I go back to the game room to grab my stuff, already forcing my face to look neutral. I’m in luck for once. I don’t run into any of the team, and while I feel bad for running out on them without a goodbye, I don’t have it in me to seek any of them out. I can’t bear the idea of the smug look on Aziza’s face, the taunting from Jinx, or worse, the pity from any of the others.
I slip out into the woods and head home. I let my heart take over for a moment back there, and that was a mistake. I see that now. I have to focus only on the mission and forget about any notion of Rye and I being together. He seems to have shut me out without any trouble, and now I will do him the same courtesy.
I nod my head forcefully, confirming my decision.
I get home and step inside. Music is blasting from the dining room and I go through to see my dad spinning around in the middle of the room. Is he dancing? My God, I think he is. It’s so bad it’s hard to tell, but he looks happy. Happier than I’ve seen him in a long time, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of him.
I move to the sound system and turn the music down a touch.
“Umm Dad? What’s going on?” I ask.
“Biscuit, where did you come from?” He smiles.
He grabs my hand and spins me. I let myself be pulled into the moment and I find myself laughing. I dance with my dad for a moment, Loki running around us in a circle, barking excitedly. Even he knows this is out of the ordinary. I hold up my hands in surrender after a full song, still laughing.
“Okay, okay, enough.” I laugh. “What’s gotten into you?”
“I’ve only gone and had the best date of my life.” He grins.
I feel a pang of sadness in my heart. Better than his dates with my mom? I force myself to keep smiling. I have to let go of the past and be happy for Dad. It’s actually good to see him like this again, full of life.
“Tell me more,” I say.
He sits down at the dining table and beckons for me to join him. I sit down opposite him, trying not to laugh at the goofy grin on his face.
“Raven and I went to this little restaurant she knows. It was perfect. The food, the wine, but most of all, the conversation. You know when you meet someone and you just click with them on every level, and you instinctively know you were meant to be with them? That’s how it was. We talked and talked about everything. We have so much in common.”
“That’s great news, Dad,” I say. “I’m really happy for you. It’s good to see you so…”
I trail off.
“Alive?” he finishes for me.
I nod and smile.
“Yeah. Alive,” I say.
“It feels good, Sailor. It’s like waking up from a nightmare and finding the fog has lifted and the sun is shining.”
I laugh. “Okay, you’re starting to sound like a cheesy love song. I think I’ve heard enough. I’m calling it an early night. Night, Dad.”
I stand up and smile down at my dad’s happy face.
“Really though. I am happy for you,” I add as I head for the stairs.
“Sailor?” he asks, stopping me as I reach the bottom of the stairs. I pause and look back at him.
“Are you happy here?”
“Yeah. Very happy,” I say.
“Good. Goodnight, Biscuit,” he says.
I go up the stairs, Loki following on my heels, a mixed bag of emotions. I am happy for my dad, really, I am. It’s good to see him moving on with his life, looking like he’s actually happy instead of faking a smile for my benefit. I realize it’s been so long since I genuinely saw him happy that I almost forgot what it looked like. How bad is that?
On the other hand, the weight on my heart is heavy and I find myself wishing I could have what my dad has found with Raven. I could have it. Rye and I could have it all. But he’s off with some other girl and I’m home alone.
Oh my God. Am I jealous of my own dad? I have to snap out of it. It’s just way too tragic.
I push open the door to my room and a small scream leaves my lips when I see a figure sitting on my bed.
I relax a little when I see it’s Grace.
“Christ, Grace, give me a heart attack why don’t you?” I say. “What are you doing here? How did you even get in?”
“I made a portal here,” Grace says.
Obviously.
“I thought you might need cheering up,” she says.
“I’m fine,” I reply automatically.
“Good.” She smiles. “Mel and Sunday wanted to come and talk about the whole Rye thing, but I figured that would just be depressing. I had a better idea, but if you’re sure you’re fine and don’t need me…”
She trails off, a wicked glint in her eye, and I find myself laughing.
“Oh no way. You can’t do that and not tell me,” I say.
“How about I show you?” Grace says. She stands up, giggling, and grabs my hand. “Come on.”
She waves her other hand and a shimmering portal appears in front of us. She steps through, taking me with her. I don’t have time to protest, and to be honest, I don’t think I would have. Rye can go out and have his fun, and guess what? So can I.
“Umm Grace? Where the hell are we?” I ask as I look around.
The room we’ve stepped out into is dimly lit and busy. It’s clearly some sort of dive bar, but it’s like something out of
