I hope my father chokes on it.
The elevator dings, and the doors open to the busy tenth floor. A group of people shuffle into the elevator, ending our toxic exchange. My father moves to one corner while I situate myself near the doors for my great escape.
Although I let a majority of my father’s comments bounce off of me, sometimes I struggle. I’m only human after all. My father has always been good with picking at my weaknesses. It isn’t hard for him, especially once I got injured playing hockey and lost the one thing that made me feel special.
He poked and prodded until I spiraled, turning myself into a copy of the person I resent most.
Him.
“I’m going to miss you, little guy.” Iris tucks Merlin against her chest. It only took my cat two years to warm up to her, and now they’re the best of friends. His black fur contrasts against her brown skin, bringing out the deep shades in both.
“He’ll be back in a few months.” I zip up my luggage before placing it upright on the floor.
Her smile drops. “Months? I don’t think I can make it that long without you here.”
“And they callmeoverly dependent…”
She smacks me in the arm. “Shut up. What if Declan and I come to visit you? I’ve always wanted to see the lake after all your stories, and you’re the one who said the summers were always the best.”
“Uhh…”
“Try to look a little less horrified, will ya?” She pinches the skin between my ribs.
“Let me get settled first and then we can talk about you visiting. Okay?”
“Fine.” She lets Merlin go before dropping on to my couch. “What was it like being back?”
“I’m still processing all of it.”
The gold beads at the ends of her braids clink together as she tilts her head. “That bad?”
“I knew Lana was angry at me…”
“But you ran before you had to deal with it.”
I tip my chin. “Exactly.”
“Well, you have to face your past eventually.”
“It feels like I’m being slapped across the face with it repeatedly.”
She laughs. “Maybe all of this will be good for you. It could help you get some closure.”
I fall on to the leather chair across from her. “Who says I need closure?”
“The fact that you haven’t been in a romantic relationship for six years.”
A rare frown crosses my face. “I haven’t been interested.” The lie slips out easily, perfected after mastering the art of pretending not to give a fuck.
Of course, I am interested, but that doesn’t make it possible. At least not when I’m still a screwed-up mess.
Iris stares at me with narrowed eyes. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“Could have fooled me with the way you asked me out on a date.”
I launch a pillow directly at her face. “That was a joke.”