Nobody knows she’s here, and recent unexpected visitors have meant severed heads and surveillance cars.
I ease off the couch and head toward the door to check who it could be. I’m footsteps away when the voice on the other side tells me.
“Dad? It’s me!” Tabby calls, tapping her knuckles against the door. “Open up!”
24
SOLANA
Crap.
Time to hide!
I go straight into cover up mode, scrambling for my soda can and food container, shoving them in the cabinet of Silver’s TV console. He’s paused at the door, turning for a look back at me to confirm we’re good.
Any evidence of us has been swept under the rug.
I give a nod, then duck into the guest bathroom in the hall. I press myself against the wall, leaving the door cracked so I can hear and peek at what goes on in the other part of the house.
A second later, Silver’s opening the door.
“Tabitha,” he says. “Hey, didn’t know you were coming by. What’s going on, sweetheart?”
He steps aside to allow space for his daughter to enter, running a hand through his hair. Tabby breezes into the house without a care, reminding me of myself at her age.
Head in the clouds, she’s not really paying attention to much other than what goes on in her world.
“Forgot my quiz cards for history,” she says airily. “They’re up in my room. I need them to study for Mrs. Peterson’s test this Friday. It’s going to be brutal, and I need those dates memorized.”
“That’s good… that you’re studying,” Silver adds, clearly thrown off his usual confident game. He clears his throat. “I’m surprised you didn’t use your key.”
“Forgot it at home. Figured it was easier if I came here after school instead of going home then here, you know?” she asks as she steps to Silver and gives him a hug. She sniffs the air. “Dad, you smell weird.”
“Thanks, that’s exactly what every father wants to hear from his daughter,” he laughs. “I was having tacos, so it’s probably the carne asada and grilled onions and cilantro you’re smelling.”
“No, I mean... you smellgood. Like perfume or something. Since when do you wear perfume?”
My stomach practically drops to my feet. It’smymango vanilla body spray she’s smelling, the one I put on after showering here this morning.
I hold my breath, waiting for her to put it together. For her to realize her dad has a woman here.
“Really?” Silver asks, feigning surprise in his tone. He scratches at the back of his neck. “Must be from the waitress at the Mexican place. She was pretty friendly when I picked up my tacos earlier.”
Tabby’s brows raise in typical teenage skepticism, giving him a look that says she doesn’t believe a word he says. But it seems to leave her mind the next second as she heads up the stairs.
Silver remains on the first floor, glancing over in the direction of the guest bathroom. We’re thinking the same thing—we must keep Tabby away from this room at all costs. He has to get rid of her as quick as possible.
“Anyway, guess what, Dad?” Tabby says as she comes back downstairs a moment later. She beams with pride as she clutches the notecards in her hands. “I brought my geometry grade up from a D to a C.AndI’ve done enough extra credit in English that I’m about two assignments away from getting a B. Mr. Harrison says my last essay wascollege level.”
“Wow, Peanut,” he says, giving an impressed nod. “That’s really good. I’m proud of you. I knew you could get those grades back up.”
“If I do…” she trails off hopefully, waggling her eyebrows.
He chuckles and slides his arms around her shoulders for a fatherly squeeze. “If you do—and you maintain them—we’ll talk about letting you get your driver’s permit.”
“Yesss!” she cheers, bouncing on her feet. “Okay, gotta go! I have mountains of homework, and Britney’s coming over after dinner to study!”
She leans up to kiss Silver’s cheek. He tries to act as normal as he usually would, but it’s difficult for him considering his twenty-year-old girlfriend is hiding a few feet away in his bathroom.
