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Okay, fine. I’ll keep reading. Have a great day, Angel. *blowing kiss emoji*

I wake up from my nap, my book splayed across my chest. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I replace my bookmark and lay The Hobbit back on the nightstand. Apparently, I fell asleep reading again.

With a loud yawn, I stretch and get up and out of bed, scratching my stomach where the pages left little marks on my skin. I walk down the hallway that leads from my bedroom to the kitchen. My bare feet are cold against the tile, and it hits me that this big house is starting to feel more quiet and lonelier the longer I live here. It’s eerily quiet, there’s a ringing in my ears, as if my ears are trying to create noise for me to listen to. I used to be out on the town all the time, hardly ever home. But I don’t have the desire to go out all the time anymore. And finding some random hookup doesn’t interest me anymore. I’m kind of disappointed it ever did. Disappointed in that small piece of me that’s just like my dad.

I bought this house years ago simply because it’s in the same neighborhood as Remy. But I’ve never known what to do with all the extra space. I suppose it’s time to hire a designer or something. There’s a whole upstairs that I completely forget about, with gorgeous, vaulted ceilings, and distressed wood beams. It’s all wasted on a bachelor with no design intuition.

Grabbing the empty coffee pot from the coffee maker, I pad to the sink to fill it up, when I hear my phone ring. I run back to my room where I left my phone and see my dad is calling. Reluctantly, I answer it.

“Hey, Dad.”

His booming voice comes from the speaker. “How’s my favorite son?”

I sigh and shift on my feet. I’m his only son... that we know of. “Doing okay, what’s up?”

“Can’t I call to chat and catch up with my boy?”

I arch a brow even though he can’t see me. My dad has never called just to chat. “Sure, you can. How are you?”

He hedges. “Well, actually, there is a reason for my call.”

I snort an unamused laugh and he continues. “Serenity wants to take a trip into the city. Didn’t know if we could stay with you in that big, fancy house of yours?”

“Is Ruthie coming?” I ask a little too excitedly. I’ll gladly put up with my dad and his girlfriend if I get to see my baby sister.

Dad groans. “Unfortunately, yes. We couldn’t find a sitter.”

I grit my teeth. My dad and his ungrateful attitude always seem to draw my prickly side to the surface. Me and Ma weren’t enough for him, I know. But now he has an amazing little girl, the cutest kid ever, and he’s still not happy. Serenity is okay too, I guess. I wrinkle my nose at the thought of my dad’s girlfriend, who’s five years younger than me.

“You know you’re always welcome to come visit, Dad. But preseason is starting, and I might not be around much.” I take a seat on the edge of my bed, running a hand through my hair. The thought of my dad staying here always stresses me out… he’s so… difficult to please. “When are you thinking of coming?”

Dad blows out a long breath. “Serenity scheduled a spa day for Saturday.”

I rub my temples with my free hand. “Saturday, as in this Saturday?”

“I know it’s impromptu, but what with all the hockey games I drove you to, and equipment I purchased over the years, I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”

I want to remind him that Ma is the one who drove me to all those practices and games. He might’ve written a child-support check, but she’s the one who made sure I had all the best gear and signed me up for the training camps that would grow my skills. Meanwhile, he was running around with his flavor of the week.

“Right,” I say through gritted teeth. I put up with this man only so I can have a relationship with my sister. The thought of her dark, curly head and deep dimples instantly brings a smile to my face. She’s my mini me… which means a miniature of my father as well. I keep hoping he’ll get pudgy and go bald, but he keeps getting more handsome and distinguished with age. The bastard.

Good news for my future, though, I suppose.

“Perfect!” he says loudly, making me pull my phone away from my ear with a grimace. “We’ll see you Saturday morning and will head back to Virginia on Monday.”

“Okay,” I say, the gold-foiled edges of The Hobbit catch my eye and I remember the fantasy convention this weekend. “Oh, I have plans on Saturday already, but should be home for dinner.”

I hear a low, devilish laugh come from the speaker. “Do we need to leave the house that day? You bringing some girls over?”

I roll my eyes. Aggravated at his question. Aggravated with him, and a little at myself too. Because a year ago, I probably would’ve been bringing girls back here.

“No, Dad. I’m going to a convention.”

“Sounds good, son. I’ll have Serenity prepare her famous tofu salad for dinner that night. As a thank you for letting us stay with you.”

I gag involuntarily. Serenity is a horrible cook… and tofu? No thanks. “Wow, really generous of you guys. See you Saturday.”

CHAPTER 12