Then Dad’s firm voice shatters the peace.
“You should go.”
“W-what?” I blurt out, shocked to my core that he’s even suggesting this. “That’s crazy. You’re crazy.”
I’m still amazed he’s not threatened to lock me up in the house for forever and a day after what I’ve done. This should be the last thing on his mind right now.
“Getting out of town for a couple of days might be just what you need.”
I study him, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. “Why?” I ask, feeling like I’m missing something.
“Because a few days of fun with your friends will help you forget all this shit.”
“Theo will be there,” I point out.
“Which is why I know you’ll be safe. I trust Theo, Seb, and the others. They won’t let anything happen to you, Calli or Stella.”
My eyes continue to narrow in suspicion.
“And Cruz will send a bodyguard just in case.”
“Or I could just stay here under your watchful eye.”
“Yeah, you could.” Piper walks over and lowers a plate before me. The sight of the perfectly cooked steak, homemade chips and side salad makes my mouth water. “I’ll be working all weekend. Piper is going out both Friday and Saturday night, and all your friends will be gone.”
I shrug. Being alone has never bothered me before.
“I’m sure I’ll cope.”
“Okay, well. It’s up to you. I just wanted you to know that if you wanted to, you could.”
I smile at him, realising that he’s just trying to do anything he can to make all this better. “Thank you,” I say, stabbing my fork into a chip and pushing it into my mouth. “Any updates on Luis or anything?”
“Nothing for you to worry about, kiddo.”
I suck in a breath, ready to argue with him. But I quickly figure out that he’s probably right. I don’t want to be any deeper in the Reapers, the Wolves, or the Cirillo Family business than I already am.
“I trust you.”
“I trust you too.”
Piper squeezes my shoulder in support as she passes me once more before putting her plate down and slipping into her seat.
“I’ll think about it.”
Thankfully, the conversation moves onto what some kid I’ve never heard of did at school today, and just like that, any talk of the weekend, or thankfully anything to do with my life right now is banished.
“I’ve told Mickey I’m going to spend the next two days at the gym. I’m gonna head up to get some work done.”
“I get your need to fight, Em. I really do. But don’t let your schoolwork suffer.”
“I won’t, I promise.” I drop a kiss on Dad’s cheek before grabbing a can of Fanta from the fridge and leaving them to their night.
“We’re here if you need anything,” Piper says softly.
“I know,” I say, stopping at the door to look back at them. “Thank you, for both being so… cool about all this.”
“What else did you expect, kiddo? We are cool,” Dad jokes.