Page 13 of Thanksgiving Daddy's Girl
“I’m not blind, Myles”
“Dad—”
“Stay out of this, Maeve,” he growls.
“I love her, mate.”
The air feels like it’s been sucked out of the room and my father, and I, both turn to Myles. He sits up and raises his chin defiantly. My heart is in my throat, and I can’t keep the smile from stretching my lips. He said he loves me.
My dad though, scowls, his face darkening and he takes a menacing step toward the bed, his hands curling into fists, snapping me back to the moment.
While he’s distracted, I quickly throw on a long t-shirt, not realizing until after that fact that it’s on backwards. There’s no time to fix it though as my dad looks like he’s about to beat Myles to death, so I jump in front of him, putting my hands on his chest.
“Dad, stop,” I shout. “I love Myles too. We love each other.”
My father turns his eyes to me and looks at me like I’ve betrayed him. I’ve never once in my life seen the look of disappointment I see on his face now and it drives a dagger of ice into my heart. But I stand firm.
“I love him, Dad.”
His gaze lingers on me for another long moment before he looks at Myles. His face darkening even more. An accusatory finger snaps out directly at Myles.
“You, you get the fuck out of my house. Now, Myles. And I never want to see you again. You hear me? Get the fuck out and don’t come back. Ever!”
My dad looks at me again, this time with something like disgust on his face then turns and storms out of the room. I turn to Myles who’s looking like he’s just had his heart ripped out of his chest. Looking like he wishes my dad had beat him to death. He slips out of my bed and quickly pulls his clothes on.
“I need to go,” he says.
My heart drops into my stomach and tears spring to my eyes. “Myles, don’t?—”
“I’m sorry, Maeve. I knew this was going to happen.”
“Myles—”
He cuts me off with a kiss then walks out of my room without another word. I stomp my foot and scream in impotent fury. A cold, dark anger comes rushing into my veins and I quickly pull on a pair of yoga pants then fix my t-shirt, and storm out of my room. I find my dad in his study. Even though it’s still morning, he’s standing at the window with a glass of scotch in his hand. I slam the door behind me and he doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t move. Doesn’t turn or acknowledge my presence at all.
“What were you thinking, Maeve?”
“That I love him, Dad.”
“He’s twice your age.”
“So what?”
“He’s my best friend.”
“And he’s also a good man,” I shout. “The best man you’ve ever known. You’ve been saying that since I was a kid.”
“You’re still a kid.”
I stomp across the room and knock the glass out of his hand. It hits the hardwood floor with a loud clang and rolls away, spilling the amber liquid all over. He finally turns to me. Startled.
“Like it or not, Dad, I’m not a kid anymore. I’m a grown woman,” I seethe. “I’m fully capable of making my own choices in life—including who I choose to love.”
He shakes his head sadly. “He took advantage of you. My best friend took advantage of my little girl.”
“Are you even listening to me? I told you it is my choice. He didn’t take advantage of me. I’m the one who seduced him!”
My dad’s face blanches and his mouth falls open as he stares at me, seemingly dumbfounded and at a loss for words.
