Page 30 of Risks

“I’ll see you on Monday. Call me anytime,okay? I’m here for you, girl. Always.”

“Thanks, Ken. My mind’s a mess. Ineed a moment.”

“I bet. See you on Monday.”

The second I end the call, thoughtstrickle in again regarding my biological father and why he’d even agree to meetme when he turned his back eighteen years ago.

“Stop it,” I scold myself, blinkingaway the tears before they fall. He doesn’t deserve my energy, not after abandoningme.

15

Dad signals to me with a wave when Ienter the fast-food joint. Livid doesn’t fully describe how he sounded when hecalled, demanding I meet him. so I know I’m in for it.

Alison’s worried expression doesn’thelp.

“What the hell were you thinking?”Dad clips the moment I reach them. His voice is low enough, so patrons don’thear. However, his tone still stings.

My sister clicks her tongue and rubsher forehead. “Varen, I warned you about that.”

“I’m sorry.” I sit across from Dad. “Ithought I was doing the right thing.”

He huffs at my excuse, animatingwith his hand as he scolds me. “It wasn’t your place. Lisa said that man wantednothing to do with Toya. You shouldn’t have reached out to him.”

“No, he…” I can’t finish. As pissedas I am at Lisa, I know Dad loves her. I don’t want to destroy his happiness.

“He what?” Alison prods, arching herbrows and doing that lawyer thing where she’s searching me for the truth.

“He’s a good person,” I say instead.

That only makes Dad utter a sarcasticsniff. “How would you know that, Varen? His actions sure don’t show it. A goodman doesn’t abandon his responsibilities.”

“He wanted to meet her, Dad,” Iargue on Jesiah’s behalf. “He was excited.”

“I don’t know his intentions now,but he’s eighteen years late. And you’ve hurt Toya. She never asked for that.”

A surge of regret engulfs me as Irecall how upset she was. My jaw is still faintly burning from that slap. “I’mtrying to apologize, but she’s ignoring my calls and texts.”

“Try again at the dinner tomorrow,”Alison suggests, touching my arm.

I crumple my brows while staring atDad. “I didn’t think you wanted me there after what I did.”

He clicks his tongue. “Geez, son.Why wouldn’t I want you to come? It’s the holidays. You’re part of thisfamily.”

I shrug. “Well, you did kick me outand cut me off after you found out about our relationship. So, I wouldn’t havebeen surprised.”

He slumps back in the chair. “Iwas…upset. I didn’t seriously cut you off. It lasted a few days.”

Alison chuckles. “Such a softy. You lurkednear Finn’s house, then once you found out V got an apartment, you drove byevery day.”

“It wasn’t…ahem…It wasn’t every day.”Dad grumbles. “I only wanted to make sure he was all right.”

That makes me chuckle under mybreath.

“See?” Alison teases him. “Softy.”

Dad hisses at her and refocuses onme, smoothing out the scowl on his forehead. “Do you understand that youcrossed a line?” His voice is calmer.

My shoulders droop. “Yeah, Dad. Ishouldn’t have gone behind Toya’s back.” I wouldn’t have learned the truth,though. And I saw the look in my girlfriend’s eyes. She’s upset but alsocurious. Eventually, the truth will come out. Still, I can’t be the one to tellher. She’s already mad at me.

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