Page 39 of Words We Didn't Say

“Looks good, Dad,” I said.

“Your mother wanted it.” He bent over to flick out a weed and stood tall again, sweeping his gaze over the yard, as awkward about the conversation as me. “Why didn’t you tell me things weren’t good with your girl?”

“I’m not sure I was ready to admit it to myself. And after everything that’s happened with Mum—”

“Now, hold up. Your mum getting sick doesn’t mean you and I stop talking.”

“It wasn’t as important.”

“If it wasn’t important, your girlfriend would be standing in the kitchen with your mother right now.” He found another weed to pluck out. “And this other woman?”

“Someone I work with. We…” I grimaced. I wasn’t about to tell Dad any of the gory details about Michaela. I wanted to leave those days firmly in the past. “Look, that woman is a non-issue. Eden misunderstood a situation she saw at work and thought I was cheating. I wasn’t.”

“That’s a trust thing. Women who know their men love ’em don’t misunderstand situations like that.”

“She knows how I feel.”

“Does she?” He grunted. “You’re not always good at using your words. You tell her?”

“N-No.”

Dad frowned. “YoushowedEden how you feel? You need tobethere, mate. And not just in your body. The sex—”

“Dad.” I still hadn’t recovered from his last round of sex advice.

He raised his palms. “I’m just saying, the physical is good. You need that. But you need your brain there, too.”

Well, if that was the benchmark, I was a failure. My brain was always dialled into the office, and Eden knew it. “I haven’t even come close to showing her.” My shoulders slumped from the guilt of admitting it out loud.

“Work?”

“Yeah.”

Dad sighed. “You’re always working too much. Always reaching for more. I can’t blame you. I know we never had much when you were growing up—”

“We had plenty.”

“Nothing like that apartment you’ve got on the harbour. Or that nice car you’ve got parked out front.”

“That’s just stuff, Dad.”

“Just stuff, huh?” He smiled. I’d just proven his point. “You’ve got to stop to enjoy what you’ve achieved. Your prick of a boss sells you a dream—a better life, money to splash, accolades, andso-called respect. But there’s no point in earning all that if you’ve got no one to share it with.”

I sighed. “Eden’s already gone, Dad.”

“Yeah.” He patted my shoulder. “Maybe it’s for the best. Gives you some time to focus on getting your promotion sorted. I mean, if it was important enough to let her walk outta your life—”

“I didn’t let her walk out! Yeah, maybe I didn’t have the balls to admit the whole ‘I love you’ deal yet, but Eden knows how I feel.”

“Oh, so that’s why she left?”

“Dad! Seriously? What the hell?”

“I think you’re missing my point, mate. You might not like talking, but your girl’s not a mind reader. What I hear you saying is that you didn’t tell her how you feel, didn’t show her, didn’t prioritise her over that fuckin’ job of yours, or give her enough faith in you so she wasn’t threatened when some other sheila came sniffing. Yet, you’re standing there, surprised she left.” Dad grunted. “Can’t sayI’msurprised. Honestly, I’m shocked she stayed as long as she did.”

“Thirty-four days.”

“Eh?”

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