The next few minutes probably happen because I’m far too happy and the universe decides that I shouldn’t be allowed this kind of happiness. Maybe I was a bad person in a previous life.
When I get off the elevator, there’s a group of people that I don’t even look at. I’ve learned that when you make eye contact, you’re opening yourself up to conversation. While I’m grateful for all my fans, sometimes I just need some peace and to be left alone.
So I give the group a vague, polite smile as I move beyond them, pulling out the keycard Ren gave me. Keycards and me have a love/hate relationship. I’d say it’s 50/50 that I can get them to work.
Before I even reach my door, I hear, “Felton!”
My blood runs cold as I freeze. Oh, fuck. Please tell me I imagined that voice!
“Turn around and look at me.”
Suddenly my stomach is filled with acid. My shoulders tense so hard, they ache. And not the good kind of ache like when you just finish a really good workout. Or when Ren bends me in half to fuck me. This is not a good kind of ache at all.
“Felton Maurice Badcock,” my father growls and I wince. “Turn around. You’ve been ignoring me long enough. Be a fucking man for once.”
With a shaking hand, I manage to loosen the death grip I have on my phone and pull up my contacts. I hit dial next to Ren’s name as I turn. That’s the most I can do right now.
My father is furious. As soon as I meet his eyes, I can feel his anger like a heat wave as it pushes against me and I have to take several steps backward. He’s not as tall as I am. Not even close. I’m not sure he’s even six feet. Not that I’ve asked. Because that would be rude. Obviously.
“Where have you been?” he demands. “Why have you been hiding from us? How dare you ignore your family. I didn’t thinkyou could possibly be more disrespectful, but you never cease to prove me wrong. Your mother has been worried sick.”
I glance at her; but as always, she’s standing slightly behind my father with a neutral expression.
“I told you to come home and you completely disobeyed me. What was more important than spending the holiday with your family, to whom you owe everything? I have to get updates about my own child online! But you’ve even evaded reporters. What new scandal are you hiding now? What new thing have you done to embarrass us this time?”
The world around me spins. I can taste bile in my throat as my vision narrows and tilts violently. Please no. Please just go. I can’t do this.
But they’re still there. My father is still telling me how much I let him down. How disgusted he is with me. I’m… horrified. Sick.
“How dare you block my number! What’s wrong with you? I didn’t raise you to be so blatantly disrespectful. To sue your team, who’s stuck with you since the beginning of your mediocre career and supported you. For what? They can’t improve your game, Felton. That’s all on you!”
And then Ren is between us. His presence makes my father stop talking as he looks at Ren, startled. A moment of silence passes between us as he contemplates Ren.
“Do not talk to him that way,” Ren orders. I’ve never heard his voice like that. I know it’s him. I can smell his unique, calming scent brush against me. Allowing me to finally take a breath. But I’ve never heard his tone so… angry. “You’re the absolute most pathetic excuse for a father I’ve ever had the misfortune to know about.”
“You’re the asshole who refused to let him come home,” my father says.
“Yes,” Ren confirms. “Which was the best decision for him. For a whole ten days, he learned what it’s like to have a family tosupport and love him without question. He smiled. He had his first happy holiday memory. And I’ll be damned if I let you come around again and fuck him up.”
“How dare you?—”
My father’s words cut off when Ren turns around and gives my father his back. Ren presses his card to my palm. I have no idea where the first one he gave me went, but my hands are shaking so I’m barely able to hold onto it. “Go inside the room,” he tells me before pressing a hand to my chest, right over my racing heart. “Sit and catch your breath. I’ll be right in.”
I can’t breathe. He’s right that I need to catch my breath. There’s a very good chance that I’m going to fall over and land on my face in the next several seconds if I don’t.
Giving Ren a nod, I turn for the door.
“Don’t you walk away, Felton!” my father nearly shouts.
I wince and pause, but Ren’s hand lands gently on my lower back. “Go. I’ll deal with this.”
Nodding again, I take another step forward. I feel as much as hear my father following. but then Ren is there, blocking his path. I can only hear Ren speaking, but can’t make out his words over my father’s angry voice.
The quiet beep of the door lets me know it unlocks, so I push it open, thankful that it didn’t give me a hard time. Maybe the universe knows that I can’t handle fighting with a door right now. It shuts quietly behind me, and I drop my bag. I’m thankful Ren told me to sit because with as wild as my brain is spinning right now, I’d probably just stand here as I try not to get sick.
Instead, I fall into a chair and close my eyes.
My father’s voice rises and, while the thick door muffles it, I can still hear him. I shake as I try to push it away. Block it out. He’s not here. This isn’t happening. I’m still at Ren’s house and everything is fine.
