Page 101 of Rent Free

“Ant is good,” Tarrant waved. “That’s my sister.”

Forest looked between the two of us, eyes a lot more welcoming now.

“Is Everest inside?” I asked.

“With Dad, yes.” He nodded. “I was sent out here to warn you that he’s a little angry with you.”

“What? Me?” I gasped, pointing at myself.

“Yeah,” he gave me a funny smile. “We told him why you were in Dallas, and he was not happy at all. He thinks you need to leave Sage to her own bullshit and come back.”

I snorted. “I guess I’ll have to tell him why I’m still there then.”

We walked inside, and when we arrived at Dad’s room, a familiar voice that didn’t belong to my brothers filled the room.

A wide smile on my face, I pushed through the door to find my second cousin, Coke Solomon, in the room.

“Well hello there, stranger.” Coke grinned.

I waved but turned to the man of the hour.

“Dad,” I whispered, voice cracking.

He held his hands open wide, and I all but fell into them.

Dad wrapped his arms around both me and Forest, pulling us both in tight.

Gosh, these arms.

These arms were what protected me for my entire life.

I’d missed being in them.

“I’ve missed you, Daddy,” I whispered.

Dad was fully aware, when he was himself, what he was like when he wasn’t himself.

He felt awful about it, and I felt awful that he felt awful about it.

“Hey, my favorite baby,” he rumbled.

The sound of his voice made my throat tight.

I came to check on my dad often, but it was like having your heart break over and over when you showed up and he couldn’t remember who you were.

“And who are you?” Dad asked.

I smiled at that and pulled away, my free hand that wasn’t holding Forest up going to his thigh.

“This,” I said, “is Forest. Forest, I’d like you to meet my daddy, Emmanuel.”

“Emman.” He held out his hand, and I burst out laughing.

Dad took the boy’s hand and said, “It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Ice to meet,” he agreed, smiling that perfect Carter smile.

“The last time I was aware, you didn’t have a kid.” He looked horrified.

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