Page 20 of Lovestruck at Sundown
“But it’s almost dawn,” I complained, “and I honestly want to go home, shower, and sleep. It’s not like we can do much talking right now. I’m sure we can do that later today.”
“Just following instructions, Miss.”
A heavy sigh escaped my lips. Exhaustion was getting the best of me. I didn’t have the required energy to argue with my father, so I hoped he wouldn’t be awake and I could sneak into the apartment to sleep in my old bedroom for at least a few hours before seeing him.
When we arrived, Aaron was quick to grab my things.
“I’ll be fine, Aaron. I can roll my suitcase up there.”
He ignored me. So I followed him, my legs feeling swollen and heavy from the trip. The weight of it all was crashing against me, and then the nerves kicked in. I could feel my breath catchingin my chest, growing more labored as the elevator took us to my father’s floor.
Gently, I unlocked my father’s apartment door and the familiar smell of my childhood home rushed out as I entered the foyer. Aaron rolled in my small suitcase and returned to the elevator with haste.
“Your father will let me know when I should pick you up,” Aaron said, holding the door open with his forearm.
“What do you mean?” I dropped my bag on a chair and approached him. “You’re not staying?” I knew they were tired from the trip and needed to rest, but not having a car waiting for me downstairs in case I wanted to leave at some point made me feel trapped. Was I to stay here until my father dismissed me? It’s not like I was allowed to walk away and hail a cab.
“That’s what your father instructed me to do, Miss.” His lips went into a tight line. “Text me if there’s anything you need.”
“Okay.”
He nodded, and the doors shut before him with a heavy thump.
I cursed under my breath, hoping the noise wouldn’t wake my father since I’d left the door open.
His apartment was dark and quiet. So I picked up my suitcase instead because the hardwood floors creaked loudly against the apartment’s stillness.
I felt relieved that my old bedroom’s door hadn’t squeaked when I twisted the doorknob and pushed it open. My small bed looked inviting enough as I kicked off my tennis shoes. I pulled my phone and charger out of my bag and connected them to the power socket next to my nightstand. Before crawling onto the bed, I shrugged off my jacket and tossed it on the blush-pink armchair.
I was ready to rest my head on that dusty pillow. Becauselet’s face it, how often do people stick the bedsheets of an unused room into the washing machine? My guess was: not often.
But that wasn’t stopping me.
“Guillermina,” my father said, startling me from behind, his voice low but silky smooth.
“Fuck,” I breathed, turning around slowly to face him. Why did he have to sneak up on me like that?
“It’s nice to see you too.” He was wearing black slacks and a disheveled white button-up shirt with a few of the top buttons undone. It was nerve-wracking to realize I hadn’t awakened him but that he’d been up all this time waiting for me to arrive.
“I’m sorry. You scared me.”
He considered me for a long moment. “Meet me in the living room once you’ve settled in.”
Settled in.
Not that this was the best time to tell him, but I wasn’t planning on staying longer than it would take us to hash things out. I had class the next day and needed to head back home and carry on with my life.
“I’ll be right out.”
Dragging myself to the bathroom, I stared at my reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath.Harden up, damn it. I splashed some cold water on my face and dried myself before finally stepping out of the room to meet him in the living room.
“Sit,” he commanded, his tone dry and harsh as I approached him. I swallowed and sat across from him. I’d never seen him so upset with me. I didn’t imagine it would look and feel this way. He crossed an ankle over his knee and rested an arm over the sofa’s headrest. His body language somehow made me feel smaller.
“Dad, I—”
He lifted a hand to stop me.
“I’m selling the apartment, and you’re moving in with me.”
