I smiled at how Abby used his name rather than calling him my father. But her words reminded me of how he was responsible for yet another crappy thing in my life…
When he’d abandoned me and Mom, I hadn’t handled it very well. I’d started acting out in school, not doing my work, pretending to be sick so I could stay home, just being an all-around brat. My teacher, the principal, and my mother all decided to hold me back a year so that I could properly deal with everything. And now, I wouldn’t be graduating until I was days away from nineteen.
“I don’t know. I can ask him,” I said.
Although, I’d probably have better luck asking Larissa and having her convince Frank to let me go. Then she’ll probably invite me to that charity ball again, and I’d be a jerk if I said no twice. Ugh. This day kept getting worse.
“Ask him.” Another loud crunch.
I held the phone away from my ear. “What are you eating?”
“Pretzels.” She laughed. “Hey, I gotta go. Mom is calling me down to help with dinner.”
“Okay.” Sadness settled like an anchor on my chest.
We typically had family dinners here, too, but they were nothing like the family dinners with Auth Beth and Uncle Dean. Those were warm and loving and safe. The meals here were stiff and done more out of obligation than want.
I shook my head and clutched my phone, debating whether to text Ellie. I wasn’t sure I could emotionally handle talking to her right this second.
Tossing my phone on the foot of the bed, I lugged my backpack closer and pulled out my school issued tablet. Even though my new school offered a lot of cool classes, I still couldn’t get out of taking math.
After an hour of solving differential equations, the numbers started to blur together. I straightened, and my back protested. So did my legs.
“Ouch.” I stood and stretched, mentally scolding myself for sitting hunched over on my bed like I had been.
Snatching my phone, I checked for messages. I had one from Ellie. I opened it and was greeted with a picture of her and Nick. He had his arm around her, and they were both smiling.
I sank down onto the mattress, tears stinging my eyes. I was happy for them, but the wave of homesickness that crashed over me washed away any joy I felt. I hit reply.
Me: SO HAPPY FOR YOU!
And as soon as I hit send, I shut off my phone.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to her—I did—I just couldn’t handle her high energy pep right now. Once I had my emotions in check, I’d turn my phone back on and face my friends. Until then, I was going to pretend Keene Valley and everyone in it didn’t exist. Probably wouldn’t be successful, but it was worth a shot.
I spent another two hours buried in a mound of homework—not because I had a ton of assignments due, but because I had nothing fun to do. No friends. No hobbies. No job. I froze with my pen poised above my paper.
That wasn’t a bad idea. My heart beat faster at the possibility. A job would get me out of this house, away from my father, and it would give me money to get back to Keene Valley, because I was not expecting my father to help.
Stuffing my papers into my notebook, I slammed it closed and shoved everything into my backpack. Then I opened my laptop, found the website for the local newspaper. The “help wanted” section linked to a job search site. I created an account and searched for local jobs.
“Whoa,” I whispered when the results popped up.
I scrolled through them, quickly dismissing any that required skills I didn’t have and any that were too far away. I’d have to be able to walk to a job… Unless I could convince Declan to drive me. Although, it was probably silly to get a job that I’d have to quit a month later. Oh, well. I needed to do something to get out of this house.
“Chloe?” Larissa’s voice rang through the hallway outside my room.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah?”
“Please come downstairs for dinner.” She paused, and I stared at my door, expecting her to walk in. Instead, she said, “There’s something your father and I would like to discuss with you.”
Groaning, I closed my laptop. “Yup.”
My stomach knotted. I was positive whatever they wanted to discuss was nothing more than another lecture about how I was a part of this family, and I should start acting like it. They’d had that talk with me shortly after I’d arrived, and I bluntly pointed out that I never asked to be here. Larissa had gotten up from the table, crying, and my father scolded me like I was seven not seventeen. We hadn’t had that talk since.
Until now, apparently.
CHAPTER THREE:
Negotiation
I STOOD AND STRETCHED MY TIGHT muscles. My stomach grumbled as I headed downstairs. Frank and Larissa were seated at the table. “Where’s Little Frank?” I asked.
He was normally strapped into his highchair and situated next to Larissa.
“He’s already been fed and is with the nanny,” Frank said. His gaze was on the food in front of him. For a man who claimed to want to repair our relationship, he barely looked at me. And he spoke to me even less.
“We felt it would be better to talk without any interruptions.” Larissa smiled and nodded at the seat across from my father.
Reluctantly, I sat. A perfectly roasted chicken surrounded by tiny, red potatoes mixed with colorful, sautéed vegetables was on a platter in the center of the table. Scents of butter, garlic, and a myriad of other spices wafted toward me.
My mouth watered. I had to give Larissa props for her mad cooking skills.
Frank carved into the chicken like some regal patriarch, setting a large chunk on his plate before giving Larissa and I some. He was such a fraud.
“So.” I cleared my throat. “I
