Page 93 of Hard Rock Heat
"I'll see you nextWednesday."
Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I hurried through the living room and out of the house with brisk steps. I needed to get myself under control before Damon saw. He didn't need to know how much this affectedme.
I was already in the passenger seat when Damon exited the house slowly. He closed the door behind him. I took in a deep breath and blinked rapidly, trying to dry my eyes. I hoped they weren't red-rimmed.
Damon got into thecar.
"Can you drive me back to my place?" I said immediately. "It's been a really long day. I've got a lot of work tomorrow. I need to get somesleep."
Damon nodded. He started the engine. He pulled out of the driveway. Only then did hespeak.
"Hope thinks your dad is just a workaholic," he said. It wasn't a question. "She thinks that's why the two of you never seehim."
"He used to be," I shrugged helplessly. "Then he got put on medical leave. And now he's likethis."
"And you come here every week?" Damonasked.
"Someone has to make sure he's eating and sleeping and not just…" I trailedoff.
Damon gave me a quick look of disbelief before turning his attention back to the road. "Faith, you don't have to torture yourself likethis."
"I'm not going to let him just waste away," I said. "He might hate the sight of me but he's still mydad."
Damon ran one hand through his hair, frustrated. "And you haven't toldHope?"
"If I told her she'd insist on helping," I explained. "It's bad enough one of us goes through this every week. There's no reason she needs to go through this,too."
Damon went silent, as if thinking hard. Eventually hespoke.
"You have to tell her," hesaid.
I looked out the window. "You're one totalk."
Damon made an exasperated sound in the back of his throat. "That'sdifferent."
"How is it different?" I snapped. "You wanted to protect Ian from your father. I want to protect Hope frommine."
"Hope needed to know her father isn't…" Damon trailed off with a deep sigh. "She thinks everything is fine. She has no idea he's… like that. What if something happens? You think she'd like to find out thatway?"
"I told you. If she knows, she'll insist on helping. You saw how he treated me. You think I want Hope to go through that everyweek?"
"You shouldn't have to go throughit."
"Someone hasto."
Damon growled. "You're sostubborn."
"I'm just doing what's best for my sister," I shot back. "Same asyou."
I crossed my arms over my chest and stared out the window again. We didn't talk the rest of the way. When Damon pulled up to my apartment, he put the car in park and turned tome.
"If you don't tell her, I will," hesaid.
I whipped my head around. His expression was steady, impassive. I glared athim.
"Don't you dare," Iwarned.
"Someone has to," he said reasonably. "It's not fair to her. Or toyou."
