Page 121 of Off Limits

“I think the fact that we’re dating makes it pretty clear we like each other now.”

“You hated each other when you were kids.”

“And we’re not kids anymore. Did you know we’re roommates?” I was overplaying my hand, but the only way to deal with my dad was to shut his arguments down with facts and not give him anything he could latch on to and try and sway things in his favor.

“What?” he barked. “How long has this been going on?”

“The living together thing for a few months. Dating is more recent.”

“Why did he move in with you?”

“Because I wanted him to,” I said simply.

I wasn’t about to tell him about Asa being evicted and almost ending up on the streets. And what I said was true. I might not have chosen to have him as a roommate back then, but I wouldn’t have said yes if I truly hadn’t wanted him there.

“I don’t know what you’re playing at, but this ends now.”

“No.”

“Dexter—”

“No,” I repeated firmly. “You don’t get to dictate our lives, not now that we’re both adults. What I choose to do has nothing to do with you, and that includes who I date. We’re together, end of story.”

“How are we supposed to explain to people that you’re dating your brother?”

“Stop saying that. I only have one brother, and that’s Tanner. Asa and I aren’t related in any way, shape, or form just because you and his mom are married. That’s not how genetics works.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re not related,” he hissed. “Do you have any idea what people are going to say when they find out our kids are dating? It’s bad enough Jefferson knows about this.”

“No, and I don’t really care. Your friends and colleagues are not my concern.”

“What about your inheritance? Is that your concern?”

“Nope.”

“But…” he spluttered.

“What? Surprised I’m not going to let you use money to control me? That might have worked if you’d actually done anything to help either of us once we became adults, but you haven’t. Why would I expect things to be different in the future?”

“You’re willing to throw away everything, your relationship with your siblings and your family, for him?”

“Yes.”

The silence from the other end of the line made me smile. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually made my dad speechless, let alone doing it twice in one conversation.

“But areyouwilling to give up your babysitter and Miranda’s errand boy?” I asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“You don’t think I haven’t seen how you’ve treated Asa all these years? How much worse it’s gotten since we left home? You treat him like shit and always have.”

“We don’t?—”

“You do. What do you call all the free babysitting he does? Or how Miranda talks to him and lashes out at him when she’s pissed off about something else. Howyoutake advantage of the fact that he’s so used to being treated like shit that you do the same thing so you can get what you want out of him. You both use him to make your lives easier because you know he won’t fight back. You don’t give a shit about either of us, so why should we give a shit about you?”

“You watch your mouth,” he said, his tone even and dark.

“What? Can’t handle the truth?”

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