“Huh?”
“I’ll give you money to fix the place up. It’s going to need it whether I keep it or sell it, so I might as well let you have the reins and get it done. However, I have a few requirements.”
Of course, he did.
“You will let me install a security system. Something high-tech and expensive.”
“I can help with that,” Axel said. I’d forgotten he was at the table with us.
“Good, good. And uh, I’m not stupid enough to think you won’t have your boyfriend over, but I want you to besafe.”
“Dad!”
“I want grandchildren but not for a few years. You need to go to college first.”
“Oh my god.” I covered my face with my hand.
West chuckled and Remington gritted his teeth.
“I’ve been on the pill since I was fifteen, Dad. I’ll be fine. There will be no grandchildren for a long time.”
“Okay, one more thing. I want to come over for dinner once a week. Sunday afternoons work best for me.” Dad smiled.
I stood to hug him, the first time in two years. He stood up from his chair and hugged me so tight I couldn’t breathe.
“How are you going to get rid of Mom?” I asked once he released me.
“Don’t you worry about that, pumpkin. I’ll get her out of Gilchrist Pointunharmed. She will be gone by morning. You can all stay here as long as you want.” Dad smiled again and turned to West. “Although your dad would have my ass if he knew you were here.”
“I mean it when I say I don’t give a fuck about my father’s opinions, Rand.”
Dad stifled a yawn and checked his watch. “I hate to be a party-pooper, but I’m fucking exhausted. Do you mind if I go take a quick nap?”
“Quick nap? You’ll be out until tomorrow,” Remington laughed.
“It’s okay, Dad. You can go to sleep.”
“We need to be heading out anyway,” Axel said, getting up from his chair and stretching like a cat.
“Our door’s always open,” Dad said as he kissed the top of my head. “I’ll get arrangements made for your mother before I go to sleep. Are you sure you don’t want to say goodbye? She won’t be coming back here in your lifetime.”
I paused before answering. I would never have closure with Mom because she didn’t see anything wrong in her behavior. Some people would never see the errors in their ways, and it was a waste of energy waiting for them to change.
I shook my head. “No, I don’t want to see her. I have nothing to say to her.”
“Then I’ll get on it. And call me this week, we can discuss renovations. I’ll send a few guys over to do some demo work and clear the place out,” Dad said before heading off to his bedroom.
I said my goodbyes and thanked Remington and Beck. Both guys had my back last night and it meant the world to me. After spending much of my life feeling like I was battling alone, it was a relief to know I had people on my side.
Once we were in Axel’s truck on our way back to Gilchrist Point, I called Bronx to update him on everything that happened–well, not everything that happened, but I told him we were all safe. I’d lost my phone somewhere between Gilchrist Point and Ethereal, so I had to use West’s phone. When I asked why his screen was shattered, he smiled and shook his head.
Cade and Gabby were with Bronx so they were updated as well. I felt awful not contacting them once we left Ethereal, but with everything that happened, my brain wasn’t working properly.
I was snuggled on West’s shoulder in the backseat of the truck when he turned to me. “What do you say we spend today and tomorrow somewhere special?”
“Where would that be?”
“Axel, you’re not using your penthouse room at the hotel right now, are ya?” West looked at Axel in the rearview mirror, a grin on his adorable face.