Page 76 of Nothing to Lose: Lost Trilogy: Part 1
“Where were you?” I repeat when I realize he never answered me.
“Out of state,” is all he says, the tone of his voice not leaving any room for further questioning.
“Okay,” I bob my head up and down, then look him straight in the eyes. “Were you in Texas?”
Dad doesn’t show any emotion, nothing to tell me whether my guess is spot on or not.
“Why would you ask that?” he murmurs in amusement. “And since when do you care where I go when I am out of town?”
That’s fair, I think to myself. I never cared before, never asked him where he was going or for what. It was always out of town for business. And his business consists of making money. He has an actual office to go to, but he doesn’t use it on a regular basis. He is able to work remotely from wherever.
“Uh, I don’t know if this came up at all,” I decide to bite the bullet and spit out what I want him to know. “But me and Puck have been talking a lot over the last few months. Since I was in Texas for mom’s stuff, actually.”
I am talking fast, not giving him the chance to interrupt me. Not that he would. He’s always been the type of person that would watch people closely and just let them talk.
The more they talk without interruptions, the more they tell youhas always been his motto. And now he is using it on me.
“Anyway, we’ve been talking a lot. In fact…” A furious blush takes over my entire body as I struggle to continue.
“I know.”
Dad’s voice sounds calm, showing no emotion. I can’t tell if he is happy for me or mad that I slept with someone on his payroll. This has never happened before, so I’m not sure how to act.
“Do you know if… he is okay?” I manage to ask, voice shaking so much, I sound like I’m stuttering.
Dad continues staring at me. He doesn’t look happy, but he doesn’t look upset either, so that’s got to mean something.
“Is there a reason why you would think he was not okay?”
I should’ve known that he wouldn’t give me a straight answer. It means I need to be as direct as possible so that we don’t stand here all day asking each other questions.
“I thought it was all going well between us. And then, he just ghosted me. I haven’t heard from him in a couple of months. The last text he sent me was rough, and I know I sent him four texts in a row before then, but…”
I am just talking away, sentences running together, unable to stop the verbal diarrhea from spilling out.
“Puck is fine,” Dad tells me in a firm voice. “I’m sure he will confirm it to you next time you talk.”
“Will we though?” I sniffle.
“Will you what, Em?”
“Talk.” Considering he went radio silent on me, I feel insecure about everything.
“I’ve never interfered with your love life,” dad starts talking. I can picture him in a business setting. No wonder he’s made as much money as he has. “Not even when you came home with Steve.”
Steve tried too hard with my dad. He wanted to impress him. He constantly bragged about how much money he made, about the large portfolios he was handling. And my dad would always just stare at him with an apathetic look on his face.
“I know, dad, and I appreciate it. I just thought you might have some information on Puck.”
“None that I could share.” The reply is clear and to the point.
I take a deep breath to fortify myself. “You can’t or you won’t?”
Dad’s eyebrow goes up in amusement. I am just as surprised by my brazenness as he is. I’ve never had a good reason to question my dad though. Me wanting to know what’s going on with Puck is good enough reason.
“I won’t,” he finally answers.
My bottom lip trembles when I force myself to remain stoic and don’t show him how hurt I am by what he’s telling me.
