Page 73 of Pin-up Girl

“Because I like them.”

I wouldn’t tell her stop because I said so. Direct was the best approach here. “Mom and I don’t like talking about those parts of our life. They make us uncomfortable.”

“That sounds like a you problem.” Like that, Dee’s sass was back.

“Excuse me?” Regina looked angry.

Dee mimicked her glare. “Maybe if you stopped pretending you don’t love each other, you could get back together.”

This was almost identical to Dee’s behavior during the divorce, but she’d refined her approach.

“We’re not getting back together.” I kept my tone firm but kind. “Mom and I don’t love each other.”

“You do,” Dee said. “And if you don’t admit it now, Mom is going to move away and I’ll never see her again and I won’t be able to make her love me.”

Oh fuck. My heart sank. How did Dee find out?

“I do love you, sweetie.” Regina was instantly kind.

Dee’s scowl deepened. “Then why are you leaving me?”

“I’m—”

“Don’t say you’re not leaving, liar.” Dee cut Regina off. “I heard you talking to someone about a job. And selling the house and moving.”

I didn’t know how to comfort her, but I was going to try. “Dee?—”

“Shut up,” Dee shouted. “You’re stupid and you brought me ugly clothes that I wouldn’t be caught dead in and you’re the reason Mom is leaving and you’re the reason Bree is marrying someone else and why can’t you just be a normal, boring dad?” She pushed back from the table, stormed from the room, and slammed her bedroom door.

That could have gone worse, but not much. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Aubrey is getting married?” Regina asked. “You let Dee talk to her still?”

I glared at her. “Is that really the part of this conversation you think is important?” Aubrey was very important, but Dee was the priority here.

Regina smirked. “Go home. I’ll talk to Dee, and you can pick her up in a few days, like we planned.”

“So you can poison her with more bullshit? I can apologize to her myself.”

“Stop fighting,” Dee screamed from her bedroom.

I sank into my seat, seething with rage and frustration.

Regina’s smugness vanished too. “I don’t want to leave her,” she said softly.

“And yet, you picked the job over your daughter.” I kept my voice low. There was no reason Dee needed to hear this.

“She’s happier with you, and this is a good opportunity for me.”

“Are you fucking the Art Director?” As long as we were doing this, I had to ask.

She clenched her jaw.

Fucking… “Go ahead. Call me an asshole for making that assumption. Tell me you earned this job, and put me in my place.”

Regina pursed her lips so hard they turned white.

I shook my head and pushed back from the table. “I’m going to talk to Dee.” I reached her room and knocked. “Can I come in?”

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