Page 53 of Unleashed

Dad shrugs, but there’s always a purpose to his questioning. “I’m only searching for information on the mystery man my daughter married.”

“If it matters, he’s Lebanese, Spanish, Polish, French, and German. And he’s Jewish. He could also be Chinese or Japanese.” I may go overboard, but I don’t give a shit. Dad’s eyes widen, and I toss, “Do you need to see his family tree? Because until now, I didn’t give it a second thought.”

“It matters if you’re procreating with him someday, Simone.” I already did once, and I loved our baby. For fuck’s sake. What did my mother see in my asshole father?

I shake my head. “Nope. It doesn’t.” Regardless of everything we’ve been through and what we’ve said to each other, I’m still Greg Rodwell’s biggest cheerleader.

He cocks a gray eyebrow to accent his sour frown. “What did your mother say about your elopement?”

I shrug. “She was okay.” “Simone Amanda! What the fuck did you do? You married Greg? You’re not dating him! What the hell?”

Reaching my fill of Marc Garrison, I say, “I’m sorry, Dad. I have to go. You don’t need to come along this time. We also practice on Wednesday.” Why did I just offer that? Fuck me to France.

“Where?”

“At a field.” His frown deepens, and I sigh. “South Sheppard.” I’m such a brainless cunt. “We can talk later.” I grab my phone, purse, and keys. My glove is in my car.

“With your husband, I hope. I don’t have a positive feeling about the status of your marriage. You sent me a copy of your marriage license, but something doesn’t add up. I mean, you chose a man who works at a gas station?” he asks like Greg slings meth on a corner.

I nod with a genuine smile. “He has bartended and used to work on a garbage truck, too.” OMG. I’m getting lost in my lies.

“Can he support both of you?”

“We’re doing fine.”

“I suppose so. You don’t have a mortgage, rent, car payment, or tuition. I imagine your mother is paying for the utilities here. What real responsibilities do you even have? Your mother can’t keep enabling you.” Is it wrong to wish a fire would rip through here this second?

“She’s helping us for now. I’m aiming to get a good-paying job. Greg may get his sanitation job back.” My throat squeezes, and I cross my arms, feeling like a failure, especially with Greg.

“Dear Lord, Simone,” he grumbles with a headshake.

“I... We’ll sit down and talk more later.” I hesitate before going over to him and leaning down to kiss his cheek when it’s tempting to choke him instead. “Bye, Dad.”

“I will await your return. And Greg’s.”

I smile with a nod, but I’m burning alive.

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