Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
My father observed me, turning still as a statue.
“We tell each other everything, and I don’t want to keep this from you anymore.”
His eyes were guarded and hard rather than affectionate, like he didn’t want to hear what I had to say…which couldn’t be possible. He was probably just nervous about my troubles.
“I know this was a stupid decision on my part, but I don’t regret it.” I wasn’t sure why I’d decided to come clean to my father at the end of my relationship. A part of me believed that it would fix everything, that maybe my father was putting pressure on Axel to walk away, but Axel couldn’t tell me. My father would never do that, but just in case I was wrong about that, I had to ask. “Axel and I have been in a relationship for a couple of months now.” I told him, and I was terrified of the repercussions, but I was also relieved to get it off my chest.
He had no reaction at all. His eyes remained hard like I hadn’t said anything at all. There was no body language either, no sigh, no clenched jaw…nothing. His fingers continued to pinch his wineglass, and he didn’t take a drink.
When he didn’t react, I continued. “It kinda just happened…and I discovered just how wonderful he is.”
My father pulled his fingers away from the glass. He crossed his arms over his chest and sank farther into the chair.
“Everything seemed great…more than great…when he suddenly broke up with me. Just days before that, he’d talked about us having kids, and then he came to my apartment and dumped me.” I did my best not to get emotional about it when we were in a public place, but I struggled to keep my voice steady. “Something doesn’t feel right. He wouldn’t do that to me, wouldn’t hurt me like that. I asked him to tell me the truth, but he makes up these stupid excuses that don’t make sense. So…” I looked at my father, uncomfortable by his hard stare. “I know that this is a long shot, but…I have to ask. Did—did you say something to him?”
My father turned his head and looked elsewhere, his arms still crossed over his chest. His features were unreadable. It seemed like he wouldn’t address what I said at all because the silence continued for so long. “Are you asking me if I interfered in your private relationship?” he asked coldly. “A secret relationship I had no knowledge of until you told me about it a couple seconds ago?”
Fuck, I’d pissed him off.
When I didn’t answer his questions, he spoke. “No. I didn’t speak to Axel.”
His stare became so uncomfortable that I looked out the window instead. “Sorry.”
He was quiet for a long time, ignoring his glass of wine, ignoring me. He seemed to find his center because he spoke again. “I’m sorry that you’re hurting, sweetheart. But you shouldn’t have gotten involved with Axel for many reasons. You may think he’s a good guy because you like to see the good in everyone, something I love about you, but Axel is unworthy of your respect. I told you he served years in prison for rape and assault.”
“But I know he didn’t do it.”
“Why?” he asked coldly. “Every guilty man says he’s innocent. Doesn’t mean that he is.”
“It’s just not who he is. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
My father looked away again, releasing a quiet sigh. “I’ve seen him do a lot more than hurt a fly.”
If my father wasn’t the reason Axel broke up with me, then there must be another explanation…like he really did just want to break up. Maybe it had been fun because I was Dante’s daughter, and that high had worn off. Or maybe he’d just lost his attraction to me.
“Sweetheart.”
My eyes found his again.
“He’s not good enough for you,” he said. “Forget about him.”
When we finished dinner, my father waved down the waiter to grab the check. Before the waiter could even hand him the bill, my father had his card out to be taken. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” My father left me alone at the table and walked behind me to the other end of the restaurant.
I sat there alone, the tablecloth covered in crumbs because I’d made a mess from digging my hands into the bread basket. After telling my father the truth, I’d felt a little better, so my usual appetite had returned.
I grabbed the last piece of bread and ripped off a corner before I popped it into my mouth, knowing I couldn’t ignore a slice of fresh bread right in front of me, even if I was full. At that moment, a couple passed by as they were led by the hostess. I wouldn’t have noticed them if the guy didn’t stand out so much.