Page 38 of Enemies to Prom Dates
“I know that.”
I shook my head and curled my knees up into my chest, my chin resting on one as I wrapped my arms around my shins.
“He’s not coming back.”
“You know that?”
“We suspect that.”
“Why?” Fitz asked.
I looked at him then. His blue eyes were so fierce. He was born to slay dragons.
“Because he took all the money with him when he left.”
Fitz whistled as he let his breath go. “All of it?”
I nodded. “Every dime from every account.”
Fitz stood then and started pacing. “How are you affording anything?”
“We own the house outright. There is no mortgage. The deed is in my father’s name, but it’s not like he can sell it in his absence. Mom sold the Range Rover and she’s been selling her jewelry over in Philadelphia to keep us in cash.”
“What about your father’s investment company?”
“We don’t know. My mother had nothing to do with it. Investigators have been to the house, but it’s not like we can tell them anything. I think they’re probably just looking for my missing father. Which is why we’re fairly certain he’s not coming back. Not that my mother would take him back. Or at least I don’t think she would. Hard to say.”
“What about you?”
“He is dead to me. He abandoned us,” I said hotly. “His wife, Star, me, Kit and Lydia…”
“And Mary,” Fitz filled in.
“Shit. Why do we always forget Mary? Anyway, he’s a monster.”
“Beth,” Fitz said softly. “He’s your dad.”
“I hate him,” I hissed. “I. Hate. Him.”
Thankfully, Fitz didn’t touch that. Instead, he reached over and squeezed my knee.
“What is your mom’s plan?”
I laughed at the ridiculousness of it. “I’m pretty sure it’s for Star to marry well.”
Fitz laughed, too, and shook his head. “I might think about getting a job, but that’s a solid back-up choice.”
There was a silence between us then. His hand on my knee, squeezing it, offering some comfort.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” I finally admitted. “She’s just not capable of managing all this. Eventually, she’ll need to get a lawyer, file for divorce, figure out how to sell the house. Hope to God we’re not going to be held financially accountable for my father’s investment firm and then go from there.”
“In the meantime, you’re the only one working.”
I jutted my chin out. “I’m the only who it makes sense for.”
“And college?”
“My plan is to apply for every scholarship I can.”
