Page 51 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Yeah, me too.” She smiles, but it doesn’t touch her eyes. The fact I can tell that bothers me because when she smiles it feels like warm sunshine, and right now her demeanor is more fitting with the North Pole.

“Wait. Wait. Wait.” Her father’s voice carries from down the hall. “Annie, I’m fine.”

Annie stands from her bed. “Daddy, what is going on?”

He makes it to the door of her room, walking upright and perfectly fine. The look he gives her is pure guilt. “Annie, I lied about my back so you and Cade could have some time alone together.”

“What?” Her blue eyes widen. “Why would you do that?”

She is angry. The emotion runs off her in waves, making her face turn red and her eyebrows pull together.

“Because you haven’t dated anyone in years. I thought you and Cade had a real shot,” he confesses. “My back is okay, so if you want to go to Colorado. . .” His face scrunches.

"I can't believe this. This is crazy. Like seriously, Daddy. I don’t expect these kinds of antics from you.” She begins to pace.

“I know. I only want what’s best for you, Annie girl.”

“I get to decide that,” she tells him pointedly. “I need to stay here. I don’t know when Mom is coming back, but I’m not leaving you alone for New Year’s,” she tells her dad.

“Annie, I don’t need a babysitter.”

“We need to have a long talk. I hope Mom comes home too because she needs to be included,” Annie insists.

“She’s angry, Annie. She’s worried we’re going to lose the farm,” her dad confesses.

Annie’s lower lip quivers.

“Is this because of the lawsuit?” I ask.

“It’s complicated, Cade,” she replies. I understand this is deeply personal to her and after being here a couple of days, I see what this farm means to her.

“We don’t need Ford or his family, Annie. I’ll go to another bank and try to get a loan,” her dad says.

“Daddy, can we not talk about this now?” she pleads.

He nods.

“Will you come with me as my friend? Colorado has great skiing,” I interrupt, feeling hopeful.

“I need to stay, Cade. We can be in touch after the holidays when we are back in school.” It feels like she has built a wall the size of the Great Wall of China between us.

“Okay.” I lean in to hug her.

“I’ll leave now,” her dad says, and he backs away. I can tell Annie isn’t finished with him though.

She hugs me back. I quickly take in the scent of her hair and mark these last few days with her to memory.

“Thanks, Annie. This was probably the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” I say to her. And it’s really messed up because my parents are separating, and my dad is MIA, but I got to do real Christmas things and that means something to me. Mostly because I got to do them with Annie.

We separate and Annie follows me downstairs. “Waze should be working okay. It isn’t snowing,” she notes.

I nod. “Yeah.” I put on my boots and jacket and take my bags. “See you after break.” I head to the garage; thankful my car isn’t covered in snow.

I put the airport into Waze. I figure I can leave my car there and take a standby flight home. It’ll be good to see some of my old friends in town and get some skiing in. I just wish I didn’t miss Annie this much, or her damn farm. Hell, I even miss Sally.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Annie

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