Page 10 of Still His

“I didn’t say goodbye because I knew you would never let me leave. You would have never understood why I had to get out on my own,” I whisper.

“It took me weeks to find you. Weeks of going out of my mind with anger and worry. Weeks of no sleep and drowning myself in alcohol, using every resource I could think of to find you,” he explains.

I swallow, not knowing what to say. I disappeared that way on purpose.

I knew I needed at least a few weeks between us before he found me. Enough time for him to realize this had been what I wanted, what I needed.

I’m not sure when he did find me, but I’m glad he understood my needing space. Even if he didn’t like it.

“It was never to hurt you, Dad.”

He nods. “I know.”

I give his hand another squeeze as we pull off the highway, making our way through the main streets before we get home.

“Will we be okay?” I whisper, and he nods.

“Yeah, kitty cat. We will be just fine.” There’s something in his smile that has my heart racing a little as we pull into the driveway, but it’s not something I have ever seen on him before so I can’t place it.

Pulling up to the house, I feel the tears flowing freely again.

After my parents died, this was home. It’s the only house I truly remember, the only home I know, and I missed it. There are so many memories inside these walls, I just hope coming back wasn’t a mistake.

Shaking my head, I open the door with a sigh.

It’s not a mistake, Cat. It’s the closure you needed. You couldn’t keep living your life with your heart somewhere else without knowing if you could be with him.

“Leave your stuff in the car, Cat. Jim will grab it and bring it up to your room.” Dad comes to my side and walks me towards the house, really not giving me much of a choice.

“Dad, I can get my bag. It will just take a sec—“ I go to pull away and his hand wraps around my wrist, pulling me into the cool house.

“No,” he says, his voice hard as he closes the door, backing me into it and I swallow.

“I—” He gives me a stern look and I shut up. I know that look. It’s the look all of my friends growing up dubbed ‘the dad stare’ because when he gets that look, he’s immovable.

“You’re finally home after three years, baby. I’m not letting you lift a finger your first night back.” His hands cage me against the door as he leans down to look me in the eye.

“Okay,” I whisper and he lifts an eyebrow. A silent question that I don’t know how to answer. What is he looking for?

He sighs and leans down to kiss my forehead before pushing off the wall and clearing his throat.

“Go get some rest. Dinner is in three hours.” He gives me a small smile before pulling me back into his arms and letting out a deep sigh that sounds almost like relief. “Never leave me like that again, Cat.” He sounds like he’s begging, his voice barely above a whisper before he pulls away and leaves the foyer. My heart beats furiously in my chest, begging me to call out to bring him back.

Instead, I make my way up the stairs to my room.

It’s exactly how I left it. The only sign anyone has been in here at all is the fact it’s sparkling clean.

Sitting down on the bed, I notice the comforter is rumpled a bit but don’t think much of it before laying down to rest my eyes. It may have only been a two-hour flight, but I’ve been anxious and barely sleeping for the past few days.

The house is still the same as I remember it.

Even though Simon is rich, he never felt the need to boast with a giant house. Rather, he bought a four-bedroom house on several acres of land so he had his privacy, but didn’t feel like he was drowning in silence.

I mindlessly wonder if he had planned to get married and have kids before my parents died and he got saddled with me to raise instead.

Even thinking about me as a burden has my heart aching in my chest. To distract myself, I pull out my phone and dial my best friend, Darcy. I need to know why she felt the need to tell Dad I was coming home. She knew I had a plan to let him know once I was settled and had my feet under me again.

When I could work up the nerve to talk to him about my feelings.

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