Page 35 of Daddy's Double Surprise

“Yes, lots of choices,” Dad echoed Mom, staring at me the whole time.

“Well, I’ve made a choice,” I said as I gathered the courage to bring up what was on my mind. I kept the image of Freya looking into my eyes and asking for help in my mind. Doing difficult things was part of adulthood, and Dad would never take me seriously as an adult so long as I continued to allow him to micromanage me. I felt standing up to him was the only right thing to do.

“You have?” Dad asked. He set his menu down, though I didn’t think he’d even glanced at it. “What’s that?”

Mom’s eyes flicked up to meet mine, and for a second, I saw fear there. She hid behind her menu acting ashamed or scared, like a child who was guilty of something and not ready to face the consequences.

“Well,” I started, remembering my rehearsed speech so I wouldn’t forget anything. “I’ve decided to stay here in LA.” I didn’t pause, not allowing him any time to chime in until I’d said what I needed to say. “Luna and I are looking for apartments I can afford. I got a raise at work, so I’ll be able to handle it myself.” His expression soured when I mentioned the clinic, but I kept going. “And the only help I’ll need is someone to go with me to Tampa to sort out my things there.”

My palms were drenched. I rubbed them on my jeans and avoided eye contact. When I told Dad I was moving to Tampa with Kira, it hadn’t gone over well, and while I was actuallytalking about moving back to LA, I already knew he wasn’t happy about certain things. Like the fact that I’d be getting my own place even though he wanted me at home. I hadn’t even gotten to the hardest part yet.

As if appointed by God himself, the waitress walked up with her pad out to mark down our orders and smiled brightly at us. “You folks ready? I can take your order.”

“Uh, sure,” I said, stealing one more glance at the menu. I only planned to order a salad, but Dad held up his hand to halt me.

“We’ll hold off for a few more minutes,” he told her, and she shrugged and walked away while I offered a confused look.

“You need a minute to look over the menu?” I asked, and Mom hid again, this time raising the menu higher so I couldn’t see any part of her, not even her poofy bangs.

Dad’s shoulders were more relaxed now. He sat a little straighter, face a little happier. “Well, dear, that’s great news,” he responded, ignoring my question entirely. “In fact, it’s amazing news.” His eyes rose up, and recognition dawned on his face as he looked over my shoulder at something behind me.

A quick glance over my shoulder revealed what he was focusing on, and instant anger bubbled up. Tonight was supposed to be about me talking to my parents, and Dad had gone and invited a man to join us again, someone I’d never seen before. I slid out of my booth seat and threw the napkin down on the table as I snatched my purse. There was no way I’d ever get through to him.

“Soleil,” Mom whined.

“Soleil, please sit down,” Dad said firmly, and I shook my head. I might’ve even stomped my foot in anger.

“No, don’t you get it. I’m not a kid, Dad. I’m almost thirty. Fourteen months, that’s all. Fourteen months and I’ll be thirty years old, and you still treat me like the seventeen-year-old whogot stood up for prom.” I was so heartbroken, but it was anger that came out. “I’m in love with Carter. We’re together. I’m not available for any of the men you try to fix me up with.”

My arm swung wildly as I spoke and gestured. It smacked the admittedly good-looking man in the chest, and I winced at what a fool I was making of myself.

“Soleil, you’re causing a scene.” Mom’s voice was tight, but I could still see the shame in her eyes.

“I don’t care, Mom. I’m not doing this anymore. I love Carter.”

“Just because you’re having his baby doesn’t mean it’s love.” Dad’s words were a slap to the face. I stood there with my jaw hanging, gaping at Mom, whose head hung in shame. That was why she was acting strange for the past half hour. She’d told him about the baby and now he knew how serious things were between me and Carter. And maybe he’d tell Carter. “You should really look into the men you date more carefully, Soleil. You might find out things like the fact that Carter has a connection to Kira you don’t know about.”

Fear shot up my spine, and I turned without saying anything else and walked out. I didn’t care how it made me look. I didn’t care that Dad would be embarrassed with his buddy, or that Mom probably felt bad and wanted to apologize. I needed air, and I needed Carter’s arms around me.

I hailed a cab, which unfortunately cost me a fortune. Cried the whole way across town to Carter’s neighborhood, where I tipped the cabby and tried to remove the evidence that I’d been crying from my face before ringing Carter’s bell.

The door swung open and he looked surprised to see me. I’d told him I was having dinner, but that lasted less than forty-five minutes before it was ruined. Now I was a mess, trembling and emotional. Dad hadn’t just crossed a line. He was trying to burn a bridge, and I was still on it.

“I thought you were having dinner,” Carter said, but I threw myself into his arms as tears started again.

“Dad…and Mom…” I blubbed and stutter breathed. He pulled me into the house and shut the door behind us.

Carter held me tightly, smoothing my hair down my back, kissing the tears off my face until I could finally breathe. “Dad was awful. He said horrible things and he had another man to set me up with. I was supposed to be—” I couldn’t finish. Just thinking about what he said had gutted me. I just wanted to feel Carter holding me now.

“Hey, shh, it’s okay. I’m here.” His strong arms pinned me against his body as I clung to him until he led me to the kitchen where he seated me on one of the bar stools and got me a drink of water. I sipped, sucking in breaths to calm myself, using a paper towel to dry my face. It scratched my chin, and I probably looked hideous with mascara streaks and puffy eyes, but Carter crouched in front of me and cradled my cheek in his palm.

“So it didn’t go well. It’s okay.” I was so absorbed in my own drama that I hadn’t even stopped to say hello to him. I felt bad, especially when I saw how tired he looked.

“God, Carter, I’m so upset.” My bottom lip quivered, and I pulled him in for a hug again. “I’m sorry if you’re having a bad day too.”

“It’s okay with you here.” His hands rested on my hips, and I felt his fingers kneading my flesh. “I just want you to be okay. I’m sorry that you’re not getting along with your dad. I feel like it’s my fault.”

“No,” I said, leaning back. “It’s not your fault. I made these choices too. I love you, and I want you even if it upsets him. He has to understand that I’m my own woman.” Dad’s approval used to mean everything in the world to me, but there came a time when a woman had to make her own choices for what was right in her life. Now was my time.

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