Page 29 of Merry Christmas From Daddy to Little One

Because I don’t want him to leave.

I take the plate, and I’m about to sit down when he grabs my hand. “Let’s watch a movie.”

I let him gather some candy canes, popcorn, and chocolates on a platter—moving around my kitchen like he’s lived here his entire life—and we both make our way to the media room in silence.

For lack of saying anything smart, I look at the platter. “I thought you hated candy canes.”

“I do. Might as well eat toothpaste. But I know a silly girl who loves them.” He winks at me as we enter the media room.

He sits down on one of the many extra-large sofas while I awkwardly stand next to him, my plate in my hand. For a second, I wonder again who this house belongs to as he lays back, his long legs resting in front of him, and puts the platter near him.

He taps the space next to him. “You might not like me, but you can’t resist Home Alone, can you?”

He doesn’t even look at me as he grabs the remote. I look around the room. My mom had it decorated because she knows I’ll be watching a movie alone in here tomorrow afternoon when they’re all gone.

There’s a tree in the corner of the back wall, some fake presents around it wrapped in golden foil with red ribbons. There are Christmas lights around the room, and I have access to any Christmas movie I want in here. Including Home Alone.

I sigh and sit down as far away from him as I can, pointing at my sandwich. “When I’m done with this, I’m going back upstairs.”

“Noted.” He doesn’t say he doesn’t believe me. His tone says it all.

I hate Chris, but I don’t hate that he remembers what my favorite weird Christmas sandwich is.

I hate him, but not that he noticed I was starving.

I don’t hate that he knows my favorite Christmas movie and that I like candy canes even though he hates them.

It’s hard to hate someone who loves taking care of you. It’s just too bad it comes with the rest of who he is. Possessive, controlling, desperate to hold my soul in the palm of his hand.

The movie starts, but he focuses on me. “Did you not have dinner tonight, Sweets?”

Shaking my head, my eyes are on the screen as I swallow my first bite. “I left dinner early.”

I sense him nodding in my peripheral. "Because of your dad’s news.”

I take another bite, taking my time to get my emotions under control. “Did you know it was Luke’s idea?”

He shifts, always uncomfortable when my brother’s name comes up.

“Yeah,” he huffs.

“He wants to make sure I have a future.”

I don’t mention the Silent Circle. I have no idea how much Chris knows, but he lives in Stoneview and his parents are powerful. I have no doubt he’s heard of it if not more. Still, he’s the last person I want to talk to about the Shadows.

“You’re an incredible dancer.” I feel his eyes burning a hole in the side of my head.

I keep my eyes on the screen.

“But…” I mutter, expecting the same lesson Luke gave me.

It doesn’t come.

“But nothing. It’s a shame your dad is controlling, a shame that Luke doesn’t believe in your potential. I hope you keep dancing.”

I whip my head toward him so fast, the headache pounds against my skull. I blink at him, holding the sandwich in both hands, but incapable of swallowing. I almost choke when I do.

“Do you…do you really believe that?”

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