Page 80 of One Pucking Life

I arch a brow. “Okay, but the entire team can’t be thrilled to be dragged out again. I mean, didn’t we just do this? I’m not trying to be a downer—I’m just honestly curious. I don’t want anyone to feel put out.”

Max laughs. “Babe, the Cranes love any excuse to party. Everyone’s happy to be here. Well, everyone except Gunner. I’m sure Penny dragged him out against his will, but don’t take that personally. It’s just how he is.”

The moment we step farther into the space, Olivia appears from the crowd. She wraps her arms around Max, then pulls me in for a hug.

“Thank God you’re here,” she mutters. “There’s some creepy guy who keeps hitting on me. He’s by the bar, wearing a maroon button-up. Honestly, I was about to fake a phone call to escape.”

My eyes find the bar. Maroon shirt. Salt-and-pepper hair. Half smile like he owns the room. My stomach sinks.

I freeze.

My heart does that awful gallop it hasn’t done in a long time. Because I know that man.

It’s my dad.

Everything in me twists—not with fear, not exactly. More like disappointment laced with dread. I haven’t seen him in years, and the first time he shows up is at my engagement celebration? The fact that he’s hitting on a woman half his age isn’t surprising, but why is he here?

My gaze circles the space, and that’s when I spot my mom, sitting alone, sipping a glass of wine and eyeing my father with a look of longing—and I’ve answered my question. There’s no doubt in my mind that she invited him. It doesn’t matter how many women younger than me he parades in front of her or how horribly he treats her—she never stops wanting him. It makes me so sad for her.

Max catches my shift in posture. “Laney?”

“That’s... that’s my dad.”

His jaw tightens. “Do you want me to?—”

“No.” I square my shoulders. “I’ve got this.”

I cross the room before I can talk myself out of it. When I reach him, he straightens. “Laney.”

“What are you doing here?” I narrow my gaze.

He lifts his drink, unbothered. “Your mom invited me. Said it was a party.”

“Yeah, I figured she invited you, but did you stop to think that it’s not appropriate for you to be here?”

“And why not? I’m your father. I should be invited to important things in your life,” he snaps.

“Dad, what’s the party for?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Um… I don’t believe your mother mentioned that part.”

“I have no doubt that she did, but you didn’t listen because you don’t care. You haven’t reached out to me in years. Every time I saw you before that, you paraded half dressed women around Mom in some sort of torture ritual.”

“We’re divorced, Delaney. I’m allowed to have other relationships.”

“So when’s the last time you called Mom or saw her?”

He presses his lips into a fine line and furrows his brow. “I don’t know.”

“Anytime within the last year?”

He shrugs. “Maybe.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Excuse me,” he snaps, nostrils flaring.

“You are.” I hold my ground. “You know she still harbors feelings for you, and you use her to stroke your ego. You call on her when you need something, take advantage of her when you’re feeling lonely, and then discard her like she means nothing. You do it over and over and over again. It’s cruel, and she doesn’t deserve that. You will never love her the way shedeserves to be loved. Let her go.” My voice trembles with anger. “And don’t show up uninvited by me to my engagement party and hit on my future sister-in-law. It’s gross.”

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