I don’t know if that’s true.
“I’m here for you. Just know that, okay? And I’m not going to say anything,” I murmur, reaching out to touch Rhett’s knee and give it a squeeze. “I promise.”
Rhett
“Why’d you ring the doorbell? You know you can just walk in.” My father’s happy smile at seeing Jensen and me standing on the doorstep immediately makes me feel guilty.
But then I remember I’m not the one cheating with his wife, and I focus on the good stuff, what little there is at the moment. That’s how overwhelmed I’m feeling right now.
It’s Thanksgiving, though, so I need to remember that I’m here with my family and my girl by my side. A girl my father actually approves of, which is saying a lot, especially when you consider what she used to do for a living.
Did Dad ever find out about Jensen working at City Lights? Did Park or Diane tell him? I have no clue. Don’t really want to ask him about it either.
Jensen sends me a look before she tells my dad, “Oh, I was the one who insisted on ringing the doorbell. I didn’t feel right just barging into your house.”
Dad pulls her in for a brief embrace. “You can barge in any time. You’re more than welcome in my household.”
She appears momentarily rattled, and I can’t blame her. He’s so open and warm toward her, it’s almost strange. “Oh. Well, thank you. I appreciate that.”
“Any girl who can keep my boy happy has my approval.” Dad’s face turns serious. “Wish Park could find someone who’d take good care of him like your Jensen, Rhett. He needs to find a woman he can trust. Not those same old bar whores he picks up at random.”
Ah, there’s the dear old dad I know and love. Jesus, I thought he was getting soft in his old age. Apparently not.
Jensen’s eyes flash with shock at what he said but her expression smooths out quick. “Is Park here?” she asks politely.
“Everyone’s here, even Addie and Trent. Come in.” Dad opens the door wider and we walk inside.
The house smells amazing. There are fresh fall flowers everywhere, and candles burning on pretty much every available table service. The house is warm, downright homey-looking, and I grab hold of Jensen’s hand, pulling her close to me.
Her fingers are ice cold and she seems jittery, like she drank too much caffeine. Every time she gets around my family, she becomes nervous. I don’t know why. Dad does everything he can to make her feel welcome, and Addie adores her. Though it might be weird with Park, what with him asking her to work for him on the sly only a couple of days ago. And Diane? It’s always weird with that woman, so who gives a shit?
“Hey!” Addie runs up to us, pulling Jensen into a bear hug, squeezing her extra tight before she releases her and hugs me. “I’m so glad you’re here. Park is making everyone insane,” she murmurs close to my ear.
“Fun family times, huh?” I tease, trying to blow off the unease I’m feeling over Addie’s comment about Park. “What’s he doing?”
Addie wrinkles her nose. “He’s being rude. Very short with everyone. Practically bit Trent’s head off earlier when he asked him a basic question. We almost left, but Daddy convinced us to stay.”
“That bad, huh?” I rub my jaw, glancing around the giant room. Park is nowhere in sight, and Diane’s not around either.
Uh oh.
“He’s being awful,” Addie says.
“Where is he?”
“Outside. Said he was going for a smoke.” Addie makes a little face. “Since when does he smoke?”
“Off and on since college.” When her expression turns incredulous, I shrug. “We’ve always been protecting you from the bad stuff, little sister. But now that you’re seventeen, the gloves are off.”
“Whatever.” She laughs, socking me in the arm with her fist before she turns to Jensen. “Are you hungry? There are appetizers in the kitchen, and they’re yummy.”
“Go,” I tell Jensen when she turns to look at me with a question in her eyes. “I’m going to go find my brother. I’ll meet up with you in the kitchen later.”
The worry that fills her gaze is surprising. “Be careful, okay?”
I squeeze her hand. “I’ll be fine. Promise.”
Dad escorts Addie and Jensen to the kitchen while I go in search of Park. I find him in the backyard all alone, standing by the pool and flicking the ash end of his cigarette into the water like an asshole.