Page 115 of Wicked Dix

He shakes his head. He opens his mouth a couple of times, speaking voiceless words. I know this frustrates him, so I lean closer, placing my ear close to his lips. With a strained effort, he breathes out, “It’s never…too…late…for love.”

I pull back, stunned. My father doesn’t speak often, but he always blows me away when he does.

“But…” I try to argue, but he reaches for my hand, clasping my cell, and shakes it. “I’m not calling Madison.”

He growls in frustration as he jabs at his chest. “You want to call Madison?” I offer as an explanation for his sudden madness.

He rolls his eyes and snatches the phone from my hand. I’m stunned that he knows how to operate an iPhone as he swipes his shaky finger across my screen and scrolls through my contacts. He stops at Pat, the nurse who looked after him at Sunnyfields.

“Why am I calling Pat?” I inquire as he turns the screen around so I can look at it.

“Go,” is all he says.

It takes me a few seconds, but when I realize what he’s asking, I run a hand over my beard, pensively. “You want me to call Pat so she can look after you?”

He nods, appearing relieved that I’ve finally gotten a clue.

Can I really do this?

As I think about Madison and the way she makes me feel, about how much I miss her, and about her marrying someoneother than me, I know that fuck yes, I can. I was stupid not to do this sooner, but I wasn’t ready then. Now, I am.

Bending forward, I quickly kiss my father on the brow. “Grazie, Papà.”

I quickly dial Pat, and within minutes, I’ve organized for her to stay over for the weekend. I offered her a ridiculous amount of money, and although she refused, I told her I wouldn’t hear otherwise.

I don’t know why, but I suddenly get a second wind and zip around my bedroom, packing the essentials. My father is watching me from the doorway, and when I stop to look at him and see the enormous smile plastered on his face, I know I’m doing the right thing.

As he wheels himself into my room, I jump to the side and use the bed as a barrier between us. He grins a lopsided smile. With my cell in hand, he extends it out to me. I have no idea what he’s up to now, but I accept.

When I see Hunter’s name on my screen, I laugh. “You want Hunter to look after you instead?” He snorts, exposing his abhorrence at that suggestion.

My father is an absolute inspiration. To convey what he has in less than ten words is all the motivation I need. Most of us rely on speech to get us through the day, but I’ve just learned the most valuable lesson from actions of the heart.

I dial Hunter as I pull a black suit from my closet. He answers on the third ring. “I’m so bored. Please save me from my personal hell.” I can hear theFriendstheme song playing in the background.

“Pack a bag and suit,” I demand, zipping up my bag.

“What? Why?”

“Because your dreams are about to come true.”

“You’re finally taking me to Disneyland?”

I chuckle. “No, you idiot. We’re going to see if we can get to the Hamptons in less than an hour.”

“An hour? That’s impossible.”

“Not if you’re driving at a hundred and fifty miles the entire way.”

“You’re right, that is my dream, but what’s the rush? What’s in the Hamptons?”

Shouldering my bag and suit, I give my father a smile as I reply, “Something that’s mine.”

“Can you please hurry up?” I gripe, watching Hunter eat his breakfast slower than a damn snail.

“Oh, calm down. You’ve waited nine months to see her. I’m sure you can wait a few more minutes. Let me finish my breakfast in peace.” My words seem to have the opposite effect because if possible, he chews even slower than he has been for the past twenty minutes.

I pace the small dining room of the shitty hotel we checked into late last night—or was it early this morning? Either way, I just want to check out so I can stop Madison from making the biggest mistake of her life.

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