Roxi’s brows pinch, and she slides her gaze to the side, as if there’s someone beside her who could explain why I’d ask that, then back to me again.
“Y-yeah. He’s your father, right? Oh fuck, did I get it wrong? Are you not his—” She cuts herself off, panic getting the best of her, and her cheeks flushing red.
My mouth flops for a moment before I say, “Yes, he's my father.”
She visibly deflates, her entire body slumping dramatically while a smile splits her face in half once more.
“Oh, thank God. You had me worried for a second! I know how a lot of people in this school are Team Dreadful, so that could’ve been a sticky situation.”
She says ‘Team Dreadful’ in a deeper, mocking voice then titters out a high-pitched laugh when she’s finished.
It feels like a black hole has formed in the middle of my chest, and now, it’s caving in as I’m sucked into the hungry mass.
“Sorry,” I mumble, blinking rapidly and shaking my head. “How do you know Lionel?”
Her face drops, and once again, she glances to the side nervously. “Oh… D-did he not tell you about me yet? Fuck, I’m so stupid.” She slaps her palm to her forehead, muttering more insults beneath her breath.
“Tell me what?” I snap, now growing impatient. A cold sweat blooms throughout my entire body, and panic swirls in my gut.
I need to know what the fuck is going on,and right now.
“Shit, he’s gonna kill me,” she whispers to herself, closing her eyes in defeat.
My eyes bug, and then hers fly open, instantly realizing what she said. She waves her hands in front of her quickly. “Fuck, not literally. Oh my God, I’m messing this entire thing up.”
She heaves out a heavy breath and splays her hand out in a placating gesture. “Okay, let me take a breath and restart.”
Clearing her throat, she straightens and holds out a hand for me to shake.
“Hi, my name is Roxi Jenkins. Lionel and I have been together since my sophomore year. So, uh, I’m your dad’s girlfriend.”
I—
No.
Absolutely the fuck not.
My mouth parts, my world teetering on its axis. I turn my knees to the side to get up but then stop, my brain short-circuiting. I don’t actually know what the fuck to do with myself at the moment.
A waterfall of emotions pours through me—shock being at the forefront, but also denial, disbelief, fury, and definitely horror.
For several moments, I stare at her while trying to process the words that came out of her mouth.
I misheard her.
Yeah, that’s definitely what happened.
Because there’s no fucking way on Satan’s barren Earth this chick just told me she’s dating my fucking father—who’sfifty-four years old.
Cheeks brightening, she slowly pulls her hand back, realizing I have no intention of shaking it. I start and stop a sentence several times, unable to form a coherent thought, let alone a complete sentence.
She lets out another nervous laugh. “I know this is probably a shock. I mean, we’re the same age, and Lionel’s obviously old enough to be my father, but I promise, I’m not after him for his money or anything like that.”
I—
What?
My parents definitely weren’t poor when I was a kid, but they certainly weren’t rich, either. Lionel’s not a goddamn billionaire—not even a millionaire. He worked as a car salesman before he went to prison, for fuck’s sake.
