutter shut, the air slipping from my chest. “It was nothing, Dad. The fire wasn’t even inside the building.”
He throws his arms wide. “Oh, well that makes it okay then.”
“Dad—”
“Your mother was worried sick when we heard. Did you even notice she’s called you half a dozen times?”
I screw up my face, I’d turned my phone off after the message from Max, so I didn’t spend every second checking it. “I’ll call her back. I promise.”
He studies me for a moment then nods. “Good.”
The space between us is taut, an elastic band stretched to breaking point.
“You should go home, before it gets fully dark,” I say, and I don’t know whether it’s because I want him to be safe or because I don’t know how to talk to my own father right now. Not when I’m still mad at him. Not when he makes me feel like a brazen teenager. Not when part of me wishes he would ask to come in, to see my shop. My dad has the best smile when he’s proud and I feel like I haven’t seen it in years.
“Lola…” He steps towards me, his fingers clutching the brim of his hat. The dark eyes we share sweep over me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
My heart twinges and suddenly I want to tell him everything. I want to tell him about the messages and about almost getting run over. I want to tell him I think Carson’s behind it all. But I can’t tell him that without telling himwhyI think Carson wants to hurt me and I just can’t do that.
“I’m good. Honestly, it was nothing.”
A breath hissed out between teeth. “It wasn’t nothing. Next time there’s a fire, you call. I don’t care if we’re in the middle of the worst fight we’ve ever had. Hell, I don’t care if we haven’t spoken in ten years. If there’s a fire, you call me, okay?”
My eyes sting like there’s still leftover smoke in them. “Okay. I’m sorry, Dad.”
His face twists and he drops his hat, bridging the space between us and tugging me outside as he wraps me in his arms.It’s a short but firm hug and I breathe him in like I used to when I was a kid.
He presses his lips to the top of my head and whispers, “I’m sorry too, kid.” Then he lets me go and picks up his hat. “Call your mother,” he orders as he tugs the straw hat onto his head.
I nod and watch him walk down the street. The sun is already half set, casting the street in a dim shadow, and I suddenly get that feeling like someone is watching me.
I scan the street, looking for the pickup truck that keeps haunting me but the only car still around is a black SUV parked up across the road. Maybe Iambeing paranoid.
I go back inside, making sure to lock the door.
It stinks of burnt wood down here, and I try not to let it bother me. Try not to let the shadow of my ruined sign out back make me think that maybe my parents were right. That maybe I’m not ready for this.
My gaze drops to the counter and the purple folder Roman brought back this morning. I should be happy he agreed to sell me his apples but honestly, it feels pretty on brand for my life that the only person who seems to believe in me is the one person I can’t have.
Chapter Sixteen
Roman
He should have turned up.
It’s fine.
It’s not fine, Rome. He should be here. Your dad should be at your graduation and if you can’t be mad at him, then I’ll be mad for you.
- Conversation between Mase, age 18 and Roman, age 18
It’sseven in the morning and Mase is testing the edges of my patience. I’m not an angry person. When everyone else is losing their shit, I’m the one who stays calm, but Mase is avoiding my calls, and I spent all night driving about local bars trying to find him.
