Nate scoffed. “You’re never going to own up to anything, are you?”
“Nathan.” Dad’s eyes were wide with anger. “Watch yourself.”
“Good luck digging yourself out of this one.” Nate stood up from the table. “And just so you know, you’re running out of people who trust you. Might want to rethink your strategy.”
Nate started towards the side door, giving me a questioning look.
“Give me a second,” I said, with a nod.
He looked a little concerned but continued back into the house anyway, knowing it was up to me to make the final decision. I had to walk away on my own, not be dragged behind him.
The door slammed with finality behind Nate. Derek cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable with our family drama, but still needed some answers. “We need this sorted out, Anderson.”
The formality in his tone made Dad whip his head back around. Eyes narrowed as they landed on Derek.
“It will be,” Dad replied, venom in his voice.
“Good.” Derek stood up. “I’ll give y’all some time to discuss whatever you have going on.”
As soon as he got into his truck and pulled out of the driveway, Dad turned to me. His eyes went softer, a telltale sign of him about to ask me for a favor. A request to keep a secret.
“We’ll figure it out, Kira,” he said to me. “Won’t we?”
My chest felt heavy. I was a little ashamed at how easily he almost drew me back in. I should have yelled like Nate. Or made demands like Derek. Instead, I did what best suited me.
“You will,” I insisted with a curt nod. “Just you, though. It’s time I do other things besides obsessing about the business, don’t you think?”
His expression changed in the realization that I was serious. Hearing his words thrown back in his face made him red with anger. I gave him a moment to respond. He watched me, speechless. Without another word, I slipped back into the house. Nate was leaning against the hallway wall, waiting for me.
I didn’t have to say anything for him to know. He took one look at me and smiled before heading back upstairs.
My defiance, in the end, wasn’t a big show. I didn’t slam the door behind me like my brother. Still, closing it was no less final. It clicked shut after me and tension I didn’t even realize I’d been holding in my shoulders was gone.
Air filled my lungs like I was coming up to the surface after a long dive. I smiled a bit at the feeling of relief breathing clean air gave me.
