Page 66 (1/2)

"What do you mean?" I asked

He arched an eyebrow "You mean, you don’t know? Shit…Liz said she told you"

"Toldthe car that slammed into your family’s car" He narrowed his eyes "She really didn’t tell you?"

My throat dried out, and part ofTanner hated me because I loved Elizabeth He was a sneaky asshole who et underneath people’s skin, and noas deter he said was that he was sorry and hadn’t meant to start any trouble He said he was happy that Elizabeth and I had found each other He said all he wanted was for her to be happy, but I knew that all his words of coht, I sat on my bed with my cell phone in my hand, and I calledhis voice was good It was needed

"Tristan," he said I could almost hear the relief in his tones "Hey, Son Mom said you called her a while back and didn’t speak She was also convinced that she ran into you when she went to Meadows Creek to see thetricks on her" He paused "You’re not going to talk, are you?" He paused again "That’s fine I’ve always been a bit of a talker"

That was a lie--Dad had always been the quiet one of my parents, much more of a listener I put the phone on speaker and lay back onI’dwith yourtheir house reood idea to have them stay at our place They’ve been here for three weeks already, and I’ve been through ht humanly possible

"Oh! And youra workout class with her because she worries about my healthy diet of Doritos and soda So I showed up to the class--turned out I was the only ht Lucky for me my hips don’t lie and I was a natural"

I snickered

He talked toto hi to him talk about sports and how the Packers were still the top team in the NFL At one point he cracked open a beer, and I opened one too It alether

When it was past et to bed He told me he loved me and would always be on the other end of the line if I ever just needed so up, my lips parted "Thanks, Dad"

I heard his voice crack and emotion take over hiht And when you’re ready to coht here when you’re ready We’re not going anywhere"

The world needed more parents like mine

Chapter Thirty-Six