Chapter 28

Rhett

 

As I walked off the dance floor and away from Danica, I felt my heart sink into my shoes. I knew we would get to be alone later, but that felt too long away. I needed her in my arms, and it really wasn’t fair that we couldn’t be that way. I knew it had to be that way, but when it was external circumstances dictating us, it just got to me from time to time.

It also reminded me that I’d screwed up more than once by messing Danica around. If my father and this wedding weren’t an issue, none of that would have happened.

I raced to the bathroom, wanting a moment to myself to sort myself out before heading to the bar for another drink, but of course, I wasn’t going to be so lucky. Although I’d expected there to be others in there, the only person that I really didn’t want to be around was the one that I found myself faced with.

My dad was in there alone, looking angrier than I’d ever seen him before. It was weird, seeing him there in his tuxedo, red faced with rage–a totally contrast to the rest of the day. That serene, romantic look that was on his face when he spoke his vows was nowhere to be seen.

Oh God, what had happened? Did I miss something? Had I been so wrapped up in Danica that I missed something drastic going on? My heart raced as I tried to work out what had put him in such a bad mood, but I couldn’t come up with anything. As far as I was aware, everyone had been on their best behaviour all day.

“You okay, Dad?” I asked, but he didn’t reply. He simply continued to stare into space with that odd expression on his face. “The wedding is going well,” I finished lamely, already knowing that was the wrong thing to say. Somehow I could already sense that wasn’t what he wanted to talk about, but it was too late. I’d already started down that route, and there was only one way to continue. “Congratulations.”

His flaming eyes finally met mine, and a cold realization hit me. I was the issue–somehow I’d managed to do something wrong. But what? I scammed my brain, but I couldn’t come up with anything. I’d mostly kept to myself all day, unless there was some family member that he didn’t want me talking to. But I wasn’t psychic, so how the hell was I supposed to know that? He should have warned me in advance if that was going to be the case.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my words fell apart at my lips. As he stared me down, a realization hit me. For the first time in my entire life, I actually felt afraid of him. My body was trembling lightly, and my mouth had run dry. My dad had made me feel many, many emotions in my life, but terror was never one of them. Now, for some reason, it was all of me. I was absolutely petrified.

“You,” he growled, walking towards me as I backed into a corner. As the words burst from his chest, that fear became all consuming, even worse than it was before. I just had no idea what was about to happen, and that was scary as hell. “I told you before that you’re exactly like me.”

“What?” I gasped out in surprise. What the hell was he going on about? We’d already had this argument, and he hadn’t managed to convince me that he was right, so why was he still going on about it? What did he hope to achieve?

“You just couldn’t stay away from her, could you?” His fists were clenched, and I started to feel like he might actually hit me. “You will not ruin this marriage for me, whatever your fucking plans are. I won’t have it, you little prick.” He wasn’t yelling, but he might as well have been for the effect that his words were having on me.

“You’ve spent your whole life trying to make things difficult for me, and I won’t have it again. I will not have Danica and Lyla dragged into your stupid games. If you have a problem with me, then take it up with me. Don’t involve innocent bystanders.”

Guilt flooded through me as I realized he thought that I was a threat. Of course, destroying his marriage had been my original plan, but it wasn’t anymore. Danica had distracted me, and now it didn’t seem worth my time.

It was done now anyway; they were married, what the hell could I do? Why was he so worried about the impact I could have on his life? This was the most interest that he’d ever shown in me, and it was completely in the wrong way.

“What are you talking about?” I needed to stall him, to think of something descent to stay to dispel this before it got too out of control. Questions felt like the best way to do that.

“Don’t play dumb,” he snapped, his face right in mine now. “You know exactly what I mean. Don’t think I can’t see what you’re up to.”

I glanced around, sensing that there was no way out of this unless someone else walked in. I just had to hope that they would. Bathrooms were normally so busy, what the hell was going on? How had any of this been allowed to happen? Maybe it was because the evening was starting to wind down.

“I’ve seen the way you look at her,” he spat out, glaring at me up and down as if I disgusted him.

My heart fell. Her. He must have seen Danica and me, and that was what he meant about me being like him. He thought I couldn’t keep away from any woman no matter what–he didn’t realize that I actually really cared for her. He didn’t understand at all, and he never would. He’d never been in love like I was. I thought differently today, but clearly, I’d been wrong.

“It’s disgusting,” he continued, giving me the dirtiest look ever. “And, I will not let it fuck up what I have with Lyla. Just because you can’t keep your dirty, little hands to yourself.”

All my good feelings about him melted away. He hadn't changed at all; he’d just done a very good job of hiding it. I could not believe that I’d been duped; I never thought he would be able trick me out of everyone, and I was more than a little ashamed of myself.

“It’s not like that,” I tried to argue, hoping to throw him off track. “We were only dancing. It was a bit of fun. I saw her sitting alone, looking sad, and I wanted to cheer her up.”

“That’s it, is it?” he sneered, and I found it very difficult to continue arguing with him. What if he’d seen something? I wasn’t sure that I could just blatantly lie right to his face. That just wasn’t in my nature. “Don’t fucking lie to me. Do not try to pull the wool over my eyes; I know all the God damn tricks–or have you forgotten that?”

He was so clearly referring to all the fooling around that he did while he was with my mom, and I felt a red hot anger burning inside of me. I tried not to react, though, that was what he wanted. He was looking for an excuse to hit me, and I really didn’t want to give him one. I wasn’t afraid to admit to myself that I was scared of getting hurt–I had no idea what this man was truly capable of, and I didn’t think today was the right time to find out.

“I-” I started, but he jumped in before I could say too much.

“I think it’s best for everyone if you just leave,” he stared me down, intimidating me with only his eyes. “Leave and never come back. I never want to see your face again. And do not under any circumstances contact Danica again. I mean that–I’ll know if you do.”

I couldn’t help myself; the words just spilled uncontrollably out of my mouth. “Why did you invite me here if you hate me so much?” I just needed to know–it made no sense. All of this was too weird for words. So much for my mom’s theory that he wanted to make amends for all of his shitty behavior. He clearly had another agenda all along, and I needed to know what it was before all of this was over.

He laughed loudly and bitterly, shooting daggers into my chest. “I didn’t want you here. Lyla asked me to invite you, and I needed to make a good impression.”

Of course. Why had I expected anything different?

And why did I feel so deflated?

All of a sudden, I had nothing left to lose, so I said the first thing that cropped up into my mind. “What are you going to do if I don’t leave?” I snapped defensively. I didn’t care anymore, let him do his worst; he was a prick and he’d ruined yet another special memory for me. How the hell could he treat his own child in such a shitty way? It seemed unfathomable to me.

“If you go, then you won’t need to find out, will you?” Yep, there it was: that threat again. I stared up at him, trying to spot a shred of decency there, but all I got back was the possibility of violence. If I didn’t go, he would hurt me, and he probably wouldn’t stop there. Neither Danica nor I were safe if I remained while this man was still in our lives.

And he sure as hell wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.

After a few more moments, he stalked from the room, leaving me alone, panting heavily with fear coursing through my veins. That was no threat, not really. It was a promise, and I couldn’t even begin to process that my dad had just practically admitted that he wanted me hurt.

What the hell was I going to do now? Was I really willing to risk losing Danica over this? But then again, was I actually willing to risk my neck and hers to go back into my dad’s home? He could kill me in there before I even knew what was happening. And I couldn’t be totally sure that he wouldn’t actually take it that far.

I was fucking terrified, and I really wanted to go home, back to my home where my mom was. But if I was going to do that, I’d have to skip out now and get my stuff before everyone got back, before anyone could realize what I was up to. I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to tell Danica. She would go mental and she’d try to persuade me to stay–dragging herself into something that she knew nothing about.

No, I was going to have to make a snap decision, and that was that.

This was no longer a battle between my heart and my head; this was a potential life and death situation.

I quickly peeked my head out of the bathroom, seeing no one that I instantly recognized out on the dance floor, making it easier for me to slip through the crowds unnoticed. I needed to go back to dad’s to make my decision once and for all. Then, if I did make the choice to leave without a trace, to save me and Danica from a whole load of trouble that neither of us needed, then I would be able to pack my stuff quickly.

I slid outside into the cold air, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. I hated to act in such a cowardly way, but I didn’t see what other choice I had.