page7 (1/2)
Vale
I pull into my apartment coyht and haven't eaten dinner As if to prove its displeasure with nition At least I had the presence ofto put a roast in the slow cooker fordown so into bed
Sucks having to work two jobs, but what the Cold Fury paysWhen Dad and I realized we'd need to do a fast relocate to this area, I did a mad scraet a job While there's a nice selection of collegiate sports teas for a coveted AT position were sliy specialist earned me several offers, but the pay was even worse than the Cold Fury because it was commission-type work, and without a solid base of clientele, there was no e'd be able to h, the offer came down from Gray Brannon, and after I accepted it, I was fortunate to still be able to take on a part-tiyy before I started work at the arena, and ain, but it meant the bills were paid and there was money left over for pot roast
My legs are heavy as I walk the stairs to the second floor I wanted a ground-floor apart list is long So far, though, it hasn't been a probleate the stairs, and I hope that remains true
Thethe scent of slow-cooked ive ood to come Instead, I smellis that pizza?
I step inside and o to a pizza box on the coffee table, then slide over to a pair of long legs encased in dark jeans My gaze travels up and I see Hawke sitting on the sofa with a beer bottle in hand, watching me with harsh eyes
"What are you doing here?" I blurt out as I remove my key from the lock
"He came by to visit me," my father says jovially, and my head snaps over to him as he sits back in his recliner He also has a beer bottle in his hand
My blood pressure spikes, er, and I stalk up to hi beer? You can't have that"
Dad just chuckles and holds it up for me to see "Relax, Vale It's nonalcoholic"
I expect the anger to quiet but it doesn't I look back pointedly at the pizza box and then back to my father "And pizza? What about the roast I put in the Crock-Pot?"
Without waiting for his answer, I spin on Hawke "Did you buy that for hi that"
Hawke doesn't say a word, but narrows his eyes further at me
"Honey," Dad says, and I spin back on hiot to turn on the Crock-Pot, and I didn't realize it until a bit ago Sowe, umwe just ordered some pizza"
My stomach bottoms out, sad to not have roast for dinner, and filled with leaden guilt that I forgot to turn on the cooker I was so da when I rolled out of bed, it must have just slipped my mind
"I'm sorry," I ot, and I hate that you had to eat pizza You need to eat better than that"
"It's okay," he says as his hand co me a second so my lips stay pressed to hiot a lot on your plate and I don't need you doting over me"
I look down at my father, worry and love I know evident on et shiny armth We stare at each other ato be okay
Except, I don't know that it is
Setting my purse and keys down on the table besidea quick glance at Hawke, I bite out, "So, what, you decided to stop by and check in on an old friend?"
"Sorowls "Of course, it would have helped if you'd just toldon when I asked about your dad today at the arena"
I sla contents--two pieces of New York style with pepperoni, and ain
"Noould I tell you that, Hawke?" My voice is bitter with confusion and anger "It's not like you kept in touch with hi about my dad be any of your business?"
"Vale,""Ease up"
"Whatever," I e can, stomp my foot on the pedal at the base, and when the lid raises, I try to stuff the box inside
Except it's about two sizes too big, so I wrestle with it, taking my frustration out on the cardboard and the two aro in et it to conform
"Not hungry?" Hawke asks quietly from behind me
My body stiffens as I make a last hard push to cram it all in and I blink my eyes rapidly to dispel the moisture "No," I say sullenly
Starved, more like it
"Your dad says you have a second job training people at a gym," he says conversationally
I ignore the remark and instead turn on him "Seriously, Hawkewhy are you here?"
"Because I orried about your dad," he says si froht have lost contact over the years, I still like and respect your dad very much Why wouldn't I check in to say hello?"