Well then. When you put it like that, I’m up shit creek.
I take in a deep breath and nod before looking back at my family.
“Okay. I think I understand, and your feelings are valid,” I tell them, and they stand a little taller knowing I’m taking their feelings to heart. “But with that said, he is still my father, and I haven’t seen him in years. He’s the only person I can get answers out of right now, and that’s something all of us need.”
Zeke and Levi shift uncomfortably in their seats, and I zero in on them first.
“I know you have reasons, probably more than you’re letting on right now,” I narrow my eyes, “but please remember I didn’t have the best start with my in-laws either. As a matter of fact, I’ve almost died in the presence of one of them twice now.” Moni gives me a blank look. “Lilith,” I clarify.
“Oh! Yeah, she’s a mess.” She nods.
“Can we have a truce for now?” I ask, almost pleadingly. I need my family to get along with my dad. I have enough shit on my plate right now.
“Anything for you, bestie,” Moni cheers, popping up to her full height and hugging me before heading to the door.
Chester comes up and awkwardly stands before me.
“Are we supposed to hug too?” he asks, pushing his glasses up with his middle finger.
“Only if you want to,” I tell him. “Or we can have our own thing, like a fist bump kind of handshake.” When he smiles big, I know I’ve said the right thing.
We do a weird side fist and knuckle bump before he follows Moni.
Each of my men agrees to ease off of Dad before kissing me and walking back out of the den, until Levi is the last one standing before me.
As he walks up, we make eye contact, and he visibly flinches, making my heart break as my eyes start to sting.
“Are you in pain?” My voice cracks as I look at my mage.
Levi slides his hand along my jaw, and I lean into his touch. It’s the first time we’ve touched since Hell, and a few tears escape without my permission. But Levi, being the gentleman he is, wipes them away without calling me out and leans into me.
“The only pain I feel is when I make you cry, and when I’m not the one making you cry out in ecstasy while being burieddeep within you,” he says, smiling down at me and wiping the last tears from my eyes.
“I love you,” I tell him, looking at his hazel eyes and the pain around them. “Ugh, I wish I could stab Emer right now,” I whisper.
“I love you too, Rez, so how about you kiss me instead?” Levi says as he guides me to his lips. He gives me a soft yet powerful kiss that I melt into. “We’ll worry about the Emer stuff later,” he whispers against my lips and links our hands together to walk into the living room.
As I regard the kitchen, I see everyone grabbing their food and drinks, and my stomach attacks me again, reminding me I need nourishment. JP meets me halfway with a plate filled with some of my favorites and a glass of water.
“Figured you would be starving,” he teases, playfully wiggling his eyebrows. Levi squeezes my hand before letting me go, and it breaks my heart knowing that comforting me probably caused him pain.
After thanking JP, I turn to find Dad standing against the wall by the hallway to my room, and I make my way to the sofa closest to him and sit.
“So what did you want to talk about?” I ask, shoving a grape into my mouth.
“Would you feel more comfortable talking in another room?” he asks, mimicking my movements and grabbing a fruit from his own fruit bowl.
“Nope, not really.” I shake my head. “This is my family.” I indicate everyone in the room. “Whatever you tell me, you can say in front of them. Besides, it will save me from having to repeat it and possibly missing vital details later,” I explain, and Dad surprisingly doesn’t question or complain.
He nods and conjures up a chair, much like Levi does, but his is more elaborate than my mage’s. Removing his jacket, he lays itover the arm of the chair, revealing a button-up green linen shirt and brown slacks, and sits down before directing his attention to me.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions. Since I haven’t been around for most of your life, I’m here to answer what I can and see what I can clear up,” he says, his remorseful tone causing emotion to knot in my stomach.
Guilt for being sad, frustration with this whole situation, and, more than anything, anger. I’m fucking pissed I’m sitting here about to ask my father, who hasn’t been around in my life, what my life even meant to him, to my mother, to anyone that even fucking cares, and I’m supposed to believe him? The man who left Mom and me?
I chomp down on a grape so hard that it rolls, and I yelp in pain as I bite down on my tongue instead.
‘Fuck!’I yell in pain, trying not to show any emotion, but it’s hard as I set down my bowl and look at my father.
