Page 34 of Busted Dreams

Other accounts that had tons of followers made videos every day. I wished I had more ideas, but unfortunately, my muse was pretty spotty when it came to this particular brand of art. We did gain another thirty thousand followers, and the video was pushing dangerously close to one million views.

Then Thursday night came.

“Astrid.” I had just grabbed a sketchbook out of my car when the very last person I wanted to talk to came out of Rhys’ house. Well, next to the last person. Mother Dearest still held that number one spot.

“Dad.” So much distaste was in that one word, I almost felt guilty for it. Until memories surfaced of how he could have reined Mother Dearest at any time, but he’d chosen to sink into his own life and screw everything else.

“How are you, sweetheart?” Wow. He almost sounded like he cared.

“Good.” I turned away to grab my backpack. Before, I would never have turned away from him when he spoke to me. And he wouldn’t have allowed it.

But now…we weren’t a family any more. Not really. That dream had shattered into a thousand pieces in a way I knew I never wanted to piece it back together. Not that it was a dream I wanted in the first place. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be nothing like them.

“I’m still your father, Astrid. I still care about you.” He stopped a few feet in front of Freda.

“I know.”

“You don’t act like you know. I’ve called you at least half a dozen times. It’s time for you to come home. Even Stan agrees.”

That pulled me up short. If Rhys’ dad really didn’t want me to be here, I’d have to leave. Then I shook it off. They couldn’t make us do anything unless they wanted the small community of Silver Ranch to be very aware of their scandal-worthy affair. Neither wanted that. This was just another ploy for my dad to save face. Who knew what he was telling the congregation on why Mother Dearest left, or why I stopped attending church with him?

Not that I’d attended for very long. I’d only gone for a couple months, until life as I knew it burned down like the infamous Sodom and Gomorrah. Only I didn’t have someone there to warn me it was about to happen.

And honestly, I couldn’t even be upset about the way things played out. It was what bought me a little bit of freedom after all.

“We’re just too different, Dad. And I’m holding quite a bit of resentment at the moment.” I shut the back door and faced him.

He looked the same as he always had. Except now, he had a healthier glow about him. Was that the doing of Mr. Bennet, Mother Dearest leaving, or me moving out? Maybe a combination of all three?

A slightly crumpled white envelope was in his hand. From the way he held it, I knew it was for me. One big sign was it was crumpled. They never had respected my stuff, thinking it insignificant unless it furthered their own agenda.

“I understand why you’d be upset. A lot has happened in a short period of time, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.” He pinned me with a stare that said he knew I would eventually. I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were him.

“Maybe.” I shrugged noncommittally.

He glanced down at the envelope, then held it out. “This came for you in the mail.”

I took it from his hand without letting my skin touch his. “Thanks.”

The envelope burned in my hand and curiosity rose in my chest as I wondered what it could be. I didn’t often get mail, so this had to be something important, right?

“I’m home every evening through the week, except Wednesdays. Anytime you want to come over, I’d love to spend time with my girl.”

My eyes almost popped out of my head. He never used such fond language with me. If he noticed my shock, he didn’t let on. He left just as quietly as he came, leaving me to stare after him.

Not wanting to chance a run in with Rhys’ mom or dad, I went ahead and headed inside the cottage. I’d barely set my sketchbook down and gotten a bottle of water from the fridge before the door opened again. Rhys strolled through with an extra pep in his step, whistling a tune that seemed almost familiar. His face lit up as soon as he took me in, his gaze roving over my body before landing back on my eyes.

I warmed immediately from the attention.

“What’s got you all hyped up?” I ran my fingernail over the grooves in the lid.

“Just excited to go see these colleges. It’s something I never thought would happen, and a couple times this year, I thought they wouldn’t, you know?”

Yes, he’d definitely hit some bumps in the road between his fight with his mental cousin, Trey, and suspension from the games. It was pure luck Trey had thought it was a good idea to attack him—with a knife—a few weeks ago. It was the ammunition his dad needed to get the board to repeal their decision to make him sit out the two most important games of the season.

“I know. I’m excited for you! Which one is your top pick?” I asked as I pulled a chair out to sit down to my sketchbook. It had been a while since I had done any assignments for Mr. Music, and now that I decided to use my same portfolio in the finals, I needed to do at least a few of them. It felt like I was taking advantage of his kindness if I didn’t. I guessed you couldn’t take out all of the morals and lessons beat into me from an early age. This particular one was at least a good one.

“I’m heading over to a party tonight. One of the guys on the team is throwing it in celebration of our big wins. Want to come with?” He leaned his elbows over the back of the chair opposite me. His smile was so contagious, I couldn’t stop the lift of my own lips.

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