Page 61 of Shadow and Skulls

“I will go to my room after you hear what I have to say.” I glance at Tank before continuing. “I love this man. I love him, Dad.”

My mom gasps. I smile at her sadly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys sooner, but it took me a minute to figure out what I was feeling.”

“Not happening,” my dad says to Tank, completely ignoring me.

Even though I understand, it doesn’t make it hurt any less. Tank and I both knew this is how it would go. He reaches under the table and squeezes my hand.

“I understand,” Tank says, his thumb brushing against my palm as he speaks. “I’ll respect your wishes.”

My dad grunts.

Tank stares at me, silently reminding me to have faith in the process.

“I will respect your wishes, too,” I say reluctantly, pulling my hand out of Tank’s as he rises from his chair.

“I truly meant no disrespect,” he says to my parents. He leans down and kisses the top of my head. “Goodbye, little shadow.”

And then he’s gone.

The clock ticks on the wall as the three of us sit in silence. I stand up.

“I never meant for this to happen. I never would have purposely done anything that might jeopardize my relationship with the two of you,” I tell them quietly, heading for the steps.

I jump when my dad slams his fist down on the table. “Goddammit, Kelsie. There’s nothing you could do to make us stop loving you.”

My foot pauses on the bottom step, and without looking back I say, “I feel the same about you.”

Chapter Twenty

Kelsie

None of us have mentioned Tank for several days. I’ve tried to text him, but he hasn’t responded. I’m starting to wonder if he’s already forgotten about me. I almost snuck out last night, to see if he was at his trailer, but I stopped myself. Instead, I laid in bed and cried for hours.

My dad will never change his mind. This is hopeless.

Speak of the devil. He knocks on my door jamb. I look at him over the top of my book.

“What’s up?” I ask, dropping my gaze back to the page I’ve been staring at for the past two hours.

“The boys are going to meet us over at the Harvest Festival this weekend.”

I turn the page, pretending to read. “Cool,” I say with a yawn.

“Grandpa is even going to bring Grandma over,” he tries again, settling on the end of my bed.

He’s got me there. Dan’s parents, my grandparents, are my favorite people in the world. I can’t help but smile. “Really?” I ask, hesitantly raising my eyes.

My dad nods. “It should be a good time.”

When he doesn’t leave, I push myself up into a sitting position. “Was there something else?”

He looks at the door before returning his attention to me. “There’s someone here to see you.”

For a brief second, I think it’s Tank, but the look on his face dashes my hope before it sprouts any further.

“It’s the stepdaughter of your mother’s psychiatrist.”

My fingers begin to tingle. Tank told me about her. Why would she come to see me?

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