“Yeah, I miss you too. Let me talk to Karma.”
“She’s not here.” I made an angry face. “She can’t know I called you. She’ll be mad.”
“Yeah, I bet she will. Do you know the name of the town you’re in or your address?”
“Why? Are you coming to get me?” My tummy suddenly felt yucky. He didn’t sound happy to hear from me. All he wanted was to talk to my mom.
“I want to see you.” He whispered to someone. Maybe to the lady who answered, but I couldn’t understand what he told her.
“What did you say, Dad?”
“Nothing. I was talking to my friend.”
“Your girlfriend?” Didn’t he want to be a family? Didn’t he love my mommy?
“Nova, listen to me. Are you listening?” He sounded frustrated, the way he used to get with my mom.
“Mhm.”
“I need to know where you are.”
“I don’t know my address.”
“What’s the name of the town?”
“Um.” My brain wasn’t working, with my dad sounding grouchy. I couldn’t remember the town’s name.
“Nova, try to remember.” His voice got louder.
“I’m trying. Don’t yell at me.” I only wanted to talk to him and ask about his family for my school project. I wiped tears off my face. When did I start crying?
“I’m not yelling. Where’s Karma?”
“Downstairs. I can go get her.” Not that I wanted to, then I’d get into trouble for calling him.
“No, don’t get her. I don’t want you to tell her you called me, after all.”
“Why not? How can you make things better if you don’t talk to her?” I sniffled and wiped my runny nose.
“Make things better? I doubt she wants to come back to Branson. What’s she been doing there? Is she working at a tattoo shop or being lazy and living it up at my expense?”
“Living it up? What do you mean?”
“Is she working, Nova? Goddammit, just answer my questions!”
I jolted at his harsh voice. “She works at the club’s parlor.”
“What club?”
“The Knight’s club. They’re bikers.” My tears were coming faster now, and my stomach hurt more. Why was he being mean to me? I didn’t do anything wrong.
“Bikers, like the kind who ride motorcycles.”
“Mhm, they all have Harleys and wear black vests… I mean cuts.”
“Jesus Christ, she’s mixed up with a biker club? That’s just great. How in the hell am I going to get back…” His voice got quiet, then he whispered again to his friend.
“Get what back?”