"I didn't mean to traumatize you," I offer.
"You didn't," she mutters, then releases an anxious breath and spins away from me. "I'll get out of your hair." She takes two steps.
I follow and reach for her. "Willow."
She freezes.
I step in front of her. "I owe you an apology."
Her eyebrows arch. "For?"
My gut twists. I hate thinking about the events of a week ago or any other encounter I've had with my father.
I suck it up and admit, "I was a total dick to you."
"You were?" she questions.
"Yeah."
"When?"
I grunt in amusement, but then the memory makes my grin fall. I shift on my feet, glance away, then stand taller. "After the incident with my sperm donor."
Her lips twitch. "It's okay."
I shake my head. "No, it's not. You were trying to be nice to me, and I took my anger and frustration out on you."
"You didn't," she claims.
I lean closer, teasing, "Since when are you a liar?"
Her mouth curls. "Okay. You were a dick."
I chuckle. "Yeah. So you'll forgive me?"
She nods, beaming. "Already forgotten."
I lower my voice. "Thanks. Now, tell me how big of a surprise party this will be tonight."
She gapes at me, quickly tries to recover, then unconvincingly claims, "There's no party."
I cross my arms and tilt my head. "You're lying again. Is this going to be a reoccurring thing?"
"Ah..." Her mouth hangs open.
I waggle my eyebrows. "If you tell me how many people are coming, I'll owe you big-time."
She pins her eyebrows together in frustration.
I wait her out.
She asks, "How did you know?"
I arrogantly grin. "Everyone gets a surprise party when they turn eighteen. And whatever your parents do for you and your siblings, they do for me."
She doesn't speak.
"Am I wrong?" I ask.
