"Here," I mutter, handing Dad the large container full of raw meat.
He frowns when he takes in my wet cheeks and tear-stained eyes. I've lost my ability to care if everyone sees me as a mess when I'm not at school. I just refuse to give Kade the satisfaction of seeing me broken.
"Is he hassling you? Are his friends giving you problems?" Dad asks, letting his jaw work into a clenching motion.
"No. We don't speak. His friends are probably too scared to mess with a conman's daughter. They don't know you weren't violent."
"That would change if they mess with you."
The anger lacing his tone makes me believe him. I need to defuse the situation before he does something stupid. He's a good man, but he lives in the gray area where normal morals and what he thinks is right don't mesh well.
"I'm fine. I promise. You guys have fun. I need to get to work."
Dad grumbles under his breath, but he begrudgingly lets me go without further inquiry.
It's odd having my own vehicle, but my dad insisted he buy me a car. I would have settled for a used piece of crap, but he wanted me to have a flashy new ritzy car. We met in the middle, and I got an Escape.
He's trying too hard to make up for time lost, and I'm trying too hard to assure him he doesn't have to. We'll eventually get comfortable with each other.
Ember's number comes through on my phone, and I connect the call with a touch of the steering wheel, chuckling a little. "Are yo
u dancing at Silk tonight?" I ask, bypassing a hello.
She always gets nervous when she dances. Silk is Burlesque meets stripper pole. I simply wait tables. Ember has the confidence for the stage.
"Um... No. Raya, Kade's grandfather was admitted to the hospital early this morning. He's in an induced coma right now. It's possible he won't make it much longer."
I swallow hard. I've been dreading this because I don't know what to do. I hate Kade right now, but I love the bastard, too. His family was good to me, and though they might hate me now, I don't feel right about not going and offering my condolences.
"Thanks, Em. For calling me."
"No problem. Are you going out there?"
I stop at the red light that forces me to think about which way to go. Taking a right will lead me to Silk. Taking a left will lead me to the hospital. A literal crossroads. Shit.
"I'll talk to you later," I mutter while turning left.
Paul Colton is the first person I recognize, and I tense up as I watch him pace back and forth, looking devastated and broken. He's always so poised and pulled together. Seeing him like this... makes me all the more worried about seeing Kade.
I won't be able to touch him, console him, or even try to talk to him. I have no idea what I was thinking by coming here. This was stupid. I can't do anything but make the situation worse.
I turn around and slam into a hard chest. Strong hands steady me, and I look up to see Tag with a weary expression replacing his normally chipper one.
"Raya. I'm surprised but happy you're here. Kade could use someone," he says softly.
My heart breaks more. He will need someone, but he won't let it be me.
"I shouldn't have come," I say in a hoarse rasp, clearing my throat directly after.
He sighs out heavily. "We know you weren't conning him. No one here is going to say otherwise. Kade needs someone."
Tears threaten to drip out. Does Kade think I wasn't conning him now? Has he changed his mind?
"Raya," Paul's relieved voice says from close behind me, and I swallow down the emotion as I turn to face his disheveled appearance.
"Mr. Colton. I'm sorry. I just came to tell you I'll do anything you need me to. I... You can call me if you need me." How I manage to not break down and bawl, I don't know. But this can't be about me right now.
"There is something you can do. Go see Kade. He's not so well," he says wearily.