That’s my snapping point. “When thefuck did this become about Xavier?”
“It’s not.” Dad sighs again. “It’s about you not being ready to take on responsibilities.”
“So, you don’t trust me,” I gather.
“That’s not what I said.”
“That’s what you meant.”
My accusations don’t faze him.
“Listen, the Mitchells are good people. They raised their daughter right. And you’ll have someone to take care of everything, so you can go out with the guys without having to worry about Lexie. It’s a win-win.”
“So, you’ve made up your mind?”
“I have. I’m sorry, bud, but she’s not going anywhere. Not unless she quits.”
I play his words on a loop, my brain swamped with the thousand ways I could make her suffer.
“Fine.”
Just as I’m about to hang up, Dad stops me.
“Finn?”
“What?” I spit.
“Have you gone to see her yet?”
I immediately know what he means.
“My guys said she’s as good as new,” he adds.
A fire ravages my insides, burning the little respect I had left for my father to a crisp.
Some things never change.
Even when they should.
I squeeze my fists so hard I lose feeling in my joints.
“I told you the only way I’m ever getting on that fucking boat again is to sink it.”
Then I hang up.
Silence fills the car, and I welcome the distraction of the springs gurgling in the distance. Anything to drown out the hurt little boy in my head. He remembers things I’d rather forget. Like a time where his own father didn’t trust a complete stranger over him…
I want to break something.
Preferably something Daddy dearest doesn’t want broken.
And I think I know exactly where to start…
“Well, that was intense,” Axel quips from my passenger seat.
“Out of the car.” I don’t even spare him a look.
“Are you talking to me?”