Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 117752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
“How long have you known Star is your daughter?”
His expression didn’t show any trace of emotion at her question.
She held her breath, hoping she was wrong, that she had made too much out of the resemblance between them, and that the look on his face when Star had come close to being trampled was just a reaction to seeing his niece in danger.
“Since she was born and Stud sent me a picture of her. She has the same birthmark on her thigh as I do.”
That he made no effort to deny his parentage to Star didn’t stem the irritation that was swelling inside her.
“Does Stud know that Star isn’t his?”
“I would assume so. I’m sure that’s why he married Candi.”
His matter-of-fact answer settled in the pit of her stomach like a stone.
“What do you mean, assume? You two have talked about it, right?”
“No.”
“Why in the fuck not?” Outrage on Star’s behalf had Crazy Bitch raising her voice in the small confines of the shower.
Calder turned the water off, getting out of the shower and leaving her inside alone.
Angry at his dismissive ending of their conservation, she grabbed a towel, following him into the bedroom.
“Hot thang, I don’t like the way you’re treating me when I’m trying to talk to you.”
Slinging his damp towel over his shoulders, he pulled a pair of loose shorts on. “There’s nothing to talk about. Stud and I haven’t talked about Star because she’s better off not knowing I’m her father. You saw Star tonight. Stud might not be her biological father, but he is her father in every way that counts.” Reaching for the T-shirt he had discarded, he fished for his cigarettes.
She stared at him numbly as he went to the bathroom, seeing him lay the towel over the shower rail before coming back into the room and going to the balcony door.
Sliding it open, he went outside then closed the door behind him.
“Hell no, you don’t!” She went to her suitcase, grabbing the first thing she touched, which was a grey T-shirt of Calder’s. The oversized shirt came to the middle of her thighs.
Padding across the room, she opened the door and went outside.
“What is your problem? Why don’t you discuss this with me instead of running away?”
“I’m not running anywhere. My dick hurts too much to run.” He squinted at her mockingly through the smoke he exhaled.
“Be very careful of the tone you’re using with me right now. I’m not one of the sluts at the club or Candi who will put up with your bullshit. I apologized for forgetting to use the lube. Believe it or not, I’m not really experienced at using them. I fucked up. But you’re fucking up more now with how you’re treating me.”
“What do you want me to say? That when I got out of prison, I told Stud that I knew Star was my daughter? That I want her to know?” He gave a bark of bitter laughter. “That I want visitation? Star worships Stud. She thinks he hung the moon. I’m Uncle Calder to her. She knows I’ve been in prison—Meri and Keri asked me about it. Little kids hear shit; that’s why they quit calling you Crazy Bitch in front of her and Harley. She asked me if it hurt when they put the handcuffs on me.
“She already knows Sex Piston isn’t her real mom, that Candi is in prison. Let’s just fuck her up even more by telling her that I’m her father. I don’t even have an apartment where she can go spend the night with me. I live in a motorcycle club. Not exactly a place I want my daughter to be able to brag about in school.”
“You make enough money working for Stud. You could afford a place if you wanted to.”
“I’m not going to waste my money on rent. I’m saving my money for a home. One that I don’t have to kiss a landlord’s ass for to keep him happy. One that will be mine, with the woman I want to share it with. One with a backyard that I don’t have to share with thirty other tenants.”
His pointed gaze had her leaning backward on the rail, staring at the glass balcony door. Her emotions churned at the pain that his face didn’t mirror.
“I never knew who my father was until I was in sixth grade. I kept asking my mother, but she would change the subject, or said it didn’t matter because he lived too far away.” She bit her lip, trying to explain to him how important it was for Star to know the truth.
“At the end of the school year, there was going to be a father and daughter dance. I wanted to go so badly I dreamed of it at night, imagining getting a new dress, just like all the other girls in my grade.