Page 99 of We Thought We Were Invincible
I'd promised Callie to stay in touch, but what if that wasn't enough? What if I just couldn't do it? What if I became as big a disappointment to the army as I was to everyone else?
No, that was my father speaking. For the first time in my life, I actually felt like this was something I could do and I could do it well. I'd prove him wrong if it was the last thing I did.
I stood and picked up my bag to put in back on the bed before grabbing my guitar and sitting down. I'd only managed to strum out a few chords before the front door downstairs slammed shut.
Heavy steps sounded on the stairs and I waited. Over the years, I'd memorized the sounds in this house so I could always know what was coming. Jay's steps were always quick—one two, one two, one two. His mom's were like little flutters, barely audible. Dad's, his were different. They had a sense of finality to them, a stern authority.
His steps grew louder until he pushed open the door to my room without knocking. I leaned back against the wall, barely acknowledging the intrusion. My fingers picked at the strings, playing a simple tune.
“James,” my father said. “Stand up. I've come to say goodbye.”
That made my fingers freeze. I finally looked up and set the guitar on the bed in front of me before rising to meet him.
“Thought you'd be more of the 'good riddance' kind.” I tried to crack a smile, but it dropped.
“You're joining the army, Son.”
“I know. I was there when I signed the papers.”
He scowled. “It's a proud organization. You will not mess up.”
“Gee, thanks for your vote of confidence.” If I was going to mouth off, I should have been ready for him, but my mind wasn't in it.
His hand shot out, and he grabbed me by the shirt to pull me close. His strong cologne filled my nostrils, and I resisted the urge to cough.
“You will not embarrass the Daniels name.”
“No, you already do that enough.” I'd said nothing like that to him before and it emboldened me. “You think that you have power because you can beat on your eighteen-year-old son? You think that makes you more of a man? I think it makes you a coward.” I grabbed his arm when he tried to swing at me and slammed my other fist into his chin.
He released me and stumbled back in shock. I didn't waste any time hefting my bag over my shoulder and pushing past my still speechless father. I looked back at him once more. “You will never touch me again, you arrogant bastard.”
Getting into my car, I glanced up at the house that was home to so many memories, most of them bad. In that moment, I knew. I wouldn't be back as long as that man was still here.
Gulf City was no longer my home. It was time I found a place that was.
I would always love Callie, but she was leaving too.
As I left the city limits behind, I wasn't sad any longer. I was free.
39
Callie
The house was hidden behind a tall hedge fence and a long driveway. I looked down at the address Kat had given me, then back up at the number on the fence. Yep, that was it.
It was my third day in Beverly Hills and not the first time I'd stood in this very spot, trying to work up the nerve.
Beverly Hills was a different world from Gulf City - in a good way. There was so much going on it made my head spin. Yesterday I'd gone to the beach and watched the surfers. They were good, some of them impressive. And the waves! I was itching to get out there. I never dreamed I'd get to surf in California, not this small-town Florida girl.
I was the girl who was supposed to be stuck in that place. That was who I'd always assumed I'd be. Now, here I was, doing things my way.
A smile formed on my lips as a shot of confidence jolted through me and my legs moved forward. The driveway was endless, but it led me to a large, white, modern house with a glass front door. A white shade was drawn down, preventing me from getting a peek inside. There were two expensive looking cars in the driveway. Colby would've been able to tell me what kind they were. The sudden thought made me wish my brother was there with me.
I raised my hand to knock, but the door swung open before I got the chance. A startled older woman stared back at me.
“Ummm…” I said. “I might have the wrong house.”
Footsteps came up the walkway behind me, trapping me between them and the woman at the door. I looked back over my shoulder into the pale face of a man I recognized at once.
