My dad’s superpowers were finely honed.
But they didn’t extend to this kind of healing.
“No, Dad,” I whispered. I looked through my family and requested, “Can we please just get this done?”
“We’ll talk Monday,” Hank declared. “You come to Lee’s office. We’ll all be there.”
“Hank, we’re here. Why can’t we just do this now?” I asked.
“Because we’re not doing it now,” Lee said. “We’re doing it Monday. Five thirty. My office.”
I looked from one brother to the other.
Fuck.
“Fine,” I snapped. “Now I gotta go.” I looked through my brothers again and finished, “I’ll see you tomorrow at the rehearsal.”
“Ally, why don’t you stay and eat dinner with your dad and me?” Mom asked, and I looked to her.
“You’re cool with it, I’ll come over for dinner on Sunday,” I offered an alternate, which might appease her even if it would not do it totally.
At least it was something.
She looked to Dad then back at me and nodded.
“Later,” I murmured, turning and giving them a low wave.
“Allyson,” Dad called, and I sucked in breath and turned back. When I caught his eyes, he said softly, “You’re loved, sweetheart.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded, keeping my eyes to Dad because I knew I couldn’t cope with them all at once showing me Dad’s words were true through the expressions on their faces.
I then turned again and got the fuck out of there.
* * * * *
I clenched my teeth as I sat in my Mustang outside Ren’s house.
This was because, regardless of the fact that I texted him before I drove away from Mom and Dad’s, Ren’s Jag was at the curb.
During our Not-Really-Fuck-Buddies phase, I’d always wondered but never asked why he didn’t park in the two car garage he had out back. It was in good repair and had a kickass wooden garage door with these interesting windows at the top.
I figured it was because the front was closer and had easier access to the house since his backyard was long. Some of it was terraced so he had a boatload of steps to climb up. That wouldn’t be all that fun for lugging in groceries, even if you were a tall, strong, fit hot guy.
Then again, the front required, without fail, parallel parking, which was something I, like only three point two seven percent of the population (my estimation, not based on a study or anything), had the skills to do. Still, that didn’t mean it didn’t suck having to do it.
I was sitting there thinking I would never get an answer to this question at the same time I was thinking there was nothing for it. I had to go in, even with Ren there. I needed clothes, and my clothes were in Ren’s house. So even if he wasn’t going to be cool and let me get in and out without hassle, I had to get my meager belongings.
But before I did that, I knew I had to make a clean getaway. Therefore I had to have somewhere to get away to, and I’d made my decision on the drive there where that was going to be.
I pulled out my phone, found the contact and hit go.
On ring three, Daisy answered, “Everything good, sugar?”
“I ended things with Ren and I need a place to stay,” I announced and ignored her sharp gasp. “Can I crash with you and Marcus for a couple of days?”
Silence before she asked, “You ended things with Ren?”
My eyes got hot and my voice was husky when I requested, “Please, Daisy. Not now.”
This bought me more silence, but it lasted a lot less time before she said, “Absolutely, darlin’. I’ll go up and make sure one of our guest rooms is ready for you and I’ll be doin’ that right now.”
I so freaking loved Daisy.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“No problem, baby,” she whispered back. “Now, you get here when you get here and we’ll sort you out.”
“Okay, Daisy.”
“See you soon, sugar.”
“Right.”
I hung up before she could keep being sweet. I didn’t have a lot left in me before I lost it, and Daisy had a lot of sweet and that would undo me. So I had to cut that off. Pronto.
I twisted his key off my ring in order to be ready, angled out of my car and hoofed it to Ren’s.
Get this done and get gone.
