Page 90 of Myself

The next evening, I’m sitting on the couch with Ashlyn, watching Top Gun again for the third time this week. She seems a little better than yesterday, but she still came home from work and changed right into her pjs, and I don’t see her eat much. But I can tell she’s trying. I’m just not sure if it’s for me or herself.

She gets up to go to her room when we hear her phone ring, and then there’s a knock on the door. I get up and go answer it. “Dad?” I say in surprise as he stands there, dressed in a three-piece black suit and white tie. His hands crossed in front of him and his dark hair slicked to the side. “What are you doing here?”

He doesn’t respond but asks, “May I come in?”

“Of course,” I say, stepping out of his way.

He comes to a stop in the foyer and looks around at the open kitchen and dining room. Then he looks at the living room. “The place looks nice.”

“Mom decorated it,” I say flatly, and he says nothing.

“We need a bottle of wine,” Ashlyn says as she walks in from down the hall. “Oh, Mr. O’Kane,” she says as she spots him. I’m just glad she’s still dressed in her pajama pants.

“Hello, Ashlyn.”

“Hello, sir,” she says, looking from me to him. “I’ll give you guys some space ...”

“No need. I’m here to see you too.” Her brows rise. “May we?” He gestures to the living room.

I nod, and Ashlyn does the same. We make our way over to the couches, and Ashlyn and I sit side by side while my father picks the couch across from us. “What are you doing here, Dad?” I come out and ask.

He undoes the bottom button of his suit jacket and sits back on the couch. “I just wanted to let you know that you won’t be having problems with Conner anymore.”

“What did you do to him?” I ask.

“Nothing short of killing him will do,” Ashlyn chimes in.

My father laughs at her statement, and I just look at her wide-eyed. “The less you know, the better,” he says, and she smiles for the first time since the whole Ryder and Bradley incident. “Honey, I think you should call Jaycent.” He changes the subject.

I snort. “Now all of a sudden you’re on his side?”

He sighs. “I didn’t realize how unhappy you were. And that’s my fault.” He looks around my apartment and frowns as if he too doesn’t like it. “I never thought you would hate this apartment. I bought it thinking you would be safe. That you would be near my office and close to your brother in case you needed anything. If you want to sell it, then I’ll help you do just that.” I shift in my seat as I avoid looking over at Ashlyn. She knows how we ended up living here, but I haven’t mentioned moving out. I would never move and leave her stranded. “But now I see that you have someone else to help take care of you, and that person is Jaycent. Becca, don’t be mad at him for telling me about Conner.”

“He should have told me,” I argue.

“I’m not saying he shouldn’t have, but I’m also saying that he realized the situation was bigger than him. And all I want is for you to be safe. And that’s exactly what he did. I just want what is best for you, and Jaycent coming to me showed that he is it.”

I swallow. “So you condone him keeping secrets from me?”

He shakes his head. “I condone a man willing to do whatever it takes him to keep the woman he loves safe.”I sigh. “Give him a chance.”

“A chance to what? Prove he’s not like Conner.”

“You know he’s not like Conner,” he responds flatly.

I lift my hand and rub my forehead. “I did but—”

“But nothing,” Ashlyn interrupts me. I look over at her. And she gives me a soft smile. “He’s the one you’ve always wanted. Don’t allow Conner to take something else away from you, Becca. He doesn’t deserve that much credit.”

I bite my bottom lip as her words sink in. She’s right. Why let Conner take one more thing that I want? I just want to be happy, and Jaycent is my happiness. I smile. “Okay. I’ll call him.”

“He’s outside your door,” my father says, and I look at him. “I made the call for you.”

My smile widens, and Ashlyn stands. “I’ll let you guys be alone ...”

“Actually”—my father stands—“I would like to talk to you, Ashlyn. If you don’t mind?”

She nods and then sits down slowly. He looks at me. “Alone.”

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