Page 106 of Reckless
But my dreams have a way of crashing down around me, which is what happens when we hit the end of the walkway.
We run into my dad.
He steps across the mouth of the hall, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
And my stomach drops. I’m a goddamn adult. His opinion shouldn’t mean shit to me after the absentee role he’s played in my life.
But itdoes.
Because I’ve seen how he is with Summer. And it hurts. Because I’m his too. I’ve been here all along, and he pretends I haven’t.
“Care to explain yourself, Silva?” His voice is cool and accusatory.
But the one Theo responds with is pure ice, one I’veneverheard him use with anyone. “Not to you I don’t.”
“Are you fucking kidding me, boy? You’ve had my daughter back there for far too long to be giving me that kind of attitude. And the baby? Clearly, you have some things to tell me.”
Theo straightens, taking an incremental step in front of me, shielding me with his body. He chuckles, but it’s not his usual warm laughter that makes my tummy flip.
This is more like a growl.
“Actually, Kip, I do have a few things to tell you. First, refer to my daughter again asthe baby,like she doesn’t have a name, and I’ll fucking lay you out. Second, I’ll be at your office on Monday morning. Bring Geoff. I don’t want to fire you at your daughter’s wedding. It would be in poor taste. Lastly, if you think you deserve to stake some sort of claim on this woman as your daughter, you have some serious soul-searching to do. The girl on the dance floor?” He points over Kip’s shoulder at Summer, who is watching us now. “That’s your daughter. This woman here? She’s Dr. Hamilton until you tuck that scaly fucking tail between your legs and come make amends with her.”
For the first time in my life, my father appears to be at a loss for words.
For the first time in my life, someone has come to my defense.
“Now get out of my way, Kip. I want to go home and be with my girls.”
Home. My girls.
My heart plunges into my stomach. It floats and flips, rolling around in every warm, mushy feeling I’ve never felt.
I wish I knew what to say to my dad, but I don’t. And for once, I decide leaning on someone else to take care of me might be okay.
I give my dad my best icy glare as I pass by him.
And I have another first because my icy exterior isn’t reflecting the way I’m feeling inside.
With Theo, I feel the same way I feel with Vivi—in love. But it’s too soon. Too fast. I’m still too raw. So, I set the terrifying thought aside and leave it for later when I’m thinking more clearly. When my legs aren’t still shaking from the way I just fell apart for him.
“Dr. Hamilton, huh?” I murmur as we clear the doors and head into the gravel parking lot.
Theo pulls me up to him and slings an arm over my shoulder as he leads us to his truck. All swagger and confidence. All protective and loyal. His mouth drops to my ear and he whispers, “Dr. Hamilton in the streets, filthy slut in the sheets.”
And I laugh.
No one can make me laugh the way Theo Dale Silva does.
* * *
“You’re being quiet. Did I go too far? It takes a lot to make me mad. But when I get there? I blow a gasket.”
The drive back to our houses is short, but he’s right. I haven’t been talking. The only sound in the truck’s cab has been the muted sound of country music filtering from the radio. Because I’ve been thinking.
Overthinking.
“You didn’t go too far. You...” I shake my head as I stare out the window at the darkened side streets of Chestnut Springs. “You were what I’ve always needed and never had.”
