Page 58 of Rejected Mate

“Do you know your phone number?” I asked. “So we can call your dad and let him know you’re okay?”

She shook her head. “We don’t have a phone.”

“What’s your last name, Elizabeth?” Husk popped the last of his cone in his mouth.

“It’s Sullivan.”

I knew what Husk was doing, he was asking her questions here and there to find out more about her and about her dad. If he threw a ton of questions at her, it might scare her.

After Elizabeth and I finished our ice cream, I wiped my hands on my pants. "Elizabeth, where is your dad? We can call him to come to get you. I'm sure he's worried about you."

I was certain while we were eating that her father would show up, but he hadn't.

"Oh." She snapped back to reality, twisting the pink ice cream cone in her hand. "He's, um, he can't leave work. He needs to work overtime for, um, for the bills."

"Did he say when he was going to be back?" I asked, giving Husk a look.

"He said he'd pick me up at seven. I don't want him to get mad at me." She wiped her nose on her sleeve.

"And your mom?" Husk asked.

"My mom left us." She stood up. "She said she needed to leave us so he could stop drinking."

From the look of the little girl, I could tell she wasn't lying.

She rested her head on Husk's shoulder and his big arms went around her hesitantly, and I could tell that he was worried that he would squeeze her. He was so big and trying to be careful, most likely something in which he wasn’t used to, and something tugged in my chest at seeing him be so gentle with her.

"Aw, kid," he ruffled her blond hair. "Life pretty much sucks sometimes, but you know what?"

She shook her head.

"Let me make some calls. I'll get your dad here in half an hour."

"Really?" She jumped up, hugging him and then me. "Thank you."

He forced a smile and met my eyes. Everything clicked into place. I wouldn't be surprised if Elizabeth's dad was either drunk or passed out from playing the slots all night. It happened too many times to count. But I hoped I was wrong and her dad was indeed at a restaurant or something and working hard to support his little girl.

The thought made my heart hurt thinking of my own father. How I thought he hung the moon and stars until I found out the truth. How he wanted power more than anything. More than seeing me happy. He wanted to be the alpha and have everyone in our town bow to him.

Husk took the stairs two at a time, already talking to someone on his cell phone. "I need you to do me a favor."

"Hey, do you want to come with me to get something else to eat?" I asked.

"No thanks." She gave me a tight-lipped smile. "I have to be here for when dad gets back."

"Smart." I nodded.

While we waited, I gave Elizabeth my phone and downloaded a few kid-friendly games for her.

Half an hour later, a man strode up to us with Husk beside him. He looked freshly washed, his blond hair still damp and leaking onto his shirt collar.

"Hi, honey," he said, but his voice didn't sound drunk at least. "I'm so sorry I'm late." He looked over at Husk like he was expecting him to punch him. "I've gotten a new job."

She launched herself into his arms and he hugged her. "Where?"

"Here, at the casino. A-And we have a room here for us to stay and free food."

"Really, daddy?"

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