“I thought we had an understanding,” my father hissed, looking over his shoulder to make sure that no one was around to see him for his true self.
“We do, and I’m playing along JUST so I can have my life back. But our understanding had nothing to do with where or with whom I spend my time. I’m going to Sam’s. End of story.”
“What about the girls? How will they feel if you don’t show?”
I frowned. “What are you even talking about? One: who cares how they feel about it? Two: no one’s upset about me leaving, but you! I never agreed to babysit anyone. I’ve got plans.”
When I continued on to my bedroom, my father stood there staring at the back of my head, probably trying to think of ways that he could stop me, but there weren’t any. I spent the rest of the day alone in my room until it was time to shower and leave. When I came down the steps, my father caught sight of me from where he sat talking to Mr. Tanaka and the polite smile faded from his face as I walked toward the back door to exit through the garage.
After sending Sam a quick “I’m on my way” text, I backed out. When I reached for the garage remote, I was surprised to see Kira standing against the brick, attempting to hide a cigarette behind her leg.
I rolled my window down. “You know I’m gonna want hush money, right?” I said with a laugh.
She walked the few feet to my car and bent toward my window. “Well, sucks for you; my parents already know. Technically, it’s your family I’m hiding my nicotine addiction from.”
I smiled, totally relating to having to keep up appearances. “Well…either way, you’re secret’s safe with me.”
I rolled the window up a few inches and started backing up again when Kira stopped me. “You gonna be out late?” She asked.
I questioned her with my eyes. “Probably. Why?”
She shrugged and looked out at the trees lining out property, boredom heavy in her expression. “Just asking. I gotta get out of here. I haven’t left your house in over 24-hours.”
I laughed. “Yeah, my father can be intense.”
“Yours? You didn’t have to get the ‘Act like you weren’t raised by wolves’ speech my father gave me and Reina this morning.” Kira looked up at the sky thoughtfully. “On second thought, Reina might’ve needed it, but it was degrading nonetheless.”
I smiled a little. I didn’t want to rush her, but I had to get going. She noticed that I’d checked the clock for a second time and realized that she was keeping me. “Oh, crap. Why didn’t you just tell me I was talking too much? Go get to Samantha,” she said, gesturing toward my neck.”
I nodded. “Try to have fun in there.”
Kira replied with nothing more than a sarcastic grin and I backed out of the driveway to where Vick sat parked on the street. His presence was just the little reminder that I needed to stick to this deal with my father.
I couldn’t wait for this to all be over with……
Chapter8
Sam
“That went much better than last year, wouldn’t you say?” I asked, leaning into AJ’s side as we sat hugged up on the couch. My mind drifted back to how my father ruined Thanksgiving and my birthday last year, thanks to his feelings about me and AJ being together. Now, he sat right across from the two of us, reading his newspaper without even paying us any attention. He smiled when he turned the page and caught me watching him.
“Much better,” AJ replied.