The way she so casually says his name as if she knows him intimately makes my hackles raise. It’s then I recall a past conversation I had with Riko where he told me all about how Rhett used to be obsessed with Savvy.
Rather than give him away by divulging anything, I flash Savvy an icy smile, not returning the handshake. The buzzer on my dryer goes off and I’m awarded an opportunity to escape.
“Nice to meet you, Savvy. See you around.”
Her baby starts to fuss so I snatch all my clothes from the dryer and hurry out of the laundry room before she can say anything else. Once back inside my townhouse, I let loose a sigh of relief. My back aches as I carry the basket upstairs. When I deposit it on the bed, I feel the small movements in my belly and grin.
“You’re never awake when Daddy is here,” I tease as I stroke my stomach.
It’s surreal having the life growing inside of you move and actually be able to feel it. Sometimes I can even see my stomach move, but never when Rhett is around.
My phone rings in my pocket. I jerk it out, expecting it to be Rhett since he’s the only one who ever calls me, and freeze when I see the name across the screen.
Dad.
I’m not sure how long it rings before I muster up the courage to answer it.
“Abigail,” Dad grunts after I say hello. “Where on God’s green earth have you been?”
I haven’t stepped foot into my childhood home since I slept with Angela’s boyfriend. Dad is just now wondering where I’m at? Too little too late.
“Living my life, Dad.”
He exhales heavily. “Always dramatic with you.”
Tears flood my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I’m tired of being portrayed as the dramatic one in our family. Despite having done nothing wrong—until Rhett—I wore the scarlet letter of shame anyway. It gets old. I’m grateful Buck will have two parents who will love him unconditionally.
“What do you want?” I say, voice ragged and tired.
Dad makes me wait an agonizingly long several beats. It’s his thing he does if he thinks you’re being rude. I’m not a child anymore, though. I won’t squirm uncomfortably until he speaks again. I’m onto his controlling, superior games.
“I have it on good authority that your sister’s boyfriend will be proposing soon.”
His words shake me to my core for some reason. This isn’t news to me but hearing it from someone besides Rhett is jarring. When it’s just me and him, it feels like we have a relationship. It feels domestic and happy and real. I know he’s with Angela, but when he’s with me, I can sort of pretend it’s not real.
“Oh yeah?” I croak out. “Cool.”
“I know you don’t give two shits,” Dad grumbles, “but it’s in your best interest to start showing concern.”
A burst of hot anger surges through me. “Why’s that?”
He ignores my clipped tone. “You want your money, don’t you?”
The heat from moments before is doused as ice freezes my bones.
“Your mother thinks it’ll look good for you to stand beside your sister on her wedding day as the maid-of-honor. Naturally, Angela has her qualms about this, but your mother insists. She should know weddings aren’t just about the couple. It’s about the family and what they want.” He laughs. “We’re paying for it, so what we say goes anyway.”
I don’t join in on his humor. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Angela hates me,” I say through gritted teeth. Plus, there’s no way I could watch the man I’m falling for marry my witchy sister.
“It’s just a phase,” Dad states, bulldozing past my concerns. “She’ll be happy one day once the two of you smooth things over.”
“She called me a whore.” My voice cracks. “After the Beau situation?—”
“Just words, Abigail. Learn not to be so fragile. My God.”
