Page 76 of Fifth Avenue Fling

Kiss me.

Then he drops his hand from my cheek. “Go to bed, Clodagh.”

SEVENTEEN

Killian

Anyone who said “just wait until she’s a teenager” to me over the years, was right on the money.

I thought the “period talk” would be the hardest conversation to navigate, but that was only the beginning. With no blueprint to follow, every day is a wild ride of teenage emotions as I try to blindly fumble my way through the highs and lows.

Today’s emotion of the day is rage, and it’s directed at me, Daddy dearest.

Teagan eyes me with a glare that could cut through steel as I enter the kitchen after my workout. I try not to be too offended; being a father to a teenage daughter has thickened my hide much more than running a billion-dollar corporation.

Her hair is thankfully back to its natural color.

“Morning, beautiful.” I lean in to kiss her forehead, but she swivels in her stool away from me. I’m surprised to see her even out of her room at this time on a Saturday morning.

“Don’t talk to me. I still hate you.”

I exhale heavily in response. “I know, princess.” I wonder if this’ll last until she’s eighteen.

“Don’t call me princess.”

If she rolls her eyes any further back in her head, I’ll have to summon a priest for an exorcism.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me. They’ll get stuck like that.”

I place a cup beneath the coffee machine and make my morning espresso. “Since you’re grounded, why not use the day to practice the piece your cello teacher gave you? I’d love to hear it. The music competition is only three weeks away.”

“I’msupposedto be hanging with Becky today,” she fires back in contempt.

“And you would be if you hadn’t dyed your hair,” I point out calmly, knowing that for a twelve-year-old girl, having to be away from friends is the worst punishment imaginable. “You knew the rules and the consequences, yet you took the risk. You’re grounded for three more days.”

She skewers me with a look of wrath that the Mareks would be proud of. “It doesn’t even make sense! Why don’t you just end it now? Why do I have to be grounded for three more days?”

I down the shot of espresso. “Because I say so.”

I already explained to her why hair dye wasn’t suitable for anyone under sixteen. We sat down together and read articles about it. Though she wasn’t happy about it, she was smart enough not to want to damage her hair.

Now on to the next argument.

“But whythree? Why does it have to be three?”

I’ve got nothing rational. “Because I decide the numbers.”

“That’s so unfair,” she wails, throwing her hands in the air.

“Life’s not always fair. Next time, you’ll think more carefully about the consequences.”

I join Teagan on a barstool at the island. We sit in one-sided angry silence as she stares down at her phone.

What would Harlow say if she were here? Would we be having these fights?

Have I been going at this all wrong? She’s still a child. I don’t want her dyeing her hair or wearing makeup. No daughter of mine is going to sexualize herself at twelve. When she turns thirty, then she can use cosmetics.

What would Clodagh say?

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