by Rebel Hart
I washed myself down and dried myself off. I slipped into one of Max’s T-shirts and slid a pair of his boot socks up my legs. With my hair damp and my breasts free from my bra, I went and stole myself a cup of coffee from the pot in the kitchen. And while I wanted to stand there and stare at a shirtless Max flexing his muscles as he hauled furniture, I knew I couldn't put this off a second longer.
So I made my way back into his bedroom and called my father.
“Danika?”
The phone didn’t even ring once before he picked it up.
“Hey. It’s me.”
“My God. Danika. Are you all right? Is everything okay?”
I sipped my coffee. “Everything’s fine. I’m calling because I want to get together with you and Mom.”
“Do you want me to come pick you up?”
“No, I don’t want you to do that. Listen to me, Dad. Listen to my words. I want to get together with you two. Nothing more.”
He sighed. “Where at? We’re still in town, so we can meet you anywhere.”
“Under one condition.”
“Name it.”
“What I want from this meeting is to tell you guys what’s been going on in my life. How I met Max. What drew me to him. How I feel about school, and my life, and my future. But I can only do that if I’m talking with people who won’t pass judgment, who won’t jump in during the middle of a sentence, and who understand that they can’t dictate my actions by force.”
“Danika, your mother and I have never once--”
“Please don’t go down this rabbit hole. It’s going to end well for no one. Just agree to the terms. If not for me, then for Mom. Because you know this is killing her.”
He paused. “Yes. It is.”
“All I want is for you to listen to my life and not judge it. That’s all I’m asking you for. It’s not that hard.”
“It is when I want the best for my little girl.”
“That’s the first thing. I’m not a little girl anymore, Dad.”
“No matter how old you get, you’ll always be my little girl. No matter what.”
I sipped my coffee. “So do we have an agreement?”
“Are you still with that man?”
“If you mean Max, yes.”
“Just tell me where you are. I’ll come get you. We can talk in the car, and go anywhere you want.”
I rolled my eyes and threw back the rest of my coffee. I chugged it down, trying to get my mind right as my father kept rattling on in my ear. Something about just needing a drive and some fresh air to screw my head back on straight. How I was falling behind in schoolwork already. Things that only made me shake my head. Did he not listen? Would he ever learn?
Will they ever understand?
In some respects, I felt as if I were wasting my breath. And as I drew in a deep one, I thought back to that pool. The water washing around me as I sank to the bottom after Ashton pushed me in. The first thing to pop into my mind was Max. How sorry I was for putting him in that situation. The second thing that rolled through my mind were my parents, and the feeling of regret that came along with it. I regretted not letting them know about Max. I regretted not filling them in. I regretted dodging my mother’s phone calls and blowing off my father to roam the streets with a man I’d fallen in love with.
I regretted not giving them the chance to see this man as I saw him. Because I assumed the worst of my parents.
But now, I wondered if I had assumed right.
“Dad. Stop.”
“--I mean, your mother made me promise not to ping your phone. But if you’re being held against your will, it’ll be quick and--”
“We’ll meet you for dinner, Dad. Okay?”
His voice stopped. “We?”
I nodded. “Me and Max. Yes.”
He sighed. “Sweetheart, I don’t think--”
“This is your only shot, Dad. Take it or leave it. We’ll meet you at seven o’clock. At the hotel you’re in. Which one are you at again?”
“I really don’t--”
“Five.”
“Danika, just settle down for a second.”
“Four.”
“Are you really counting down on me?”
“Three. ‘One’ ends with me hanging up the phone and never picking it up again. I’d suggest you take this moment. Two.”
He grumbled. “All right, all right, all right. We’re at the Hilton. On the other side of Ann Arbor. It’s got a restaurant in the lobby we can sit down in.”
I nodded. “Perfect. Seven o’clock. We’ll see you there. And don’t worry about calling the police. I’ve already helped Max clean things up with them and prove his innocence. So pulling that stunt again won’t work.”
“You’ve helped him with--the--cleaned--what are you talking about?”
“See you at seven, Dad.”
I hung up the phone.
“You okay?” Max’s voice made me jump as my phone tumbled from my hands. He strode to my side and picked it up before sitting on the bed with me. I clutched my mug of coffee and sighed. Heavily. I leaned against him as he wrapped his arm around me. And the musky smell of his sweat called to my heart.
“I love it when you wear my clothes,” he murmured.
I smiled. “I’m glad. Because they’re comfy.”
He kissed the side of my head. “You can wear them anytime, then.”
I took my phone from him. “Seven okay with you?”
“Would you give me a choice if I said ‘no’?”
I snickered. “Maybe not.”
“I’m proud of the way you handled that, gorgeous. You kept your poise, even though I’m sure your father didn’t.”
“I don’t know what that bodes for us tonight. But at least he’ll never be able to say I didn’t try.”
“And all you can ever do is try.”
I looked up at him. “Are you going to see your father at all? Or call him? Or something?”
He nodded mindlessly. “I’ve been thinking about going and seeing him while he’s in holding, yes. Because I sure as hell have no intentions to visit once he goes to prison for the rest of his life.”
“Then this is your only chance to see him.”
He stared off, his eyes unfocused. “Yes. It is. And I still have some things I want to say to him.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Are you absolutely positive?”
He chuckled. “Yes, gorgeous. I am. This is something I need to do alone. I need to look him in his eyes, man to man, and tell him the things I’ve wanted to say for years.”
My hand slid against his knee. “Well, just know the offer stands, if you change your mind.”
He looked down at me. “You’re miraculous, you know that?”
I smiled brightly. “I try as hard as I can.”
He chuckled before he pecked my lips.
“So should we talk about this dinner you’ve roped me into?”
I leaned my head against his shoulder. “If you don’t want to go, that’s fine, too.”
“I’m sure your parents would be thrilled if I didn’t show up.”
“I’d love to have you there, though.”
“If we’re being honest with one another, I’m a bit uneasy about the whole situation.”
“Well, I promise you that this time, things will be okay. And if my parents kick up even the slightest bit, we’re gone. You have my word.”
He pulled me tightly against him. “What happens if we make it through this dinner alive?”
I sighed. “Well, whether we make it through the dinner or not, you’ll have to take me back to campus. I still have some things to wrap up there. Like speaking with Hannah.”
“And dropping out.”
I paused. “Yes. And dropping out.”
“You know how I feel about that, so I’m not going to bash you over the head wi
th it. But a bit of advice?”
“I’m all ears.”
“Get whatever records you can of yourself. I keep detailed records of my health and medical situations in case I ever need them. I’m sure there’s an education equivalent or whatever. Get them so you have them, just in case you change your mind. Or want to get an associates degree. Or go to vocational school. Or something like that.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Has someone been doing research?”
He shrugged. “Possibly.”
I reached up, kissing his jawline. “I might be miraculous, but you’re breathtaking. Thank you for thinking of me like that.”
“I know better than to try and stop you. But I always want you to have a fallback plan if you change your mind, or figure out you made a mistake.”
“Thank you, handsome.”
“Anytime, gorgeous.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve got something else running through your mind?”
He sighed. “Well, John’s on this buying spree thing right now. He’s got more furniture he wants to get replaced. So my afternoon just got booked out.”
“Sounds like fun.”
He snickered. “Yeah. Right. But, that does leave our rented truck free for you to use. If, you know, you wanted to flip your schedule.”
I grinned. “You mean deal with campus stuff now.”
He shrugged. “Might take some weight off your shoulders, getting it done sooner rather than waiting the entire weekend.”
“I think that might just be the most brilliant plan you’ve ever had.”
“Oh. Thanks for that. Not like I didn’t help you completely take down my father and his dark regime or anything.”
“I mean, maybe you helped out a bit.”
He winked at me. “Maybe a little more than a bit.”
I nuzzled against him. “If you don’t mind, just leave the keys to the truck on the kitchen counter. Once I find the strength to get into my own clothes, I’ll head to campus.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll make sure to get it done. And good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Because I sure as hell would need it with Hannah.
33
Max
I clicked my tongue. “I figured he would’ve been discharged and in holding by this point.”
Rupert folded his arms over his chest. “After a gunshot wound to the gut? Hardly. He’ll be in here for probably another week or so before he’s up and walking around. And you know me with my aim. Dead on, every single time.”
I looked over at him. “Thank you for that.”
He shrugged. “Anytime. You know that.”
John interjected. “Ready when you are, Max.”
I nodded. “Yep. I’m ready.”
John opened his door. “Thanks for picking us up, Rupert. We’ll be out in a bit. This shouldn't take long.”
Rupert put the truck in drive. “I’m gonna go park in a space and keep an eye out for you two. Then we’re all going to get a beer somewhere.”
I unbuckled myself. “I have to be back by five, though. Don’t forget that.”
Rupert clapped my shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll have you back in time for you to process yourself to your own funeral.”
I rolled my eyes while John laughed. “Thanks for that.”
“Anytime, brother.”
I shook my head as I slid out of the truck. Then John and I started into the hospital. While we knew it was going to be a headache trying to find our father’s room, we certainly didn’t bank in it taking almost forty minutes. One minute, a nurse was telling us one thing. And the next, a doctor pointed us in another direction. We finally got so fed up with the process that I started searching for a bodyguard instead of a doctor.
And when I found one, I pulled him into the corner.
“What can I help you with?” the kind man asked.
“I want to know where the rest of your men that are supposed to be on duty are. Because I know they’re stationed outside a room. And I’m trying to find that room.”
John placed his hand on mine. “You can let the man go now.”
My hand fell to my side as the security guard shrugged off the phantom presence of my touch. But he also didn’t hesitate to answer my question.
“Yeah. I know what you’re looking for. You know only family can go up there to see anyone, right?”
John nodded. “Well, I suppose it’s a good thing we’re his sons, then.”
I licked my lips. “Don’t know if that’s really a good thing. But that’s enough of a family bond, right?”
The guard nodded his head. “I’d ask you for I.D.s, but I have to admit you two look like him.”
My face fell flat. “I’ll ignore the insult if you just tell us where to go.”
The security guard pointed to the elevator. “Top floor, take a left. All the way down the hall until you come to a door with guards outside.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
We followed the directions to the letter and were soon standing outside our father’s hospital room. And the man downstairs wasn’t joking. There were three men stationed outside the room, and none of them would let us through. Every time we tried to get past them, they simply shook their heads and shoved us back. I wasn’t in the mood to be trifled with. Not only had I just spent three hours hauling furniture and picking out new shit, I had to deal with Dani’s unreasonable parents tonight.
Then John talked some sense into the guys. “Here. Just take our licenses. We’re his sons, and we need to see him. Now.”
John held out his hand for me, waiting for my license to drop into his palm. I fished around in my pockets before I pulled out my wallet, and I slapped it into his hand. He handed both of our identifications to the men, who did everything they could to prove they were fake. They shined flashlights on them. Blacklights, too. They held them up to the ceiling and turned them around in their hands. They bent them to see if they’d snap. They looked at us over and over in order to check our pictures.
I was losing patience with these assholes.
Until they finally gave our I.D.s back.
“State your business,” the lanky guard said.
I blinked. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He shrugged. “Just because you’re family doesn’t mean you can just see him. He’s a fugitive under investigation. And right now, I have strict orders to only let in investigative officers and lawyers.”
I took a step toward him. “Well, you tell your boss that the captain of the S.W.A.T. team we all worked with last night has given me permission to make this visit. Got it?”
John put his hand on my back. “Max, take a breath.”
I didn’t back down, though. “You can even call, if you have questions about it.”
The guard shook his head. “No, no. Won’t be necessary. The men stationed here an hour ago relayed that information to me. Just wanted to make sure you could reiterate it back to me. The two of you are free to go in.”
Fucking finally.
They stepped away from the door and the lanky guard opened it for us. I looked over at John, watching his eyes widen as the hospital room came into view. It didn't shock me one bit that he was in a massive, luxurious room all to himself. All the way at the top floor, like that somehow distinguished him from everyone else. It made me sick to look at. But I made myself step into the room anyway.
And even though Dad didn’t turn his head to look at us, he knew we were there.
“Sit,” he said.
I looked over at John and he shrugged.
“Or don’t. The choice is yours,” Dad said.
I quirked an eyebrow and turned my eyes back to the scene in front of me. Dad had his gut wrapped in a mound of gauze with a soft red dot slowly protruding through. There were beeping machines and plastic lines flowing in and out of all sorts of places on his body. They had him on oxygen. There were two I.V.s. I saw the piss bag hanging off the edge
of the bed, signaling to me that he also had a catheter in. And when he finally turned his head to face us, I saw how gaunt his cheeks were.
The man looked rough.
“Are you just going to stand there? Or are you going to make yourselves comfortable?”
I shook my head. “We have no intention of staying long.”
He nodded. “Well, the least you can do is come in far enough to close the door. You’re letting all the damn heat out.”
John and I walked farther into the room before the door closed behind us. We approached our father’s bed in stride with one another. But we didn’t stand too closely. Dad looked completely enthralled with the Jeopardy episode on television. And as Alex Trebek rattled off the answers, Dad kept answering those inane questions.
“Who is Cleopatra?”
“What is mitosis?”
“What is sycophant?”
I rolled my eyes. “Dad. Can you turn that off, please?”
He held up his finger. “Just one more… oh! Who is Lot? Yeah!”
I furrowed my brow at the odd scene of my father pumping his fist into the air. He winced at the pain and quickly dropped his arm, to which John rushed to his side. I kept myself in my place, though. I didn’t want to be anywhere near that man. And as John limped over to aid our father like he always had, Dad’s eyes found my own.
“Come to gloat, I guess?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No. Just to look at you one last time and say goodbye. For good.”
He snickered. “Just like that, huh?”
I nodded. “Just like that.”
“So no empathy? Even for your own father?”
John checked our father over. “He looks fine.”
Dad grumbled. “I’m certainly not fine.”
John pressed a button until it turned red. “Well, I’m sure you will be with time. And this morphine.”
“That stuff makes me itch.”
I sighed. “John, you don’t have to dote on him anymore. He holds no power over you.”
John looked over at me. “You say goodbye the way you want to and let me say goodbye the way I want to.”
Dad grinned. “Yeah, Max. Let your brother have his ways.”
Watching John dance around our father made me sick. But if that was what he needed for closure, then so be it. I wouldn’t stop him. I sure as hell wasn't joining him, though.
