Page 32 of Exclusive

“Castello, hush! Whoever it is, we know them.” I groan at my boy to stop his barking at the vehicle crunching gravel in the driveway.

Downside to having a huge, nosy family? At least one of them will always find you, even when you think you left no trace of your retreat to the remote family cabin. Upside to having a huge, nosy family? At least one of them will always find you, even when you’ll never admit you hate being alone and the remote family cabin in the middle of the woods is a little creepy.

Whoever’s here had to know the gate code to pull their car through, so I don’t get up from my lounger on the back deck… they’ll find when soon enough. Maybe too soon, since Castelo ran off to help them.

“Whose dog is this?”

Not who I was expecting, I jolt upright and shove my sunglasses to the top of my head, wide eyes on my dad. “Mine. What are you doing here?”

“Yours? Since when do you have a dog? What’s its name?”

“Yes, mine. Sutton got him for me and his name is Castello. Your turn, what’re you doing here?”

“What the hell kind of name is Castello?” He ignores my question, taking the chair beside me… and patting his leg for the dog he’s so damn worried about, to jump up in his lap. “How about Bojangles? Or Hank? Yeah, he looks like a Hank.”

“We’re not changing his name. He’s still figuring out where to pee and poop; he doesn’t need more confusion, that changing his identity would likely cause. Now will you please stop with the dog, named Castello, and answer me; what are you doing here?”

“You wait ‘til your mama finds out we got a granddog you been keeping from us,” he whistles, “your ass is gonna be grass, Princess.”

“Are you-” I stop myself, and really study him. Granted, my dad is one-of-a-kind; easily distracted by whatever he feels is important, a champion smartass, jokester, and the poster manchild for A.D.D, but there’s something different at work right now. He’s yet to meet my eyes, there’s tension in his shoulders, and his voice… his voice lacks its usual, natural lilt, replaced by an undertone of… sadness? “Daddy?” I, too, say sadly, not yet sure why, “What’s going on? Tell me, why are you here?”

The longer it takes him to look at me, the wilder my imagination runs, an overwhelming sense of dread churning in my gut. No, Presley. You know he’d never do that to you, no matter what.

“Daddy? I asked you a question.”

Finally, he shifts toward me, and gradually brings his eyes up to mine. “I know you did; I just, I don’t know the answer. Need you to tell me. What am I doing here, Princess?”

Some weird, harsh cackle pops out of me and my head shakes itself, as if refusing the eerie suspicion that’s gaining strength by the second. “Wh, what’s that mean? I don’t get it.” My scared giggle skitters.

“Sutton came to see me. He-”

“He, what?” I hiss with the venom of a thousand vipers, my hands curling into throbbing fists.

“Simmer down and let me finish,” he nervously laughs. “He didn’t know where you were, was worried about ya, so he came to ask me to find you.”

“Alright,” I drawl, “then why isn’t he the one here?”

He sighs heavily, readjusting in his seat. “Said it needed to be me. Didn’t say why, and believe me, I threatened death to get it outta him; just insisted I come, alone, and had a talk with ya. So talk, Presley. Now. I’m not askin’.”

“It’s nothing, really. Sutton jus sent you because he couldn’t come himself or he’d lose his footing. I ran from him, again, and he made it clear that he wouldn’t chase me the next time I did, but he still cares about me, so he wanted you to at least make sure I was safe. That’s all.”

“Helluva try, kid. You almost sounded like you almost believed your own bullshit. Now that you got that outta your system, let’s hear round two. I’ll even help ya out some. Sutton isn’t chasin’ ya because, according to him, you didn’t run from him. According to him, you ran from me. And yourself. I need to know what the hell that means exactly, and I need to know now. Cut the shit, young lady, and tell me what it is I should’ve already heard.”

“No.”

He laughs; one loud, harsh sound. “Excuse me?”

“I said no… sir. I’m not, we’re not doing this. I’m sorry Sutton got you all upset with his melodramatics, he’s a deep person, bless his heart, but nothing’s wrong. I love you, and we’re fine. End of story.” I stand, ready to bolt far away from this cabin, this conversation, go search down Sutton, and first, kiss him for caring, so damn much, and after that… I might just slap his face… but my dad stops me from doing any of that by snagging my arm.

“Presley, that man loves you.” The cool emphasis in his voice calls up goose bumps to dot my skin, a tingle of gravity to zing along my spine.

“I know,” my reply too holds emphasis, but apparently, not enough.

“No, I don’t think you do.” My dad turns his snare on my arm to a slow soothing rub while I keep my back turned to him. “Not really. He may tell you, or you may be able to tell, but I don’t think you have any idea how much he loves you, and if you’ll let him, what all that kind of love will bring. I’m your daddy, of course I’d rather no man ever become number one in your life,” a trace of laughter leaves him, “but because I’m your daddy, I refuse to sit back and watch you sabotage the best damn thing that will ever happen to you. So, whatever it is Sutton sent me to pull outta you, which I figure goes hand-in-hand with why you keep him at a certain distance, just tell me, Princess. Tell me, and we’ll fix it. Together.” I shake my head and try to pull away, but am again denied escape. “Man,” Dad mumbles sadly, “I didn’t think there was anything we couldn’t talk about.”

Kill shot. My damn eyes water, the sincere disappointed hurt in his tone poking my heart. I’m damned either way now — thank you, Sutton. Not telling him will leave him in confused, worried wonder, whereas telling him will leave our own relationship changed, forever, and possibly hurt him irreparably.

“Daddy, we can talk about anything, that needs to be talked about. This isn’t one of those things; I swear. Please, just forget the whole thing. This us; you and I don’t have to dissect our feelings and make a big deal about stuff. That’s what people like Mom and Sutton are for.”

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