I move my things and plop myself into the chair. As I stare out at Rowan’s truck, our conversation replays in my head, and truly, I’m at a loss.
As sad as it is, I can’t help but think Alec might be right. Maybe Rowan will never be able to love me right, never allow me to love him the way I’ve wanted.
Rowan admitted that he saw me in his future, his far future.
But how far, and what role do I play?
And, more importantly, do I want to wait around to find out?Chapter SevenOakley“Hey, Dad,” I answer my phone on my way out the door.
“Oakley!”
I pause at the hood of my car. “Everything okay?”
“Oakley, listen to me …”
“What’s wrong?”
“Honey, where are you?”
“Leaving for work.” I whip around when I hear what sounds like a key dropping but see no one around.
“Call …” He groans. “Call Rowan. Have him take you.”
My eyes widen. He’s never the first to suggest Rowan when it comes to anything involving me. Something’s up.
I hustle around the front of my car, quickly getting behind the wheel. “Rowan doesn’t go in until seven. I have to be there by five thirty. What’s going on?”
“I don’t want you to be alone. Listen, I’m not going to be home as early as I thought. I have more business to handle here.”
“Okaaay.” I drop against my seat.
“Oakley, I need you to call Havannah before you get off work and tell her to go back home tonight.”
“But, Dad, you just said I shouldn’t be alone.”
“I know, but I need her to go home now. She won’t do you any good, and I can’t have you there, unprotected.”
“So then, what’s your plan? And unprotected from what?”
“I’ll handle it, Oaks. Trust me?”
“Dad.”
“Honey, please. For once in your life, go with the flow, all right? I’m here, dealing with some stuff, and then … I’ll be home.”
“Is this”—I hesitate, remembering the break-in at Blackline—“Blaze business?”
“Not now. Be careful on your way to work and check the safety nets when you get home. Call me tonight after … well, you’ll call.”
“You’re freaking me out.”
He chuckles lightly, but I hear the crack in his voice when he sighs in my ear. “I love you, baby girl.”
“Dad—”
“Proud of you.”
My brows pull in. “I know you are.”
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I speak low, my mind running wild with possibilities. “You’ve said it a million times.”
He gives a small laugh. “Oakley, sometimes, the ones we think care the least care the most. Remember that, even when it feels impossible. When it hurts more than you feel you can bear, remember that. The people who love you can do the most damage, but sometimes … they hurt you for you. And not everything is what it appears to be.”
“Why is everything a lesson? I get it. Work my mind, build instinct, and solve problems, Dad, but I’m already Blaze. I passed all these damn tests. Can you just be straight up and tell me what you really want to say? Why are you worried about my safety?”
“Love you, sweetheart.” He puts an end to the conversation, officially shutting me down.
With a sigh, I shake my head. “Love you, Dad.” I hang up, tossing my phone into my gym bag, and drive the last few blocks to the academy. Along the way, I can’t help but stress over what my dad’s hiding.
When I pull into the lot, I don’t even have a chance to put the car in park before Alec is exiting the building, heading straight for me.
“Welcoming brigade?”
“It’s dark.” He scowls, his eyes scanning the lot behind me. “Hurry up and grab your shit, so we can get back inside.”
“Good morning to you, too.” I glare at my things as I grab them from the passenger seat.
Alec checks my doors after I push the alarm button, and together, we walk into the building. Once inside, he locks the door, disappearing when his phone rings.
I try to focus on my typical morning routine, running through today’s schedule and reviewing the recruits timing progressions, but all I can think of is my dad and our strange conversation.
Over the past two years, he’s been overly protective and paranoid. Well, more so than normal but still. There was a definite, obvious change.
More business trips, more late-night meetings.
Maybe he’s anxious because I’m not a kid anymore, and eventually, I’ll move out. Not that I’m in a rush. I like being here with him. He’s the only family I have.
It’s been just the two of us since I was five days old when my mother tried to hide my existence and put me up for adoption. With good reason, he stayed single after that. Never married, hardly ever dated, much to every woman’s dismay. He’s young and fit from his profession, barely thirty-seven, so there’s still plenty of time even though, according to him, that’s not what he wants. He’s always been alone, so he’s used to doing things his way. Before me, he had no family other than his best friend turned business partner, so it’s always only been us and the academy.